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Top Seven Reasons Why New York Needs Its Own Health Insurance Exchange

by Tim Foley

A critical part of the new health care law is being blocked by a handful of Republicans in the New York State Senate. New York must act before this July to secure tens of millions of federal dollars to set up a ‘health insurance exchange,’ and before the end of this year to remain in control of the process.  Otherwise, New Yorkers will be lumped in with the default federal exchange along with the states that are openly defying healthcare reform in the courts, and New York’s historic, strong consumer protections could be undermined.

What exactly is an exchange? These transparent marketplaces for individuals without coverage and small businesses will work a lot like Expedia or Travelocity, but instead of shopping for the best airfares, New Yorkers will be able to compare health insurance plans and buy the one that’s the best fit. By pooling together, individuals and small businesses will have the same purchasing power available to large companies.  Federal subsidies will be available to individuals and families to cap the premiums at a percentage of their income.  And, to guarantee you’re getting high quality plans, members of Congress and their staffs will also be required to purchase their health insurance from the exchange.

More than 1 million New Yorkers will be receiving their insurance through the exchange by 2014.

Why is it important for New York State to move forward with its own health insurance exchange, rather than risk defaulting to the federal one? Here are the top seven reasons.

1) If New York State establishes its own exchange, we have every reason to believe it will establish a more progressive version of the exchange that could then be a model for other states.  Historically, New York has been more progressive on health insurance issues than the federal norm, including already having a modified version of guaranteed issue and consumer rating (which the rest of the country gets through the Affordable Care Act), as well as prior approval for health insurance increases (which the rest of the country is still waiting on!)  A more active, progressive, consumer-friendly and active purchaser, one that requires insurance companies be good actors rather than only providing plans that meet the definition of exchange-ready, will likely only come from New York building its own, because the state has always been on the cutting edge.

Keep in mind we don’t think a New York-designed exchange will be better  because our legislature is so hot — clearly they’re having trouble passing a bill to establish the mechanism to build an exchange in the first place.  But we tend to staff very competent, very progressive agencies, particularly when it comes to health.  For all of its flaws, the Medicaid Redesign Team yielded much, much better results than any legislature that’s tackled the issue of reducing Medicaid costs.

That’s reason enough, and indeed the main reason — we think we can probably do it better and in a way that other smaller states will copy.

But here are a few others.

2)  One of the functions of the exchange is to have “no wrong door” — if you’re trying to get insurance on the website or by calling and office and instead you qualify for the Children’s Health Plus or Medicaid or some other program like Families Health Plus, you’re automatically shuffled off to enroll in that program without having to go to another site or make another phone call.  For that reason, it’s better for the consumer that everything be operated by New York State rather than some of it operated in state and some of it out of state.

3)  You can potentially create a public option in a state if you’re also operating the exchange.  Connecticut and Oregon are moving forward with their own versions of a public option, for example, and the long-term chances of opening up public options are state-by-state rather than federally (“Duh” says anyone who’s watched Congress for the past year and a half).  I suppose you could find a way to create one even if you weren’t operating the exchange, but it becomes that much more difficult. Assemblyman Gottfried, among others, has been very keen on exploring some type of a New York public option.

4)  #3 would also apply to if you want to take the steps to set up a statewide single-payer, like Vermont is doing.

5)  There’s money for New York to set up its exchange now — and a lot of money.  The feds will pay for all the start up costs if the state sets it up and hits the deadlines, including an important one this July.  If we don’t hit the deadlines and default to the federal exchange, we may be able to set ours up in the future but we’ll entirely be paying for it yourself.  And given #1, we’re going to want to do it sooner rather than later.

6)  There’s some real concern that the feds may have real trouble getting the default exchange set up in time, given that there’s technically not enough money to do so based on HHS’s current budget.  Unlike money for the state exchanges, money for the federal exchange is not automatic in the budget – HHS has to figure out how to make it work with its existing budget.  Since so many states are refusing to set up their own exchanges, and the GOP is intent on blocking it in states that absolutely should be moving forward on their own (like New York and Minnesota), making the federal exchange that much harder to set up is another way that Republicans have been trying to sabotage implementation of health care reform so they can say, “Oh, see, it doesn’t work.”  New York State alone has nearly 10% of the people who would get their insurance through the exchange and would, by far, be the biggest state other than Texas that the federal exchange would need to accommodate.  That’s going to be a huge challenge.

Most of these are policy reasons or concerns related to the implementation of reform.  But there’s one other reason that’s purely political because, well, the only reason New York hasn’t already passed this law is purely political.

7)  It’s just stupid not to set up a state exchange.  In June 2011, Governor Cuomo, the Democrats in the Assembly and the Republicans in the State Senate had agreed to a compromise to get the bill passed. But then Senator Greg Ball in a Republican conference meeting that summer said, “Wait, is this Obamacare?”  Then they were against it.  That’s it.  That’s the whole reason.

(See the New York Times article, “G.O.P. Senators in Albany Block Federal Aid to Fulfill Part of Health Law”)

It’s worth repeating:  the Republicans in the Senate were absolutely for an exchange until they realized it was Obamacare.  Then they began throwing up nonsense objections because of the potential costs (the feds will PAY FOR THE START UP COSTS, people! You just have to pass the bill in time!)  It’s obstruction pure and simple, and not even principled obstruction.  It’s lame.  And it shouldn’t be happening in what the Governor calls “the progressive capital of the nation.”

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So what can you do? Call your State Senator today! We recommend calling State Senators Hannon (Garden City, Long Island): 516-739-1700 and Lanza (Staten Island): 718-984-4073, but you can also click here for others. Tell them New Yorkers can’t afford to wait, and that you expect them to put the exchange in the state budget. Let us know how it goes!

For more about this issue and a better script, click here.

Stand for Freedom March

This year, two-thirds of state legislatures have introduced laws that undermine the right to vote.

Early voting and Sunday voting are under attack. Photo ID requirements will introduce the first financial and document barrier to voting since the poll tax. Racially-motivated bans on ex-felons will wipe tens of thousands off the rolls.

This effort is unprecedented, it is coordinated, and it is targeted. African Americans, Latinos, Asian Americans, Native Americans, students, working women, and immigrants of all colors will be disproportionately affected.

The right to vote is the heart of our democracy. Throughout our history Americans have been murdered for defending this basic human right. We will not let it be taken away from millions today.

Join us on Saturday, December 10, 2011 — United Nations’ Human Rights Day—to proclaim to America and the world:

It’s time to Stand for Freedom. We must protect our right to vote.

11 am: March from the NYC office of the Koch brothers, major funders of anti-voting rights measures.

12 noon: Rally at Dag Hammarskjold Plaza, United Nations,  East 47th Street & 2nd Avenue, NYC

For more information and to sign the pledge:
www.stand4freedom.org

or text STAND to 62227

*Standard message and data rates may apply

Mobilization co-chairs: Hazel Dukes, President, NAACP NYS Conference
George Gresham, President, 1199SEIU

New Yorkers To Deliver Petition to Governor Cuomo on Election Day. Over 2,000 New Yorkers Signed Petition for Millionaire’s Tax at Occupy Wall Street.

Last month, some Greater NYC for Change members jumped into a uniquely independent, collaborative political action project at Occupy Wall Street.  We encourage you to join this group Tuesday to deliver petition signatures at “Occupy for Education.”  Help send a strong message to Cuomo on the Millionaire’s Tax!

WHEN:            Tuesday, November 8, 3:30-5:30

WHERE:          Governor Cuomo’s NYC office, 633 3rd Avenue b/w 41st & 42nd St.

New Yorkers To Deliver Petition to Governor Cuomo on Election Day. Over 2,000 New Yorkers Signed Petition for Millionaire’s Tax at Occupy Wall Street.

On Election Day, Tuesday, November 8 at his New York City office, Governor Andrew Cuomo will receive over 2,000 signatures from constituents arguing for extending the Millionaire’s Tax beyond December 31, 2011.

The signatures were collected by an unaffiliated group of activists at a “Political Action Table” in Zuccotti Park, the heart of the Occupy Wall Street protests. The table occupied a spot in the park from October 2 through October 30, and volunteers gathered signatures for fair taxation and against hydro-fracking, offered voter registration forms, and provided phone numbers for constituents to speak out to elected officials.

While Occupy Wall Street has no legislative agenda, activists at the Political Action Table found themselves welcomed and encouraged by the culture of free speech and community engagement at Zuccotti Park. A diverse group of volunteers, occupiers, and curious newcomers engaged in passionate conversations about rising economic disparity and tax policy. The overwhelming sentiment favoring the existing millionaire’s tax is a limited but vital and immediate response to the international movement for solidarity with the 99%. Many who signed the petitions expressed deep concern for school children, seniors, the disabled, and public sector employees who face almost $5 billion in additional budget cuts if the tax ends as planned.

The Millionaire’s Tax, once thought a dead issue, has been revived by voices rising from the Occupy Wall Street movement. At the now-daily marches and rallies throughout New York, slogans against “Governor 1%” have framed a stark contrast between the governor’s position on the Millionaire’s Tax and the views of the majority of his constituents. A recent Siena poll found that 72% of New Yorkers prefer that the Governor set aside political pressure from the richest taxpayers and uphold his responsibility to all New Yorkers by extending the tax surcharge.

The unaffiliated group who collected the signatures will deliver them while joining the “Occupy for Education” event at Governor Cuomo’s New York City office at 633 Third Avenue this Tuesday, Election Day, at 3:30 p.m. The event is intended to raise awareness of the $1.4 billion in cuts for New York City schools alone that will result from the tax cut for the most affluent taxpayers. The event organizers point out that budget cuts will further deprive students of their basic right to education promised by elected leaders so as to ensure a stable and thriving society.

The letter accompanying the petitions calls on the governor to “act as you have in the past, as a leader who responds to the needs of constituents, even when that means going against a powerful minority.” “Your constituents,” it continues, “overwhelmingly support a continuation of the “Millionaire’s Tax” surcharge that allows New York State to uphold its obligations to fund vital services, avoid further job losses in the public sector, and respond to the needs of the 99%.”

Further information about the Political Action Table at Occupy Wall Street can be found at www.occupywallstreetkit.com.

Contact: amymiller3@gmail.com.

Thousands Sign #OWS Pledge to Stop Tax Break for Millionaires & Billionaires

NEW YORK, NY – On the southeast corner of Occupy Wall Street, among the protesters, sleeping bags, and news cameras, hundreds of people have stopped by a small “political action table” to add their name to the 72% of New Yorkers who oppose giving a $5 billion tax break to New York’s millionaires and billionaires. More than 1,500 individuals have signed onto the No Tax Break for Millionaires pledge since October 6th, calling on Governor Cuomo to stop the massive windfall New York’s wealthiest will receive when the current millionaire’s tax expires on December 31st of this year.

The #OWS petition calls for “the adoption of the ‘Buffett Rule’ at the Federal level” and advocates that “no Millionaire or Billionaire pays less in taxes than someone making less than them.” The expiration of New York’s millionaire’s tax will lead to a $5 billion hole in the budget, which will be closed with additional cuts to vital public services on which all New Yorkers rely. Volunteers say the emergency economic and fiscal crisis that led to the 2009 surcharge is still in place and perhaps even aggravated.

Support for stopping the millionaire’s tax break is palpable in Zuccotti Park. “Ninety-five percent of the people who come up to the table sign at least one petition.  We can hardly close up the table when we need to because people are grabbing flyers and petition clipboards away from us,” says Amy Miller, a political activist and psychologist. “The level of engagement, the openness of the OWS crowd to engage with the political system, and the cohesive support for a millionaire’s tax is obvious.”

The petitions will be delivered to elected officials, including Governor Cuomo, this month. Signed copies are also posted at www.occupywallstreetkit.com. In addition, the volunteers collected another 1,000 signatures against hydro-fracking and registered voters at the table. The petitions against hydro-fracking are in collaboration with a group called United For Action, dedicated to a ban on the dangerous form of gas drilling. The team that put together the Political Action Table, a group of friends, have also handed out over 3,000 flyers since October 2nd.

An extension of the soon-to-expire millionaire’s tax was, for months, considered a dead issue. Governor Cuomo’s most recent budget favored the wealthy and punished the 99 percent with brutal cuts to education, basic public services, and even assistance for homeless children. Since the birth of Occupy Wall Street, however, there has been massive pushback – including an October 11th march against the 1% (a walking tour of well-known millionaires’ homes in the Upper East Side), a newly revitalized coalition of labor and community groups opposing the tax break called 99 New York, and a Siena poll from October 17 showing that 72% of New York voters support extending the tax on those making more than a million dollars a year.

“We’ve been telling people that the millionaire’s tax, on both the federal and state level, is no substitute for across-the-board tax reform. Instead, these specific surcharges are immediate and feasible actions that, especially in the case of New York, will help to stop further cuts on people whose services, jobs, and general well-being have already been subjected to brutal cuts,” said Kate Linker, a writer and political activist. “We only worked in the afternoon and early evening. Had we worked all day, there would likely be hundreds more signatures,” Linker added.

Governor Cuomo recently compared his opposition to extending the tax to his father’s opposition to the death penalty. While Governor Mario Cuomo fought a popular policy due to a moral imperative, Governor Andrew Cuomo is fighting for the millionare’s tax either due to the disproved myth of tax flight or, even worse, a desire to please his biggest donors here in New York State.  “Comparing State executions to popular calls for a more equitable society is apples and oranges,” says Jamie Ansorge, a law student and political consultant active in reform efforts.

“Sitting here in Lower Manhattan, the movement has shown me that this resurgence of civic engagement can change the course of political events in New York,” Democracy for New York City (DFNYC) president and table volunteer Josh Silverstein said.

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To volunteer for the Political Action Table, email Naomi at ows.table@gmail.com or sign up at www.occupywallstreetkit.com. You can also find templates for petitions and the final results of the effort on this site.

Volunteers at the Political Action Table are active across the city in other groups, including Greater NYC for Change, the Downstate Young Democrats, Democracy for New York City, United for Action, and the Strong Economy for All Coalition.

 

Occupy Wall Street and Action Steps You Take

The Occupy Wall Street movement has sparked debate about the state of the economy around the nation.  Here are three of the most important action items identified by the Strong Economy for All coalition.  Please contact your elected representatives and ask that they call for the following:

Stop The Tax Cut for Millonaires (#Dec31)

New York politicians have approved a $5 billion tax cut for the richest people in our state – most of it will to millionaires and billionaires.

But it won’t happen until December 31: there’s still time to stop the tax cut and use the money to create jobs and restore the worst of the budget cuts.

Create Real Jobs Now (#JobsCrisis)

The biggest need in our communities is jobs – real jobs, right now.

Millionaires don’t need their tax cut, but the money could be invested in infrastructure, transit, energy efficient retrofits and conservation projects to create hundreds of thousands of jobs we do need.

Restore The Budget Cuts (#NYCutsHurt)

After Wall Street destroyed the economy, state and city politicians cut schools, human services, higher education and transportation funding to the bone.

New York budget cuts hurt students, seniors, people who are poor, disabled or homeless have been hit bad. And the budget cuts have led directly to the loss of over 10,000 public sector jobs and thousands more at non-profits and local businesses.

If we stop the tax cut for the rich, we can restore the worst of the cuts.