Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele, Jr. (I, D, WF, WE - Sag Harbor) today announced that he helped pass the New York Health Act, landmark legislation establishing a single-payer health insurance plan that would ensure all New Yorkers have affordable health care coverage (A.4738-A).

“We cannot allow New Yorkers to face the life-or-death consequences of skyrocketing premiums and insufficient health coverage,” said Assemblyman Thiele. “If we truly believe that access to health care is a human right, then a single-payer system is the best way forward.”

The New York Health Act would establish a universal health care system within the state, known as New York Health, and expand coverage eligibility to include all residents, regardless of wealth, income, age or pre-existing condition. In addition, every enrollee would have access to the full range of doctors and service providers offered. The plan would provide comprehensive inpatient and outpatient care, primary and preventive care, maternity care, prescription drug costs, laboratory testing, rehabilitative care and dental, vision and hearing care.

Out-of-state health care would also be covered, both when the need for services arises during travel and when there is a clinical reason to receive care outside the state.

Care providers and coordinators would be fully paid by New York Health, with no copays, deductibles or other charges to patients. The system would be publicly funded based on a shared 80/20 employer/employee payroll contribution that would be progressive and based on the amount the employee is paid. This eliminates the regressive tax of premiums, copays and deductibles that is currently imposed on patients. Employers would no longer be responsible for paying premiums and they would also no longer have to sign contracts with insurance companies and deal with the administration of health plans. Further, small businesses wouldn’t be forced to compete with the health plans offered by their large corporate competitors.

Additionally, state funding would be combined with federal funds that are currently received for Medicare, Medicaid and Child Health Plus to create the New York Health Trust Fund. The state would also seek federal waivers that will allow New York to completely fold those programs into New York Health. Additionally, the local share of Medicaid funding would be ended, offering major property tax relief for New Yorkers, noted Assemblyman Thiele.

“Even for New Yorkers with insurance coverage, an illness or hospitalization can lead to nearly insurmountable personal debt and, in some cases, bankruptcy,” said Assemblyman Thiele. “New York Health will ensure New Yorkers no longer have to fear being turned down because of a pre-existing condition or forgo critical medical care because of an inability to pay.”