Lawmakers in Albany are again advancing the NY Health Act, which would abolish private health insurance and herd all NYers into a state-run “single payer” plan financed with massive tax hikes.
Here are 10 reasons why “Albanycare” is the wrong way to go.
empirecenter.org/publications/t…
Here are 10 reasons why “Albanycare” is the wrong way to go.
empirecenter.org/publications/t…
#1: It’s a leap of faith
Instead of modeling their plan on an existing system, the authors propose a 100% tax-funded blanket health plan with no private alternatives allowed. Nothing quite like it has ever been tried before—in the U.S. or anywhere else.
Instead of modeling their plan on an existing system, the authors propose a 100% tax-funded blanket health plan with no private alternatives allowed. Nothing quite like it has ever been tried before—in the U.S. or anywhere else.
#2: It’s unnecessarily disruptive
NY's uninsured population has dropped to a historic low of about 1M, many of whom are eligible for existing programs. The state could focus on covering that group without changing things for everyone else.
NY's uninsured population has dropped to a historic low of about 1M, many of whom are eligible for existing programs. The state could focus on covering that group without changing things for everyone else.
#3: It will break the bank
This proposal would put the entire $300B health system on the state’s balance sheet, dwarfing everything else. Balance the budget of this one program—by cutting costs, raising revenue or both—would become Albany’s dominant obsession.
This proposal would put the entire $300B health system on the state’s balance sheet, dwarfing everything else. Balance the budget of this one program—by cutting costs, raising revenue or both—would become Albany’s dominant obsession.
#4: It requires economy-busting tax hikes
Financing single-payer would require tax hikes on an unprecedented scale. Those hardest hit would be incentivized to move away. The state’s ability to raise money for other priorities would be diminished if not eliminated.
Financing single-payer would require tax hikes on an unprecedented scale. Those hardest hit would be incentivized to move away. The state’s ability to raise money for other priorities would be diminished if not eliminated.
#5: It lacks viable cost controls
The proposal would abolish existing restraints on spending without clearly identifying alternatives. This would encourage excessive use of certain tests and treatments, including many with limited or dubious value.
The proposal would abolish existing restraints on spending without clearly identifying alternatives. This would encourage excessive use of certain tests and treatments, including many with limited or dubious value.
#6: It’s authoritarian
The bill mandates state-sponsored coverage for all NYers, whether they want it or not, while effectively banning the private purchase of health-care services. It's a level of government control that would be unthinkable for food, housing or education.
The bill mandates state-sponsored coverage for all NYers, whether they want it or not, while effectively banning the private purchase of health-care services. It's a level of government control that would be unthinkable for food, housing or education.
#7: It gives New Yorkers more reasons to leave
The wealthy might leave to avoid taxes. Medical providers might find they can earn a better living somewhere else.
The wealthy might leave to avoid taxes. Medical providers might find they can earn a better living somewhere else.
#8: It leaves too many questions unanswered
The bill is long on promised benefits but short on details about the trade-offs. Key decisions—such as where to set tax rates and how to compensate providers—are left to be determined *after* the plan is enacted into law.
The bill is long on promised benefits but short on details about the trade-offs. Key decisions—such as where to set tax rates and how to compensate providers—are left to be determined *after* the plan is enacted into law.
#9: It depends on trusting Albany
Running a health plan for 20M people demands more competence and honesty than state government has demonstrated. For a preview, look at NY's Medicaid system, which is riddled with waste and plagued by corruption.
Running a health plan for 20M people demands more competence and honesty than state government has demonstrated. For a preview, look at NY's Medicaid system, which is riddled with waste and plagued by corruption.
#10: It’s the wrong response to a pandemic
The way to fight a viral outbreak is to prevent it from spreading in the first place. That's primarily the job of the public health system, not the medical system or the insurance system.
The way to fight a viral outbreak is to prevent it from spreading in the first place. That's primarily the job of the public health system, not the medical system or the insurance system.
A fuller version of this list and links to more commentary and analysis about the New York Health Act are available here: empirecenter.org/publications/t…
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