What's happening
This bill directs the Department of Financial Services to study and report on expanding health insurance subsidies and coverage through the New York Marketplace.
Why it matters
Addresses barriers for the uninsured. The study will analyze why people in New York remain uninsured, including those who cannot get coverage due to immigration status or affordability issues, potentially highlighting gaps current programs don’t address.
Considers state-level solutions. By examining options like a state insurance mandate and new state-level tax credits (including for those ineligible for federal subsidies), the study could lead to innovative policies tailored to New York’s unique needs.
Evaluates impact and feasibility. The Department of Financial Services will not just propose ideas, but also assess the costs and effectiveness of new subsidies or credits, ensuring any recommendations are informed by data and fiscal realities.
Could influence broader policy changes. Findings and legislative recommendations from this report may shape future health insurance laws in New York, potentially expanding coverage and setting examples for other states facing similar coverage gaps.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Study Health Marketplace Coverage
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to insurance
- Returned to senate
- Died in assembly
- Referred to insurance
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 62–0
- Ordered to third reading cal.1178
- Committee discharged and committed to rules
- Referred to insurance
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Study Health Marketplace Coverage
In Assembly Committee · Insurance · Sponsor Linda Rosenthal
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
6207
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
May 23, 2019
Introduced by Sen. BENJAMIN -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Insurance
AN ACT to direct the department of financial services to study health insurance coverage through the Marketplace
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. 1. The department of financial services is hereby authorized and directed to study the feasibility and impact of increasing the subsidy provided to individuals who purchase health care coverage through the Marketplace. For purposes of this section the term "Marketplace" shall have the same meaning as defined in section 268-a of the public health law.
2. Such study shall include, but shall not be limited to:
(a) collecting data on how many people are currently uninsured in New York state and the reasons for their being uninsured including, but not limited to, those eligible for public assistance programs, those ineligible to purchase insurance because of their immigration status, and those who choose to go uninsured because of financial reasons; and
(b) the feasibility of creating programs, subsidies, and/or tax credits to help expand health insurance coverage in New York state to uninsured individuals including, but not limited to, the costs and effectiveness of instituting such new programs, subsidies, and/or tax credits. Such new programs shall include but shall not be limited to: (i) an individual state-level insurance mandate; (ii) a state supplemental premium tax credit to supplement the current federal tax credit; and (iii) a state premium tax credit for those not eligible to access the federal tax credit because of their immigration status or income.
3. No later than eighteen months after the effective date of this act, the department of financial services shall report to the legislature and the governor on the findings of the study conducted pursuant to section one of this act and any legislative recommendations deemed to be necessary.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11930-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to direct the department of financial services to study health insurance coverage through the Marketplace
Purpose
To determine the feasibility of increasing assistance to those who have no health insurance in order to reduce the number of the uninsured.
Summary of provisions
§ 1 Instructs the Department of Financial Services to conduct a study of the healthcare marketplace.
§ 2 lays out the particulars the study shall report upon, as follows:
(a) collecting data on how many people are currently uninsured in New York state and the reasons for their being uninsured including, but not limited to, those eligible for public assistance programs, those ineli- gible to purchase insurance because of their immigration status, and those who choose to go uninsured because of financial reasons; and
(b) the feasibility of creating programs, subsidies, and/or tax credits to help expand health insurance coverage in New York state to uninsured individuals including, but not limited to, the costs and effectiveness of instituting such new programs, subsidies, and/or tax credits. Such new programs shall include but shall not be limited to:
(i) an individual state-level insurance mandate;
(ii) a state supplemental premium tax credit to supplement the current federal tax credit; and
(iii) a state premium tax credit for those not eligible to access the federal tax credit because of their immigration status or income.
§ 3 orders that the results shall be reported to the governor and legis- lature 18 months after passage.
Justification
The federal Affordable Care Act of 2010 has had a revolutionary effect on health care in the United States. However, anecdotal evidence indi- cates that the system of subsidies and credits to help people of more modest means to afford buying health insurance on the Act's Healthcare Marketplace might not be sufficient.
It is in the public interest to reach full insurance coverage for all people, but in order for New York State to reach this goal, it will be necessary to determine both the scope and potential gains of changing the support for the affordable care act would be.
This bill directs the Department of Financial Services to determine how many New Yorkers are uninsured because they cannot afford the premiums
for such insurance, and to determine the feasibility of increasing assistance to help the uninsured become insured.
Legislative history
New Bill
Fiscal implications
Minimal
Local fiscal implications
none
Effective date
Immediately
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.