Supporters of the federal Affordable Care Act want the Legislature to act now to ensure New Yorkers in need have access to health care coverage.
Health Care for All New York, an advocacy group comprised of more than 100 organizations, conducted a press conference last Wednesday, urging lawmakers to introduce a bill before the end of session that would establish a health insurance exchange program in New York.
“There’s one very important thing they need to do right now and time is of the essence, and that’s set up the … health insurance exchange — the marketplace for all of the different health plans, public and private, [that] come together for consumers,” said Jessica Wisneski, campaign director for Citizen Action of New York. “Over a million New Yorkers will be getting their insurance through this health insurance exchange and many, many small businesses as well.”
A health insurance exchange program in New York would create a more organized system where the state would establish common rules regarding insurance. Consumers would have a choice of plans and information would be available to help them better understand coverage options available to them. The state must determine which insurance providers will be able to participate in the exchange.
The Affordable Care Act was signed into law on March 23, 2010, providing health care coverage to 32 million uninsured Americans. While some provisions of the act will not be implemented until 2014, many aspects of it are in effect now.
Under the act, states must establish a health insurance exchange by no later than Jan. 1, 2014.
However, advocates are concerned New York will miss an opportunity to qualify for a federal grant that would help cover the expense of establishing the exchange if the legislation authorizing its creation is not passed before the end of the legislative session.
Blair Horner, vice president for advocacy at the American Cancer Society of New York and New Jersey, said the state could lose federal funding if the Legislature fails to act promptly.
“The benefits of creating an exchange for the state is that the federal government gives the states money to get it started,” said Horner. “The Department of Health and Human Services is going to designate whether or not states are making appropriate progress to qualify for that money on Jan. 1, 2013. So, for the state to actually have its act together in a year and a half, it has to make important decisions or it stands to lose millions — if not hundreds of millions — of dollars in federal aid to create the exchange.”
If the Legislature does not enact legislation by 2013, the federal government will draft an insurance exchange program for the state.
Schuyler Center President and CEO Kate Breslin compared waiting until the last minute to draft legislation to building a house. “You don’t just jump in and … move into your house,” said Breslin. “You actually draw plans, you lay them out and you think about who is going to be on the team that you need to really build the house to make it work. So that’s what we need now, we need a planful process. … Health Care for All New York urges our leaders to enact, to establish a government-run exchange.”
Eighty-five organizations sent a letter last Wednesday to Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, D-Manhattan, and Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos, R-Rockville Centre, asking them to enact legislation in the final weeks of session.
They said New York is one of 12 states that have not passed, or are not considering, legislation regarding a health insurance exchange.
“We believe the health exchanges have to be in place by the end of session, and to make that happen lawmakers have to act now,” said Horner.
Ninety days after the Affordable Care Act’s enactment, uninsured people with a serious pre-existing condition were given access to coverage. Insurance companies are no longer allowed to discriminate against children with pre-existing conditions or place lifetime limits on coverage. Children can remain on their parents’ insurance plan until the age of 26, and coverage is guaranteed for preventive care, among other benefits, under the act.
Older New Yorkers are concerned that if the state takes too long to establish a health insurance exchange it could keep them from having access to needed coverage.
“Medical problems and health care costs commonly increase with age, so having health insurance during mid-life takes on growing importance,” said AARP member Muriel True. “The members of this age group are also at higher risk for change in their personal health status, such as the onset of chronic conditions or disabilities. It is extremely important that New York take action on this issue and create an efficient, affordable and consumer-friendly health care exchange.”
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