New York lawmakers reintroduced an amended New York Health Act on Friday, aiming to create a statewide universal healthcare system.
The new version clarifies that state and municipal employees, including out-of-state retirees, would be entitled to New York Health benefits.
Sponsors say changes made would prevent employers from shouldering the entire cost, setting a limit of 80% of the payroll tax burden to public employers, and 20% to employees.
The proposal for a single-payer health system has a history of support from some of the state’s largest labor unions, though recently some have rescinded their backing due to concerns about losing quality of coverage.
Critics, however, argue that the proposed healthcare system could cost the state hundreds of billions of dollars to implement and limit care access choices.
Some warn of a potential 100 to 150% tax increase in the first year. Despite such opposition, proponents of the bill assert that a single-payer system would reduce current administrative and emergency care costs.
They also contend that counties and localities would see reduced property taxes due to lowered Medicaid and health insurance costs for county employees.
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