What is it?
The New York Health Act is a bill in the New York State Legislature, in Albany, that would bring single-payer healthcare to New York State, guaranteeing healthcare for every New Yorker, and saving New York, and New Yorkers, a lot of money.
Why do we need it?
Our healthcare system is unnecessarily complicated, wasteful and expensive, which means New Yorkers go without healthcare and go into debt.
New Yorkers have medical debt
New Yorkers lack health coverage
of New Yorkers report delaying or avoiding care because of cost
Right now, our healthcare system is designed to maximize profit, not keep New Yorkers healthy.
Let's compare our current healthcare system to the New York Health Act.
You pay for insurance premiums, and pay your taxes
You pay your taxes
You get sick
You get sick
You visit a doctor chosen by your insurance company
You see the doctor, or visit the hospital, you want
You pay your copay or bills to meet your deductible
You receive the treatment you need
You must get approvals for additional care
You pay additional copays and expenses until you hit your out-of-pocket max
Your coverage and deductible reset each year
Our current, insurance-based system vs. the New York Health Act
| Feature | Current system | New York Health Act |
|---|---|---|
| 100% guaranteed healthcare for every New Yorker |  |  |
| No insurance premiums, copays and deductibles | | |
| You choose your doctors and hospitals | | |
| Saves doctors time | | |
| Covers prescriptions | | |
| Covers dental | | |
| Covers vision | | |
| Covers hearing | | |
| Covers long-term care | | |
| Covers mental health | | |
| Covers substance use treatment | | |
The New York Health Act is projected to save over 92% of New Yorkers money on healthcare. How?
By eliminating premiums, copays and deductibles, and using the negotiating power of over 20 million New Yorkers to drive down costs.
The New York Health Act would also remove the additional costs of the fraud, waste and unnecessary expenses of the health insurance industry that are passed on to New Yorkers.
Over92%of New Yorkers would spend less
The New York Health Act would save small businesses money. How?
Under the New York Health Act, they could use those savings to reinvest in their businesses, hire more workers and pay them more.
The New York Health Act would cut government spending. How?
New Yorkers don't just pay for health coverage through their premiums, they pay for it through their taxes as well.
At a state level, the New York Health Act would cut spending by at least $11 billion per year. Counties, municipalities and school districts would also drastically cut their spending.
Counties would cut healthcare spending by 90–95%
Projected savings each year
Municipalities would cut healthcare spending by 80–85%
Projected savings each year
School districts would cut healthcare spending by 80–85%
Projected savings each year
NYC alone would save
$13.6 billioneach year
These savings could be used to lower property taxes, and reinvest in our schools and communities.
The big question…
“But how will we pay for it?”
The New York Health Act would cost less than our current system and save over 92% of families money, while guaranteeing coverage to every New Yorker.
So, the short answer is, you're already paying for it. You'd just pay a lot less, through a progressive tax that is based on a person's ability to pay.
Can New York pass something as transformative as the New York Health Act?
Yes. We absolutely can. The United States is the only industrialized country without universal healthcare. We do not have to settle for the exploitative, wasteful, and overly complex system that we have now.
Do New Yorkers even want the New York Health Act?
60% of New Yorkers support the New York Health Act, and the bill has majority support in the New York State Assembly and Senate. So, yes.
Which organizations have endorsed the New York Health Act?
Organizations across New York are fighting to bring universal healthcare to New York.
Loading endorsing organizations…
What can I do to help?
Email your legislators and let them know that passing the New York Health Act needs to be a priority, or make a donation to support the fight for the New York Health Act.
The New York Health Act is the moral and fiscally responsible path forward for New York.