BILL NUMBER: S10698
SPONSOR: COONEY
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the public health law, in relation to universal health
care for children; and to repeal certain provisions of such law relating
thereto
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1: Amends paragraphs (a), (b), and (c) of subdivision 6 of
section 2510 of the public health law to remove access to other health
insurance as a factor for eligibility, to extend the period of eligibil-
ity for child health plus for a child who becomes eligible for medical
assistance, and to remove an unpaid premium payment as a cause for inel-
igibility.
Section 2: Amends subdivision 9 of section 2510 of the public health law
by adding a new paragraph, (f), that removes payments for eligible chil-
dren.
Section 3: Amends subparagraphs (ii) and (iii) of subdivision 2 of
section 2511 of the public health law to remove outdated language, and
adds a new subparagraph, (iv), that removes household income as a factor
for determining eligibility.
Section 4: Amends paragraph (b) of subdivision 2 of section 2511 of
public health law to extend the amount of time a child who becomes
eligible for medical assistance may also be covered by child health plus
Section 5: Repeals paragraph (f) of subdivision 2 of section 2511 of the
public health law, and adds a new paragraph (f) which establishes
presumptive temporary eligibility for child health plus for children
under the age of 19 while an eligibility determination is completed.
Section 6: Amends subdivision 4 of section 2511 of the public health law
to remove misstating income for the purposes of obtaining benefits as a
reason to have to repay subsidy payments to the commissioner.
Section 7: Directs the commissioner of health to submit appropriate
waivers and state plan amendments to the appropriate federal agencies to
execute this legislation.
Section 8: Sets the effective date as the first day of the new year
after it shall become a law, however, effective immediately the commis-
sioner of health is authorized and directed to add, amend, and/or repeal
any rule or regulation and to take other actions reasonably necessary to
implement this act on such effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
In the United States, approximately one in five children lack adequate
health insurance, with one third of commercially insured youth facing
high costs or limited benefits, and those on public plans facing chal-
lenging coverage gaps and delayed care. New York has been a leader in
addressing these challenges for decades, and now can show a low rate of
only 2.7% of children in the state without insurance. But one child
uninsured, or with insurance that costs too much to utilize, is one
child too many. The American Pediatric Association has continuously
advocated for the benefits that proper, accessible health care has for
children and the community at large, advocating for policies that create
universal access. There is substantial research which confirms early
interventions and preventative care for manageable conditions prevent
escalation of the conditions into lifelong chronic illnesses requiring
expensive and time-intensive care. Simply put, healthy kids grow into
healthy, productive adults.
In addition to the individual health benefits for the children receiving
universal health coverage, implementing universal health coverage in New
York State will help all New York families already struggling with high
prices. Rising medical costs outpace inflation, and insurance carriers
have been asking for 20%-plus premium increases, raising the cost of
family health insurance by over $2,000 a year. By implementing universal
children's health coverage, all families, regardless of income, will see
savings and have the peace of mind to know whatever their children need,
they will have it covered.
This legislation will create universal health care coverage for New York
children by working with the existing federal medicaid programs, and
opening New York's Child Health Plus access to all children in house-
holds whose income is above the threshold for children's medicaid. This
legislation also removes premium payments from Child Health Plus plans
for all children at all income levels, and removes income as a factor
for eligibility for the Child Health Plus plan.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New Bill
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the first day of the new year after it
shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the commissioner of
health is authorized and directed to add, amend, and/or repeal any rule
or regulation and to take other actions reasonably necessary to imple-
ment this act on such effective date.

Statutes affected:
S10698: 2510 public health law, 2510(9) public health law, 2511 public health law, 2511(2) public health law, 2511(4) public health law