Assemblyman Brian Miller (R,I,C,Ref-New Hartford) expressed his concerns over a potential single-payer health care system proposal that was heavily debated at the Joint Budget Conference Committee on Health this week in Albany. The $226 billion proposal would be paid for by imposing two new taxes on already overburdened working New Yorkers.

“The governor and Comptroller Tom DiNapoli this week announced that the state budget is going to be short by more than $2 billion already; how on earth can the state afford to implement a single-payer health care system that could cost as much as $226 billion more,” asked Miller. “The hardworking people of our state are already struggling to pay the highest taxes in the nation. It is unacceptable to ask them for more.”

Though the exact cost of implementing a single-payer health care program in New York remains unknown, studies on the issue have estimated it could cost anywhere between $225.1 billion (The Economic Analysis of the New York Health Act) to $389.6 billion or more (The Price of Single Payer Health Care in New York). The legislation (A.4738 of 2017-18; awaiting 2019-20 bill number) creates two new taxes to pay for the program, including a payroll tax on all working New Yorkers (including those who are self-employed). This tax would increase based on an individual’s salary and individual employees would be required to pay up to 20 percent of the tax themselves, with their employer paying the remaining 80 percent (self-employed persons would pay 100 percent of the tax themselves). The second new tax would be an additional income tax on interests, dividends and capital gains. The second tax would also apply to New Yorkers who are employed out-of-state or by out-of-state employers.

“This is an issue that every New Yorker should be concerned about because not only would it dramatically increase your tax burden but it could also compromise the quality of health care you would receive. This plan would replace existing federal options for New Yorkers on Medicare or those getting their health coverage through the Veterans Administration with an unknown program. With the governor now proposing to create a commission on the topic, this is something the people of our state need to be aware of,” said Miller.