Not to be outdone by the other New York resident who is grabbing all the headlines with her “Green New Deal,” New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has just unveiled his new plan to launch the largest, most comprehensive plan in the nation to guarantee health care for every New Yorker.
“Health care is a right, not a privilege reserved for those who can afford it,” said Mayor de Blasio.
“While the federal government works to gut health care for millions of Americans, New York City is leading the way by guaranteeing that every New Yorker has access to quality, comprehensive access to care, regardless of immigration status or their ability to pay.”
We’ve got a plan to guarantee health care for all New Yorkers. pic.twitter.com/AnMsFGZsLe
— Mayor Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) January 8, 2019
The plan will reportedly serve the 600,000 New Yorkers without insurance by strengthening NYC’s public health insurance option, MetroPlus, and guaranteeing anyone ineligible for insurance – including undocumented New Yorkers – has direct access to NYC Health + Hospitals’ physicians, pharmacies and mental health and substance abuse services through a new program called NYC Care.
The press release states that NYC Care will launch in summer 2019 and will roll out geographically, starting in the Bronx. It will be fully available to all New Yorkers across the five boroughs in 2021. The program will cost at least $100 million annually at full scale. Additionally, MetroPlus will announce a series of enhancements throughout the year.
The $100 million guess seems low to us for 600,000 residents (including undocumented residents).
“No one should have to live in fear,” the mayor said.
“No one should go without the health care they need. Health care is a human right. In this city, we’re going to make that a reality. … From this moment on in New York City, everyone is guaranteed the right to health care.”
Virtue well and truly signaled, and of course there is no mention of how this will be funded (70% marginal tax rates on the richest of rich seems fair right?)
Health care isn’t just a right in theory, it must be a right in practice. Today I’m announcing a plan to guarantee health care for all New Yorkers. Through our own public option and a new program called NYC Care, we’ll ensure the first stop for people isn’t the emergency room.
— Mayor Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) January 8, 2019
Expect the mass exodus of tax-paying New Yorkers to continue.
via RSS http://bit.ly/2SL8awo Tyler Durden