New York lawmakers and healthcare advocates are intensifying their push for the New York Health Act (NYHA), a bill that would establish a single-payer healthcare system for all residents of the state, according to a Hudson Valley Post report.
First proposed by Assembly Member Dick Gottfried in 1992 but never adopted, the legislation has gained renewed momentum under left-wing Democratic leadership in the state legislature.
Healthcare workers and state lawmakers gathered at the New York State Capitol this week to demand the passage of the Act, a universal single-payer that would replace private insurance networks with a state-funded program.
Supporters at the rally argued the legislation is necessary to protect vulnerable residents from federal spending cuts and ensure medical coverage for every person who lives or works full-time in the state.
The proposed system would eliminate all premiums, deductibles, and copays, covering a wide range of “medically necessary” care including primary visits, prescriptions, dental, vision, and long-term support services.
Proponents, including groups like Physicians for a National Health Program, estimate the state could see net savings of $11.4 billion by removing private insurance profits and reducing the administrative costs that currently weigh down providers.
Democratic State Senator Jabari Brisport told the crowd that while the bill has stalled in the legislature since 2015, both legislative chambers now have enough co-sponsors to finally move the act forward.
Medical professionals at the event highlighted the human cost of the current system, noting that over one million New Yorkers remain uninsured and one in six insured Americans face “surprise bills” after hospital stays. Dr. Alex Le, an internal medicine resident from the Bronx, told attendees that his patients often skip treatments to avoid medical debt, stating that doctors currently spend their shifts “fighting insurance companies instead of fighting disease.”
If passed, the system would be funded through a combination of progressive income-based taxes and employer contributions, with businesses required to pay at least 80% of the payroll tax. While critics and many Senate Republicans have raised concerns about the potential for major tax increases, supporters point to provisions in the bill that set aside funds to assist insurance employees during the transition.
Critics also point to the poor record of state-run healthcare in other countries and suggest that the solution is a socialistic one which will do little to deal with the real problems in American healthcare.
Advocates are now calling on the public to contact local legislators and share personal stories of healthcare failures to ensure the bill remains front and center during the current legislative session.