The pain has arrived: Across New York state, hundreds of thousands of us – including many in Delaware County – have lost our health insurance because of federal cuts to the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid. More cuts are on the way. Meanwhile, health insurance corporations keep raising their premiums, deductibles, and co-pays, driving even more people off insurance—and stressing out the rest of us with their maddening bureaucracy.
County and local governments are feeling the pain too, as they try to plug the gaps left by federal cuts. Their budgets are straining to cover the rapidly rising cost of their own employees’ healthcare. “We’re in trouble,” said Colchester’s supervisor in a front-page story in The Reporter Sept. 24. The town’s healthcare costs are expected to rise by nearly 18% in 2027.
But a new analysis shows that passage of a single bill – the New York Health Act – could solve this problem. The analysis found that if this bill is enacted, our towns and school districts would spend 80 to 85% less on employee healthcare. The county would spend 90 to 95% less. NYHA would save local governments between 12 and 14% of their total budgets.
The NY Health Act would create a “Medicare for All” healthcare system within New York state, providing expanded health insurance coverage (including vision, dental, and long-term care) for every resident of the state. Costs would be covered through a statewide progressive payroll tax. A study of the plan by the Rand Corporation found that despite this expanded coverage, under NYHA 90% of New Yorkers will spend less on healthcare than they do now. Savings come from bypassing insurance industry bureaucracy and profits.
The NY Health Act might sound pie-in-the-sky, but it isn’t. The bill has been passed multiple times by the NY State Assembly. And it’s popular: Recent polls show a majority of Americans now support Medicare for All—and that includes a high percentage of independents and Republicans. We’re all fed up with our current healthcare system.
Fortunately, this year, people in Delaware County have three candidates for the state legislature who have pledged to support the NY Health Act. NY State Assembly candidate Janet Tweed, a physical therapist, has a close-up view of our health insurance dysfunction and has been eloquent in her support of the NY Health Act—as has Michele Frazier, who is running for NY State Senate. Vicki Davis, who is running for Assembly in a district that includes Sidney, Masonville, and Deposit, is also a vocal supporter of NYHA.
If you want to get health insurance companies off your back and support healthcare for all, vote on Nov. 3!
Laura McClure
Bovina
