PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A Pennsylvania House committee unanimously advanced legislation that would prohibit life insurance companies from denying coverage to someone who has a prescription for opioid overdose-reversal drugs, like naloxone, in their prescription history.
The bill, known as Lloyd’s Law, is named after a Delaware County resident who died of an overdose. After his death, his mother was denied life insurance because she had previously gotten a prescription for naloxone.
“This discrimination is unjust and discourages individuals from obtaining this drug and other lifesaving medications, thereby putting more Pennsylvanians at risk,” said Delaware County Democrat Gina Curry, who is a prime sponsor of the bill alongside Montgomery County Democrat Benjamin Sanchez.
The bill moved out of the State House Insurance Committee with no negative votes and heads to the full House for consideration.
“This bill will ensure that life insurance applicants are not discriminated against because they obtained a prescription like naloxone to save a life,” added minority committee chair Republican Tina Pickett.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health said more than 5,000 Pennsylvanians died by overdose in 2022, with 78% of those deaths involving the powerful synthetic opioid fentanyl.