(ROCHESTER, NY) - Today, Senator Jeremy Cooney (D-Rochester) joined healthcare leaders from across Monroe County to unveil his bill (S.8416), the Health Equity, Affordability, and Reform Act (HEARA), which would allow buy-in to the state’s Essential Plan. With federal funding cuts causing 450,000 New Yorkers to lose Essential Plan eligibility this July, this bill would provide a buy-in option to the state’s zero deductible plan.

“Because of President Trump’s ruthless cuts to healthcare funding, hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers are at risk,” said Senator Cooney. “Every single New Yorker deserves access to high-quality, affordable healthcare for them and their families. We can’t keep allowing healthcare to be a financial burden for working New Yorkers, and we can’t let any New Yorker go uninsured. This is a common-sense plan to provide an affordable option for everyone to take advantage of and protect coverage for the thousands of New Yorkers potentially losing coverage because of harmful policies coming out of Washington.” 

“While Republicans in Congress continue to rip healthcare away from millions of Americans, we cannot ignore the real consequences New York families are facing right now,” said Congressman Joe Morelle. “I’m grateful to Senator Cooney for advancing a thoughtful solution to help ensure more New Yorkers can still access affordable, high-quality coverage, and I will keep fighting in Washington to protect the support people deserve.”

"Community Health Centers were built on a simple idea: healthcare should be accessible to everyone. At Trillium Health, we're proud to serve everyone regardless of their ability to pay. However, Community Health Centers are facing mounting financial pressures that could threaten their long-term stability. We applaud Senator Cooney for proposing a solution that would provide comprehensive healthcare coverage for patients and allow safety net providers to continue to provide primary care and wrap-around services to underserved communities," said Jason Barnecut-Kearns, President and CEO, Trillium Health.

“Reliable, equitable health care is a cornerstone of upward mobility in Rochester and across New York State,” said Aqua Y. Porter, executive director of the Rochester-Monroe Anti-Poverty Initiative. “We applaud the proposal to expand the state’s Essential Plan and remove a critical barrier that keeps families from achieving economic stability. Community members consistently tell us that access to quality health care is one of their greatest concerns. The disparity in health outcomes for low- and very-low-income households is unacceptable. In our community, life expectancy in the poorest ZIP code is more than 15 years shorter than in the wealthiest ZIP code. We strongly support Sen. Cooney’s effort to address this inequity and expand access to care.”

"Many throughout our community struggle with health insurance plans they cannot afford because of high deductibles and unaffordable co-pays.  Also, many miss enrollment deadlines due to confusion and misunderstandings of essential plans," said Dr. Linda Clark, president and CEO of Anthony L. Jordan Health. "As the first FQHC in Rochester, we have a deep understanding of the needs of this community, especially those who have traditionally been underserved.  We remain steadfast to our mission of ensuring high-quality care for all, regardless of ability to pay."

New York’s Essential Plan provides comprehensive healthcare coverage with $0 monthly premiums, no deductibles, and little to no copays. It also includes free preventative care like routine exams and screenings. Current eligibility requirements include New York State residents lawfully residing in the U.S. between 19-64 years old within certain income brackets who are not eligible for Medicaid or coverage through their employer. 

In 2024, New York State expanded the Essential Plan to include New Yorkers making up to 250% of the federal poverty line from the original guideline of those earning up to 200% of the federal poverty line, allowing over 450,000 New Yorkers to gain coverage.

In H.R. 1, the “Big, Beautiful Bill,” federal funding cuts threatened the 1.7 million New Yorkers currently enrolled in the state’s Essential Plan. In order to avoid most recipients from losing coverage, Governor Hochul has requested changes by the federal government to revert the state’s plan back to a basic healthcare plan, preserving healthcare for 1.3 million New Yorkers, but leaving 450,000 without coverage when Affordable Care Act cuts go into effect in July. Most of these New Yorkers who will lose coverage are immigrants with legal status. 

HEARA would give these New Yorkers, and others throughout the state, the opportunity to buy into the state’s Essential Plan. Senator Cooney explained that this would help close the healthcare access gap, allowing those who don’t currently qualify for coverage the option to buy into the state’s plan. Payments would be implemented on a sliding scale, depending on an individual’s income. Payments from higher earners would go towards subsidizing costs for lower-income individuals, making the program revenue-neutral for the state. This would be the first public-private health insurance buy-in option of its kind.

It’s been reported that in ten years, the average family's health insurance premium in New York will grow from $20,000 today to $35,000, and in 20 years will be $64,000.

Senator Cooney was joined by Lauren Goetz, founder and owner of Everyday Hands, a Rochester-based company that supports older adults, people with disabilities, and others in the community with everyday needs such as companionship, transportation, errands, and care coordination. Through her work, Goetz and her team help individuals remain independent and connected while giving families peace of mind. Goetz and her husband, Scott, who is also self-employed, previously benefited from Affordable Care Act tax credits, but with recent federal cuts those credits were eliminated. As a result, the Goetzes now pay roughly $1,400 per month for a high-deductible plan with limited coverage. Cooney explained that his bill would help small business owners like the Goetzes regain access to affordable health care in New York.

“We work hard, play by the rules, and do everything we can to take care of our team, our clients, and our community. But when health insurance becomes this expensive, it puts small business owners like us in an impossible situation. We’re grateful Senator Cooney is working toward solutions that could make coverage more accessible for small business owners across New York,” said Lauren Goetz, Owner and Founder of Everyday Hands. 

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