Long Island Could See New York State Run Health Care System

December 9, 2007

(Long Island, N.Y.) New York State Assembly Health Committee Chair Richard Gottfried on Wednesday proposed a state-run, universal health care system that likely would be paid for by new taxes. Under the plan, all state residents would be enrolled in health insurance similar to Medicaid or Medicare, and there would be no deductibles or copayments. The system would be funded by an income tax on individuals and businesses.

The proposal would allow residents to retain private health insurance if they choose, and it would allow private, not-for-profit insurers to contract with the state to provide coverage for beneficiaries of the state plan. The state would set insurance premium rates, and insurers participating in the state plan would have to accept them. The plan would not include mandates and would build on the state’s Family Health Plus and Child Health Plus programs.

New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer on Tuesday announced that the state has hired the Urban Institute, an independent research organization, to prepare a report evaluating different universal health care options for the state. The report is due by May 31, 2008. Several groups already have developed plans to expand health coverage in the state, including the Community Service Society, which presented a plan on Tuesday that would expand Child Health Plus. The proposal was presented at the final meeting of the Partnership for Coverage, an initiative by Spitzer to promote universal coverage in the state .

Currently about half of Long Island residents get health insurance through their work, either receiving it as a benefit free of charge or splitting the cost with their employer. Another quarter of the population receives health insurance through a public health plan like Medicaid or Medicare. Funded by various levels of government, these programs are available to the elderly, the poor, and other disadvantaged populations. But 1.7 million New Yorkers have no insurance at all.

“There’s nothing more fundamental in our lives than basic health care. The needs are clear, but meeting those needs can be very difficult. It requires consumers to understand an often bewildering array of health care choices and options. Long Island consumers especially need to educate themselves on how the health care market operates, on their rights under state law to obtain care and on the various forms of assistance that are already available.” said New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer.

Over the past several years, New York State increased the number of people who were eligible for programs like Family Health Plus, and Child Health Plus. It also tapped into private groups like community organizations and Health Maintenance Organizations to enroll people in public health insurance.

Better Coverage for All of Us at Lower Cost, By Richard N. Gottfried, Chair, Assembly Committee on Health, Full Report: http://assembly.state.ny.us/member_files/075/20071204a/fullreport.pdf Brief Narrative: http://assembly.state.ny.us/member_files/075/20071204/