State Expansions: New York
In April 2007, Governor Spitzer signed state budget legislation into law that expands eligibility for the Child Health Plus program as the first step toward covering all of New York's uninsured children. The program currently provides health coverage for children with family incomes below 250 percent poverty ($42,925 for a family of three in 2007), and the governor intends to increase the income eligibility limit to 400 percent of poverty ($68,680 for a family of three).
However, CMS denied New York’s waiver to expand Child Health Plus on the grounds that it violated the Administration’s crowd-out directive. Governor Spitzer is challenging the Administration’s directive in a lawsuit with six other states.
In July 2007, Governor Spitzer signed legislation that will allow all businesses to purchase coverage for their employees through Family Health Plus, the state’s public coverage program. The governor also announced a new "partnership for universal coverage," in which the state's Health Commissioner and the Insurance Superintendent will solicit proposals for expanding coverage and hold public hearings throughout the state. By May 31, 2008, they will present their findings and make recommendations to the governor and the legislature on how to achieve universal coverage.
New York Expansion Resources
New York in the News
For general resources on state expansions, see Other Resources.
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