The New York Health Act (S3425 and A1466) has rare bipartisan support in both houses. If enacted, the NYHA promises quality, and guaranteed health care for all New Yorkers.
The current system of healthcare is fragmented and costly. A leading indicator of the health of a society, the overall infant mortality rate (death of an infant before their first birthday) in the United States, was 5.6 deaths per 100,000. Depending on ethnicity, the rate varies with non-Hispanic Asian babies being the lowest rate and non-Hispanic Black babies being the highest. According to World Population Review, the U.S. is the 55th highest in infant mortality. Lower rates occur in Poland, the United Kingdom, Japan, France, Italy, Denmark and many others. This is one indication of how our expensive health care is not delivering the health outcomes it should be.
The NYHA will improve the health of New Yorkers. The full range of medical care would be covered as would mental health, dental, vision, prescription medications and hearing aids. All physicians and other health providers would be included. There would be no networks and no need to change your health plan each year. There would be no deductibles and no copays. You would pay a monthly cost based on income, the first $50,000 of which is not counted. Employers would also pay less than what they pay now. If you have Medicare, the monthly cost would be all you pay.
Even more compelling is that the NYHA potentially lowers taxes. NYS counties must pay employee health care and a significant portion of Medicaid costs. School districts must pay health care costs for employees and student health services. New Yorkers also pay a portion of Medicaid through property taxes. County and school budgets would see reductions. In a study by the League of Women Voters, the Fiscal Impacts of the New York Health Act on Counties, Municipalities, and School Districts, savings were replicated across 10 economic regions of the state, representing an average savings of 12% to 14% of total local budgets. Ambulance services would be fully reimbursed, eliminating the need for village and town contracts. Savings at the municipal level could create an opportunity to decrease property taxes.
Since all New Yorkers would be covered, negotiations with insurance companies would be done knowing that there is a larger group of people, an important negotiating point for NYS. NYH would pay insurers (including Medicare and Medicaid) through a NY Trust fund overseen by a Board of Trustees. Health care payments including those from Medicaid and Medicare would go to the trust fund.
We cannot financially or medically afford to continue healthcare as it has been. NY Health offers significant benefits to the physical and financial health of New Yorkers and to the financial health of the schools, counties, and the state.
Marita Florini is an Endicott resident.
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This article originally appeared on Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin: NY Health Act would expand coverage, cut costs for residents | Opinion
Reporting by Marita Florini, Guest Columnist / Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Marita Florini, Guest Columnist | USA TODAY Network
