Support Universal Healthcare in New York!

Health care is a human right and New York could lead the nation in Medicare for All — if our State Senators vote YES on the New York Health Act!

What is the New York Health Act?

Assembly Bill A4738 (Gottfried) | Senate Bill S4840 (Rivera)

The NY Health Act is a bill for comprehensive, universal health coverage for every New Yorker, provided through a single-payer system that would replace private insurance.

Download Flyer (PDF)

New York Health Act

Freedom to choose
You pick your health care providers. No network restrictions.

Comprehensive coverage
All New Yorkers are covered and patients and doctors make health care decisions— not insurance companies.

Paid for fairly
Coverage is funded through a progressive payroll deduction similar to FICA, based on ability to pay. No premiums, deductibles or co-pays.

Good for local businesses
Simplifies and reduces costs for employers by taking them out of the business of buying health coverage.

The most affordable way
No more wasting billions of dollars each year on insurance administration and profits for big corporations.

Can universal health care really happen in NYS?

Yes, and we are closer than ever. Last year, the bill easily passed the NYS Assembly. However, the bill got stuck in the NYS Senate Health Committee. Two of the State Senators who represent our region (Seward and Larkin) are on that committee and they need to know that you want to see them not only get this bill out of committee, but that they will vote YES for the bill once it gets to the floor.

Without the ACA, or a diminished ACA, will the NY Health Act still be financially viable?

Yes, and it can actually help NY deal with the consequences of Trumpcare. With the damage that is being done to the ACA, NY will lose some of its federal health care funding. These losses can be offset by the savings that NY Health delivers—through decreased administrative costs and higher bargaining power for pharmaceuticals and medical devices.

The time to act is NOW!

For in-depth information on the New York Health Act, visit the Campaign for New York Health website. This economic analysis is also particularly helpful in understanding the financial impacts of the NYHA.

 

Call your State Senator

Please look up your State Senator here if you are unsure who to call.

Sen. Larkin photo William J. Larkin, Jr. (District #39)
(518) 455-2770
Sen. Bonacic photo John J. Bonacic (District #42)
(518) 455-3181
Sen. Amedore photo George A. Amedore, Jr. (District #46)
(518) 455-2350
Sen. Seward photo James L. Seward (District #51)
(518) 455-3131

Phone Call Script / Talking Points: New York Health Act (PDF)

Target: NYS Senators Representing Ulster County

When calling your State Senator, you may get lucky and actually speak with him, but it will more likely be a staff member.

First, introduce yourself:

Hello, my name is ____________ and I’m one of your constituents from the town/city of __________.
[If you have an organizational or business affiliation, feel free to mention it here, e.g., “I’m a medical professional, business owner, farmer, self-employed, union member, etc.”]

Next, tell him why you’re calling:

I’m calling to urge you to co-sponsor the New York Health Act (Senate Bill S4840) because it would:

  • provide the most affordable way to offer comprehensive health coverage for all New Yorkers—$45 billion less than we spend now
  • make New York State more business-friendly by simplifying and reducing costs for employers by taking them out of the business of buying health coverage
  • reduce administrative waste and offer more accountability
  • allow New Yorkers the freedom to choose their own doctors

Plus, if the ACA continues to lose funding, NYS will lose some of its federal funding for health care. These losses can be offset by the savings that NY Health delivers—through decreased administrative costs and higher bargaining power for pharmaceuticals and medical devices.

Now, find out where he stands:

Will you co-sponsor this bill, Senator_________?

And respond to his answer:

  • If he says yes, thank him heartily!
  • If he says no, he will not co-sponsor, ask him:

Did you know that New York Health Act is widely supported by a diverse group of your constituents that includes educators, health care workers, utility workers, teamsters, machinists, auto workers, and transit workers, as well as many of your colleagues in the NYS Legislature?

If you won’t co-sponsor at this time, will you commit to vote for this bill when it comes up for a vote in the future?

  • If he says yes, thank him!
  • If he says no, ask him:

Is there more information that I can get you so that you can support this bill?

Please write down the information needed and tell your Senator, “I’ll get back to you on this.” Contact Charlotte of Ulster People and she will help with follow-up.

Let us know how it goes! connect@ulsterpeople.org

Useful links:

Write a Letter to the Editor

Let’s convince our NY State Senators to co-sponsor the New York Health Act by writing letters to newspapers and getting the word out. Urge friends and neighbors to send letters to the editors of your local newspapers as well.
(Download as a PDF)

Simple tips for Writing a Letter to the Editor:

  • Keep it short
  • Make it personal
  • Be accurate
  • Proofread it

Submitting your letter:

When you submit your letter, include your name, home address, email address, and daytime phone number, as some publications may call you for verification. Feel free to submit to more than one newspaper.

Sample letter, format #1, an open letter to your State Senator (remember to also mail to your Senator!):

Please look up your State Senator here if you are unsure who to write to.

An open letter to Senator ________(your senator’s name here):

I am writing to urge you to co-sponsor the New York Health Act, providing universal and affordable health care to all New Yorkers. As a ________ (parent, teacher, business owner, etc) in the community, this bill will help me by (your personal story eg , allowing me to choose our own doctor for a sick relative, making NY business friendly since it reduces costs for businesses, making it more affordable with no deductible or co-pay).

In addition, the New York Health Act will reduce costs for the state of NY, even if ACA is repealed, by reducing administrative waste and increasing bargaining power for pharmaceuticals and medical devices. PLEASE CO-SPONSOR THE NEW YORK HEALTH ACT, Senate Bill S3525.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sample letter, format #2, a letter to your community

Universal health care may be out of reach nationally, but it’s possible in New York—if our State Senators vote YES on the New York Health Act. The NY Health Act is a bill for comprehensive, universal health coverage for every New Yorker that would replace private insurance. The bill already has enough votes to pass in the NYS Assembly and only five more votes are needed in the NYS Senate for passage.

With the NY Health Act, we’ll have freedom to choose our health care providers and our doctors—not insurance companies—will decide what is medically necessary. The coverage will be paid for like Medicare, based on one’s ability to pay so it will be fair, and it’s good for local businesses, because employers will no longer have to buy health insurance for their employees.

In addition, the New York Health Act will reduce costs for the state of NY, even if ACA is repealed, by reducing administrative waste and increasing bargaining power for pharmaceuticals and medical devices. PLEASE CALL YOUR STATE SENATOR AND URGE THEM TO CO-SPONSOR THE NEW YORK HEALTH ACT, Senate Bill S3525. We’ll all be healthier for it!

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