Two New York State Health Programs Slow To Enroll Uninsured, Study Says

Only about 2%, or 15,000 people, of the 700,000 uninsured New York residents who two years ago were "promised" health insurance under the state's Family Health Plus and Healthy NY programs are receiving coverage through either one of the programs, according to a new report by Citizen Action of New York (Heath, Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin, 2/15). In May 2001, New York received a Medicaid expansion waiver to cover an estimated 352,000 uninsured parents with annual incomes up to 150% of the federal poverty level, or about $25,000 for a family of four, through Family Health Plus (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 5/31/01). Healthy NY provides health coverage for employees of small businesses that cannot provide health insurance and for working uninsured individuals with annual incomes up to 250% of the federal poverty level, or $45,384 for a family of four (Healthy NY Web site). Richard Kirsch, executive director of Citizen Action New York, said "cumbersome" application processes are partly to blame for the low number of people enrolled in the two programs, adding that the state should "do away" with the Healthy NY program and spend more money to expand Family Health Plus. But officials of Gov. George Pataki's (R) administration "dismissed" the report, and state Health Department spokesperson John Signor said that Citizen Action's "credibility has rapidly eroded because they continue to spread blatantly partisan, misleading and incorrect information." Signor added, "New York state is a recognized leader in providing quality health care" (Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin, 2/15).