Expanding Health Care Coverage

By

Columbia University

Funding Area

Expanding Health Care Coverage

Date

January 19, 2009

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This NYHealth-funded Columbia University report models five plans to reduce the number of uninsured in New York State.

The analysis indicates that the plans differ vastly in both their potential impact on the problem and costs. This is the first model to compare proposals on the basis of the number of people who would gain coverage; drop private coverage in favor of public options; and how each plan would increase statewide health care spending, including the cost to State government to finance expansions.

The plans examined include: a single-payer or “Medicare-for-All” plan; three different “building block” plans that would expand government-sponsored programs, create individual buy-in options, and include an option for individual mandates; and a market-oriented reform plan.

Approximately 2.5 million New Yorkers currently are without health insurance. The number of uninsured statewide has been on the rise and may increase even faster due to the economic recession. This report provides New York State policymakers with information of how different proposals could fare.