Health care activists in New York held a virtual town hall to argue why the state needs a single payer health care system. They say the coronavirus pandemic makes it even more important.
The proposed New York Health Act would eliminate private insurance companies, and replace them with a single, public program managed by the state.
Proponents say the bill would cover all New Yorkers, for all necessary medical care.
“There are too many people right now on Long Island and throughout New York State who are homeless, who are undocumented, who are uninsured, who have lost their health insurance because they've lost their jobs. And if we had the New York Health Act, every single person would be covered,” says Mariana Pineda with the Campaign for New York Health.
Pineda says there might have been fewer coronavirus infections in New York if more people had access to health care.
The Health Act has passed the Assembly before. It’s not clear if the bill will get to a vote this year in Albany.
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