What is the New York Health Act?

The New York Health Act is a universal healthcare bill in New York State that would guarantee high quality, comprehensive healthcare for all New Yorkers.

Why do we need it?

The United States is the only industrialized country without a universal healthcare system.

Americans pay the highest costs for healthcare in the world and have the worst health outcomes. New Yorkers pay the 2nd highest premiums in the United States.

New Yorkers deserve high-quality healthcare, without being driven into debt to access it.

73%

of New Yorkers believe that high healthcare costs are a major issue.

$10,191

What the average New Yorker spends on healthcare per year.

740,000

New Yorkers are in collections with medical debt.

Over 1 million New Yorkers

lack coverage citing cost as the primary reason and many more are underinsured, meaning they have some form of health insurance, but still cannot afford to get the care they need. 

Our current healthcare system is unsustainable, and it’s failing New Yorkers. New Yorkers pay the second highest cost for premiums in the country and rank in the bottom half of states for health access and outcomes.

What would the New York Health Act do?

The New York Health Act would guarantee healthcare for every New Yorker — everybody in, nobody out. It would also remove the financial barriers to care by eliminating:

  • Monthly premiums

  • Deductibles

  • Co-pays

  • Prescription drug costs

  • Supplemental insurance plans

  • Coinsurance

The New York Health Act would also expand coverage to include:

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Hearing

  • Mental health

  • Maternal care

  • Reproductive care

  • Long-term care

  • Substance abuse treatment

No More Networks

Current health plans negotiate with certain doctors and hospitals to create a tiered healthcare system or as we know them “networks.” These plans then force you to seek care only in the networks your health plan has chosen for you. Under the New York Health Act, networks would be a thing of the past. The New York Health Act would eliminate networks and allow you to seek care from the doctors and hospitals you choose.

How is the New York Health Act different from our current healthcare system?

Our current healthcare system is a for-profit, insurance-based system. Insurance companies act as middlemen between you and healthcare providers by granting you access to their network once you pay their fees. Their operating expenses and profits come out of the monthly premiums you pay for their service and the taxes you pay for government subsidies. In short, the less you use your insurance the more profit for your insurance company.

The New York Health Act is a single-payer, universal healthcare system that eliminates the unnecessary bureaucracy of insurance companies and lets you interact directly with doctors and hospitals. By eliminating the middle men, doctors and health practitioners will have more time to do what they do best—treat patients.

So, when you’re sick, you see a doctor. There’s no more searching for a doctor who’s “in-network,” worrying if additional treatment will be covered by your insurance company, or how much medication will cost. It’s all covered so you can worry less and focus more on your health.

You’re sick… now what?

What would change for seniors on Medicare?

Simply speaking, seniors would get a whole lot more under the New York Health Act. Seniors would no longer need supplemental Medicare plans, and have their prescriptions, vision, dental, mental health and long term care included.


What would change for union members?

There are a number of ways that passing the New York Health Act would benefit unions.

  • The NYHA would free up unions to focus on other issues. Currently, unions spend a lot of time and resources negotiating healthcare benefits for their members. With the New York Health Act, unions would be able to focus on other issues, such as wages, working conditions, and paid time off.

  • The NYHA would make it easier for unions to organize. One of the biggest barriers to union organizing is the fear of losing health insurance. With the New York Health Act, workers would not have to worry about losing their health insurance if they are forced to go on strike.

  • The NYHA would increase union membership. A 2015 study by the Institute for Economic Policy Research found that states with single-payer healthcare had higher rates of union membership than states without single-payer healthcare. The study's authors argued that single-payer healthcare can make unions more attractive to workers by providing them with a stronger bargaining position with employers.

  • Public Unions will be stronger. Under the new version of the New York Health Act, public employers will be required to maintain the portion of health expenses they are currently covering. If a public employer pays 100% of benefits now, they will be required to continue covering benefits at the same level once the NYHA is implemented.

What would change for businesses?

The New York Health Act would be hugely beneficial to businesses. Instead of paying a per employee premium, the business would pay a proportionally smaller tax to the government to offset the cost of coverage. Business owners can focus on running their businesses, instead of fighting health insurance companies. The savings can be passed on to their customers, and allow them to pay more in wages. For more on the business case for universal, single-payer healthcare, visit: www.fixithealthcare.com

New Yorkers deserve a healthcare system that prioritizes their health over profits — and we are leading that fight.

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