On July 16, The Buffalo News published an opinion piece arguing against the New York Health Act. The author, Janet Trautwein, is CEO of the National Association for Health Underwriters (NAHU), a professional association in Washington, D.C., that promotes the health insurance industry.

The New York Health Act, or NYHA, would establish a single, universal, public health care program in our state. Every New York resident, and those who work in New York but live elsewhere, would be eligible. All services requiring a medical professional would be fully covered: dental, vision, mental health, long-term care and pharmaceuticals.

It eliminates the out-of-pocket payments, like copays and premiums, that prevent many families from receiving care.

A 2018 report from the Rand Corp. found that even conservative models of NYHA implementation showed massive benefits. Under this new system, 90% of New Yorkers would pay less in health care costs and the state would save $80 billion over 10 years. Public hospitals would benefit from a higher reimbursement rate, reducing the chance of closures.

A new public administrative agency, needed to implement the New York Health Plan, would cause an estimated 2% increase in public sector employment. That translates to 150,000 new jobs with good pay, benefits, and union backing.

Senate leadership refused to bring NYHA to a vote. This outcome was a blow to New Yorkers, of whom approximately 1 million are uninsured. A 2019 survey of New York adults found that 52% of respondents struggled with health care affordability the prior year. Burdens associated with cost pushed 45% of those same New Yorkers to avoid or delay seeking medical care. That means people not getting help when needed, and potentially developing more serious issues.

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Originally Appeared Here