A.6199Gottfried(MS)/S.4979 Hannon

The New York State Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW-NYS) urges passage of the Employer/Public Partnership legislation. This legislation would provide support to employees who are currently uninsured or underinsured. 

It would operate in one of two ways.  First, when employers offer coverage to employees who are eligible for Child Health Plus, Family Health Plus or Medicaid, the employees could tap into the public health program to pay for premiums, co-pays and deductibles in the employer's plan, as well as services the employer's plan doesn't cover.  Second, the employer could buy into Child Health Plus, Family Health Plus or Medicaid, rather than providing the employee with the private insurance.  The employer would contribute an assessment to a newly created state account, equal to the amount the employer would have paid for that employee under its own plan.  The legislation would also increase the Family Health Plus eligibility level for childless couples to 150% FPL.

NASW-NYS recognizes that the number of uninsured or underinsured people continues to be a major problem in New York State.  Recent data indicates that 3 million New Yorkers are without health insurance, and over three-quarters of the uninsured are workers with dependents.  Between 2000 and 2004, the average worker-paid premium rose almost 40% while the average earnings per worker increased by only 12%.  Employers continue to shift more healthcare costs to employees through increased premiums, deductibles and co-payments.

People without health insurance suffer severe consequences as a result of avoiding care.  Benefits of primary care are not realized.  Chronic illnesses are not well managed and acute illnesses are allowed to develop to a point where avoidable complications develop. 

NASW-NYS urges passage of A.6199/S.4979 thereby addressing the problem of the uninsured and underinsured and making it easier for these workers to receive meaningful coverage.