Health Care Boost

by Scott Feldman

Governor Paterson took a step toward giving greater access to health care for all New Yorkers in his State of the State address on Wednesday. Paterson wants lawmakers to require private employers to offer health insurance to workers' dependents who are ages 19 to 29. According to the governor's office, 31 percent or about 800,000 of New York's uninsured are ages 19 to 29. I have talked to a number of college graduates who are uninsured because their parents can no longer afford to cover them on their family policy. And even those who find work aren't always offered health insurance by their employer.

So, who would pay for this? Paterson says his plan would not cost the state or businesses a dime. Picking up the tab would be familes that opt for the expanded coverage on their kids. The cost--about $300 to $325 dollars a month compared to $900 if the young person had to pay for the policy on their own.

If lawmakers okay this legislation, the state is expecting that about 10 percent, or 80,000 people, will participate. With the state budget deficit standing at $15 billion and growing every day, legislators have a lot to digest in Albany. But it seems a plan certainly worth their consideration: A social safety net that would benefit a lot of young people in the midst of a severe economic downturn. 

Comments

[SUSAN L.RUDNICK]

GOV PATTERSON HAS A SOUND SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM.I APPLAUDE HIS IDEA AND INCENTIVE.OUR DAUGHTER IS A SENIOR AT A UNIVERSITY AND PLANS ON ATTENDING MEDICAL SCHOOL IN THE FALL OF 2009.WITH THAT LARGE BILL OVERLOOMING.,THIS MEDICAL PLAN WOULD BE A GREAT HELP TO US AND TO HER! GREAT JOB GOV !

[John]

I'm sorry, but there's somethins seriously wrong with this plan. It's the insurance company who decides who can be a dependant, not the employer.

What Paterson is going to do is force employers to use "special" insurers, driving the cost up for everybody.

Or is there some sleight of hand that everybody understands except me?