New York considers single-payer health insurance
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by Carol Thompson

Public hearings will be held around New York State as lawmakers consider a bill that would change healthcare for all New Yorkers.

The New York Health bill, A05389A/S02078, would provide comprehensive, universal health coverage for every New Yorker, according to The State Assembly Health Committee’s notice of public hearings.

The plan would remove the need for co-pays, deductibles or out-of-network expenses. The funding for the system would come directly out of taxpayers’ pay checks, just like other taxes.  The plan would be similar to the Medicare program but would be for everyone regardless of age or employment status.

New Yorker’s, like those in many other states, have been grappling with rising premium costs through private insurers as well as rising co-pay requirements.

The Affordable Care Act, more commonly known as Obamacare, has strapped millions of Americans who have seen their monthly premiums rise to more than their mortgage payments. And for some, the cost of private insurance is more than they can afford, even when an employer picks up a percentage of the cost.

Health care sponsored by large employers is estimated to cost $9,560 per employee, with the average employee’s share $2,975 before out-of-pocket costs such as co-pays, benefit denials and uncovered and non-covered services.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are still approximately 40 million uninsured and under-insured Americans, even with ACA.

Opponents of the New York State Plan say it’s nothing more than socialized insurance.

Public hearings on the proposed law begin today.

 

 

Image: Flickr/Brogan & Partners

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