About the New York Health Act

Star Hesse
Posted 8/21/12

The editorial in the November 12-18 River Reporter, highlighting the multiple benefits of the New York Health Act, was especially timely given the serious shortcomings of current healthcare programs, …

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About the New York Health Act

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The editorial in the November 12-18 River Reporter, highlighting the multiple benefits of the New York Health Act, was especially timely given the serious shortcomings of current healthcare programs, the skyrocketing costs of that flawed system and the rapid rise in taxes necessary to fund even a semblance of former safety net services. Passing the New York Health Act will address all of these concerns and more by immediately:

1. Making low-cost, comprehensive health insurance available to all New York residents;

2. Lowering taxes through elimination of county Medicaid cost sharing, (39% of Sullivan County’s last property tax assessment); and

3. Significantly lowering healthcare costs for governments, taxpayers, employers, employees and consumers, by taking administration of healthcare programs away from the for-profit insurance industry.

Under the New York Health program, 98% of New Yorkers will pay less for much better health coverage, while realizing huge tax and healthcare savings. Even with greatly expanded healthcare coverage and services, the New York Health Act would still generate an estimated net savings of $45 billion for New York State by 2019.

So what’s stopping this vital legislation from becoming law? The Assembly passed the New York Health Act last May, but the bill is now stalled in the Senate. Why? Because some senators, including Sen. Bonacic, won’t support getting New York Health out of committee for a vote by the full Senate.

In a recent promotional mailing, Sen. Bonacic claims “A RECORD OF DELIVERING ON BEHALF OF TAXPAYERS… Leading the way to reduce property taxes and provide real relief for hardworking families.” (emphasis his). Really? Actions speak louder than words, Senator Bonacic. Your failure to support the New York Health Act, legislation that would provide greatly expanded healthcare to all New York residents, significantly lower healthcare costs for everyone and completely eliminate the county Medicaid cost share, belies this claim. If you want to claim you’re bringing relief to taxpayers and hard pressed, working families, you must act to support and vote for the New York Health Act.

In these times of tax-cap restrictions and spiraling healthcare costs, when people can’t afford the healthcare they need, and governments can no longer raise taxes for revenue to keep the county going, we cannot allow this vital legislation that benefits so many, to be blocked by a special interest few.

Please contact your state senators and tell them to pass the New York Health Act now. It will save lives, it will save money and it’s the right thing to do.

[Star D. Hesse is a resident of Narrowsburg, NY.]

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