Tuesday Night: Health Care is a Human Right
How New York State can guarantee healthcare for all by passing the New York Health Act (A.4738 / S.4840)
What: Info session and discussion about the campaign to guarantee health care to all New Yorkers by passing the New York Health Act.
When: Tuesday, March 21, 7 p.m.
Where: Cafe Domenico, 2011 Genesee St, Utica
Who: Campaign for New York Health, Cafe Domenico, Central New York Citizens in Action, Green Party of Herkimer-Oneida County
Why: Under the proposed Republican healthcare plan, 24 million American will lose their health insurance. The elderly would have to pay up to five times more than the young, and people with chronic illnesses could see a 30% surcharge on their premiums.
The New York Health Act (A.4738 / S.4840) would provide universal, comprehensive healthcare coverage to all New Yorkers and billions of dollars in savings for New York families, businesses, and local governments. All New Yorkers would be “covered for all medically necessary services, including: primary, preventive, specialists, hospital, mental health, reproductive health care, dental, vision, prescription drug, and medical supply costs.” The care provided under NY Health would be more comprehensive than plans offered by health insurance companies today.
According to an analysis by University of Massachusetts economist Gerald Friedman, New York Health Act single payer will save over $70 billion per year, including $26 billion in savings on insurance administration and profit, $16 billion in reduced drug and medical device prices, and $5 billion in reduced fraud related to overbilling. 98% of all households will be spending less on health care under the NY Health Act.
The New York Health Act passed the Assembly in 2015 and 2016. It has been reintroduced in the Assembly and Senate for the 2017 legislative session by Assembly member Dick Gottfried and Senator Gustavo Rivera, respectively.