PLEASE NOTE: THE ANTI-SUBROGATION LAW WAS AMENDED ON NOVEMBER 13, 2013. IMMEIDATELY FOLLOWING IS THE CURRENT LAW, THE FORMER STATUTE IS BELOW

Highlights in this document are our own and merely highlight certain key features of the statute.

§ 5-335. Limitation of reimbursement and subrogation claims in personal injury and wrongful death actions

(a) When a person settles a claim, whether in litigation or otherwise, against one or more other persons for personal injuries, medical, dental, or podiatric malpractice, or wrongful death, it shall be conclusively presumed that the settlement does not include any compensation for the cost of health care services, loss of earnings or other economic loss to the extent those losses or expenses have been or are obligated to be paid or reimbursed by an insurer. By entering into any such settlement, a person shall not be deemed to have taken an action in derogation of any right of any insurer that paid or is obligated to pay those losses or expenses; nor shall a person's entry into such settlement constitute a violation of any contract between the person and such insurer.

No person entering into such a settlement shall be subject to a subrogation claim or claim for reimbursement by an insurer and an insurer shall have no lien or right of subrogation or reimbursement against any such settling person or any other party to such a settlement, with respect to those losses or expenses that have been or are obligated to be paid or reimbursed by said insurer.

(b) This section shall not apply to a subrogation claim for recovery of additional first-party benefits provided pursuant to article fifty-one of the insurance law. The term "additional first-party benefits", as used in this subdivision, shall have the same meaning given it in section 65-1.3 of title 11 of the codes, rules and regulations of the state of New York as of the effective date of this statute.

(c) This section shall not apply to a subrogation or reimbursement claim for recovery of benefits provided by Medicare or Medicaid, specifically authorized pursuant to article fifty-one of the insurance law, or pursuant to a policy of insurance or an insurance contract providing workers' compensation benefits.

  The term "insurer" has a fairly broad definition, found in Gen. Oblib. L. § 5-101 (4):

4. As used in section 5-335 of this article, the term "insurer" means any insurance company or other entity which provides for payment or reimbursement of health care expenses, health care services, disability payments, lost wage payments or any other benefits under a policy of insurance or an insurance contract with an individual or group.

(a) When a plaintiff settles with one or more defendants in an action for personal injuries, medical, dental, or podiatric malpractice, or wrongful death, it shall be conclusively presumed that the settlement does not include any compensation for the cost of health care services, loss of earnings or other economic loss to the extent those losses or expenses have been or are obligated to be paid or reimbursed by a benefit provider, except for those payments as to which there is a statutory right of reimbursement. By entering into any such settlement, a plaintiff shall not be deemed to have taken an action in derogation of any nonstatutory right of any benefit provider that paid or is obligated to pay those losses or expenses; nor shall a plaintiff's entry into such settlement constitute a violation of any contract between the plaintiff and such benefit provider.

Except where there is a statutory right of reimbursement, no party entering into such a settlement shall be subject to a subrogation claim or claim for reimbursement by a benefit provider and a benefit provider shall have no lien or right of subrogation or reimbursement against any such settling party, with respect to those losses or expenses that have been or are obligated to be paid or reimbursed by said benefit provider.

(b) This section shall not apply to a subrogation claim for recovery of additional first-party benefits provided pursuant to article fifty-one of the insurance law. The term "additional first-party benefits", as used in this subdivision, shall have the same meaning given it in section 65-1.3 of title 11 of the codes, rules and regulations of the state of New York as of the effective date of this statute.

The term "benefit provider" had a fairly broad definition, found in Gen. Oblib. L. § 5-101 (4):

As used in section 5-335 of this article, the term "benefit provider" means any insurer, health maintenance organization, health benefit plan, preferred provider organization, employee benefit plan or other entity which provides for payment or reimbursement of health care expenses, health care services, disability payments, lost wage payments or any other benefits under a policy of insurance or contract with an individual or group.