The New York Health Act is Not the Answer

For Immediate Release
November 25, 2019

Ouch! Single Payer Would Hurt New York State 

Legislation would have a negative impact on areas like the Hudson Valley 

State lawmakers are wrapping up their series of public hearings on the New York Health Act with the final hearing taking place today in Kingston. The members of the Realities of Single Payer coalition are hopeful that lawmakers, when presented with the facts and with objective, empirical evidence will realize how devastating a single payer system would be in New York. Whether it be the reduced access to the best health care services in the world, the unprecedented tax burden placed on New Yorkers, or the loss of thousands of jobs, single payer will decimate the health care delivery system and the New York economy.

The adoption of a single payer system in New York is especially ill-conceived considering New York, as a state, is on the precipice of universal coverage. For example, the uninsured rate in the Hudson Valley is 2% when you consider the amount of people who currently don’t have health insurance but are eligible for free or low-cost public health coverage. There are ways to get the uninsured rate down to zero and make healthcare more affordable overall. The New York Health Act is not the answer.

Single Payer would create the largest state tax increase in U.S. history, with new taxes of more than $250 billion a year when fully implemented, according to independent analysis by the RAND Corporation. For most people, the savings from eliminating premiums and out-of-pocket costs will be far less than the taxes needed to fund the system (See the recent independent analysis by reputable health care policy expert, Dr. Kenneth Thorpe).

Universal coverage is achievable. The members of the Realities of Single Payer coalition are supportive of adopting ways to make coverage more affordable and to get every single New Yorker covered. Let’s fix what is broken instead of blowing up the entire system and replacing it with an even more expensive, experimental, government-run system.

“We hope that after the latest hearings on government-run healthcare, that lawmakers realize what the majority of New Yorkers and the majority of Americans already know; the costs and risks of such a system far outweigh any possible benefits. The New York Health Act would be terrible for New Yorkers.” – Heather C. Briccetti, Esq., President & CEO, The Business Council of New York State, Inc.

“New York State is already a challenging place to start and grow a business; small business owners pay among the highest property, income, and fuel taxes in the nation. Access to affordable coverage and quality healthcare for small business operators and their employees is a shared priority, but the last thing Main Street businesses can afford are the tens of billions in new payroll taxes required by the New York Health Act.” – Greg Biryla, NFIB’s NY State Director

“Our members depend on us to protect their benefits. The sponsors of this bill are asking us to abandon our current coverage for a completely unknown system with unknown costs and unknown future increases. This requires a leap of faith that most union members will not want us to take.” – Richard Wells, President, Police Conference of New York

“Historically, when government has looked to expand access to care and coverage, it has turned to health plans and health plans have responded. While working with the state to ensure high quality, affordable care is available to millions of New Yorkers, plans have also worked to improve the overall health and well-being of their members. We repeatedly hear patients say they are happy with their health plans and don’t want to lose the coverage they have.” – Leslie Moran, Senior VP, NY Health Plan Association

“Can New York State provide a better health care system? The answer is yes. Rather than pass the New York Health Act, the BCW would like to see the New York State Legislature work with stakeholders to make improvements to the New York State Health Exchange so that those New Yorkers who have not yet enrolled in the program have the opportunity to identify and select a sustainable health care plan. New York State did a great deal of work to build the New York State Health Exchange. Don’t tear down what all of you worked so hard to achieve.” – John Ravitz, Executive Vice President & COO, The Business Council of Westchester

“As we continue to work with Governor Cuomo, the State Legislature and others in making New York a place open for business, passage of a single payer model implemented by and in one state will likely make it more difficult to attract and retain businesses in the region.” – Matthew Cohen, Vice President of Government Affairs & Communications, Long Island Association

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