Statement from Governor Kathy Hochul

"For months, I've warned that Washington Republicans' devastating cuts would rip health care away from New Yorkers. Today, we have no choice but to confront that reality.

"Nearly 1.7 million New Yorkers rely on the Essential Plan for health care - working moms and dads, families living paycheck to paycheck, people doing everything right and still struggling to get by. The Big Ugly Bill forced through by Donald Trump and Republicans puts every single one of them at risk of losing their care. I refuse to stand by while Washington punishes vulnerable New Yorkers. That's why today, I'm taking action to preserve health care for 1.3 million people by shifting their coverage to our state's Basic Health Program, allowing us to access emergency funds that would otherwise not be available.

"But even with these steps, 450,000 New Yorkers are at risk of losing their care. That includes 127,000 people represented by New York's seven Republican Members of Congress, who are abandoning their own constituents to hand out tax breaks for the wealthy. It doesn't have to be this way. If Republicans give a damn about protecting health care for their constituents, they can act right now to pass a three-year delay of HR1's cuts to health care eligibility and keep every New Yorker on the Essential Plan covered. And in the meantime, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services needs to work with us to identify more low-cost health insurance options for New Yorkers.

"There is still work to do here in New York. Many of the 1.7 million people on the Essential Plan are working part time, including at big retailers and other companies that deliberately limit hours to avoid covering health care. It's time for these employers to stop passing the cost on to taxpayers and start providing coverage for their workers.

The message from across our state is clear: we can act together and stop these devastating impacts before it's too late."

Contact the Governor's Press Office