Guest Post: The New York Health Act, Explained

Written by Ursula Rozum & YuLing Koh Hsu, of the Campaign for New York Health Act and the Poor People’s Campaign. Video shot by Kistein Monkhouse, of Patient Orator.

“If your house catches on fire, the fire department comes, and they don’t ask whether you’ve paid your fire premium. If your child is ready to go to elementary school, nobody asks ‘gee, did you pay your taxes?’ ‘Oh if you want your kid to learn math, you gotta pay extra.’ We don’t do that in this country. We haven’t since the 1780s, and healthcare should be the same.” 

The NY Health Act (A5248A/S3577A) is a bill in the NYS legislature that would provide comprehensive, universal health coverage for every New York resident and worker, replacing existing private insurance company coverage. You and your health care providers work to keep you healthy. The NY Health program pays the bill. 

What you need to know about the NY Health Act:

– Everybody is covered, regardless of jobs, age, or immigration status. 

– All types of healthcare are covered (mental health, long-term care, dental…because teeth are part of your body.)

– Healthcare would be paid for based on your ability to pay (through progressive taxes so the rich pay more) and there would be no out-of-pocket costs at the point of receiving care or prescriptions. 

– Healthcare will no longer be tied to jobs or relationships, and the type of coverage you have will no longer be tied to your income.

Assembly Member Richard Gottfried, introduced the NY Health Act and continues to fight for it over 20 years later.

Listen as Assembly Member Gottfried, explains the ins and outs of The New York Health Act and how universal coverage and a single payer option is one way we can achieve affordable, health care for all in New York.