New Yorkers can’t afford to catch single payer fever

August 12th, 2019

Government run single payer health care took center stage during the recent Presidential Primary Debate in Detroit. As presidential candidates debated the complexity of healthcare reform, many refused to endorse any program that eliminates private insurance enjoyed by millions of Americans. Some New York politicians, however, think they have it all figured out.

As the debate continues at the national level, New Yorkers must keep a watchful eye on what is going on in Albany. The New York Health Act, sponsored by Senator Gustavo Rivera and Assemblyman Richard Gottfried, eliminates the coverage you currently have and replaces it with a one-size-fits-all single payer health insurance program; under the control of Albany bureaucrats.

Replacing New York’s current health insurance system with a multi-billion-dollar, state-run scheme would wreak havoc on our economy – especially in Upstate.

New York already faces serious economic challenges. The non-partisan Tax Foundation ranked New York the second worst business tax climate in the nation. That harsh climate has contributed significantly to Upstate’s plummeting population and job losses. Increasing taxes by hundreds of billions of dollars will destroy the already beleaguered Upstate economy.

More specifically, we estimate that funding this policy would require more than $250 billion dollars in new taxes. Unfortunately, much of this burden will be borne by employers, including small business owners who are already struggling to grow under the weight of high taxes, costly mandates and restrictive regulations.

This legislation will also result in unprecedented job losses. According to a report from Gerald Friedman, the New York Health Act could displace more than 150,000 workers. At a time when Upstate is struggling to create employment opportunities, any proposal that kills that many jobs shouldn’t even be considered.

Communities like Rochester have invested heavily in education and healthcare. By outlawing private insurance, this legislation would immediately eliminate thousands of healthcare jobs. Those jobs losses would be devastating for our communities and economy.

Additionally, this plan would force millions of New Yorkers off their private insurance, requiring them to get their coverage from an Albany-run bureaucracy. Given New York’s track record of administering large programs, cost aside, state control over our health care should give every New York family pause.

Rather than completely dismantling our current system, leaders in Albany should focus on improving our existing system and achieving universal coverage. With 95 percent of New Yorkers currently having insurance, this goal is within reach.

Michael Kracker is the executive director of Unshackle Upstate, a non-partisan, pro-economic growth education and advocacy coalition made up of business and trade organizations from across Upstate New York.