Every insurer shall, upon request of the state department of social services or of a local social services district for any records, or any information contained in such records, pertaining to the coverage of any individual for such individual’s medical costs under any individual or group policy or other obligation made by such organizations, or the medical benefits paid by or claims made to such organizations pursuant to such policy or other obligation in accordance with the limitations of subsection (c) hereof, make the requested records or information available upon a certification by the department of social services or the social services district that such individual is an applicant for or recipient of medical assistance, or is a person who is legally responsible for such an applicant or recipient, pursuant to the social services law.