New York’s Healthcare Under Siege
Every New Yorker deserves access to reliable healthcare. Yet, House Republicans are advancing a budget reconciliation bill that would strip coverage from 1.5 million people across our state, cutting $13.5 billion from Medicaid and the Essential Plan. Governor Kathy Hochul has made it clear that no state can fill this gap alone. This plan threatens families, hospitals, and entire communities. Why are Republican lawmakers abandoning the people they represent?
Consider a father in Syracuse, working long hours to afford his son’s diabetes treatment. Medicaid keeps that care within reach. Now, picture that lifeline severed. That’s the future this bill invites. The goal isn’t efficiency; it’s handing tax breaks to the ultra-wealthy while everyday New Yorkers lose vital care. Our congressional delegation must act to protect us.
The consequences are stark. Rural hospitals will struggle to stay open, emergency rooms will face overwhelming demand, and children, seniors, and people with disabilities will lose access to essential services. Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer labels this plan 'cruel,' and he’s absolutely correct. New Yorkers won’t accept a system that values profit over lives.
The Devastating Toll in Dollars and Lives
This bill targets the Essential Plan, slashing over $7.5 billion—more than half its funding. Hundreds of thousands of low-income New Yorkers depend on this program for coverage. Without it, many will go uninsured. The state will also face $3 billion in new costs, while healthcare providers lose billions more. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries warns of shuttered nursing homes and underfunded community health centers. Can our healthcare system withstand this blow?
The Energy and Commerce Committee’s push for Medicaid work requirements adds insult to injury. These rules demand proof of 80 hours of monthly work or community engagement, or beneficiaries lose coverage. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand points out that most Medicaid recipients already work. These mandates create bureaucratic hurdles, costing New York $500 million to administer while disenrolling people for minor paperwork errors. Arkansas’s similar experiment saw 18,000 lose coverage with no job gains. Why pursue a policy that’s already failed?
The Greater New York Hospital Association estimates hospitals will face $1.3 billion in uncompensated care costs. Rural facilities, already on the brink, may close entirely. Emergency rooms will struggle to cope with uninsured patients. This plan doesn’t streamline care; it dismantles it.
Who Bears the Burden?
The bill hits the most vulnerable hardest. Children, women, seniors, and people with disabilities depend on Medicaid for critical care. Representative Jerrold Nadler calls this an 'assault' on these groups, and his words ring true. Losing coverage for 1.5 million New Yorkers will lead to untreated conditions, higher death rates, and families pushed deeper into financial hardship. Black and Hispanic New Yorkers, already facing higher uninsurance rates, will encounter even greater obstacles.
Advocates for the bill argue it eliminates waste and fraud. Yet no evidence supports this claim. The Congressional Budget Office projects 8.6 million Americans could lose coverage under comparable GOP proposals. Polls show most people oppose deep cuts to health programs. If savings are the goal, why not ensure fair taxes for the wealthiest instead of targeting care for vulnerable families?
Representative Nydia Velázquez captures the truth: this bill punishes New York for prioritizing care for all, especially immigrants and underserved communities. It’s a targeted attack, not a policy fix.
Our Fight for a Healthier Future
New York has long championed healthcare as a fundamental right. From supporting the Affordable Care Act to expanding coverage through the Essential Plan, our state has led the way. Now, that progress is at risk. Governor Hochul is prepared to take legal action, and leaders like Representative Paul Tonko are fighting tirelessly. Every New Yorker must join this effort. Contact your representative and demand they oppose this bill.
Without action, hospitals will close, jobs will disappear, and families will lose access to care. The Healthcare Association of New York State warns of a 'shattered' system. But we have the power to resist. By standing together, we can protect our communities and ensure healthcare remains accessible.
This battle is about people—the nurse in Queens, the retiree in Rochester, the child in the Bronx who needs care to grow strong. New Yorkers deserve a system that puts their health first. Let’s fight for that future with everything we have.