Assemblymember Harry B. Bronson (D-Rochester/Chili/Henrietta) announced that he helped pass the New York Health Act establishing a single-payer, health care program that would provide coverage to each and every resident of New York State (A.4738).

“As Washington moves forward with efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act and make health insurance unaffordable for millions, we in New York want to reaffirm our belief that no New York State resident should be priced out of the care they need,” said Bronson.

The New York Health Act creates a single-payer health care system – New York Health – and eliminates all barriers to coverage, including wealth, income, age and pre-existing condition. All residents would have access to any doctor or service provider for any and all health care needs, without co-pays, deductibles or other out-of-pocket fees. New York Health would be funded based on an 80/20 employer/employee contribution that would be progressive and based on the amount the employee is paid.

Employers would no longer be responsible for paying premiums – saving them money – and they would also no longer have to sign contracts with insurance companies and deal with the administration of health plans. The plan also benefits small businesses, which won’t have to compete with the health plans offered by larger, corporate competitors. Homeowners would also see property tax relief as the local share of Medicaid would be ended as federal and state funding are combined into the New York Health Trust Fund.

“It’s completely unfair that the cost of insurance or having a pre-existing condition means that people don’t get the lifesaving treatment they need,” said Bronson. “Single-payer health care will make this problem a thing of the past and save money for employees and employers alike.”