New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio unveiled a plan that will provide all New Yorkers with health care coverage. This plan will cover every city resident regardless of their immigration status or financial standing.
Currently there is estimated 600,000 New Yorkers living without health insurance. The plan, which would cover care from pediatrics, geriatrics, mental health care, OB-GYN, and other services, would build off of the foundations of a public health insurance option that already exists.
The plan is called NYC Care and it will revolutionize a New Yorker's approach to healthcare. Emergency rooms are often default health care providers for many in the United States and it is the absolute worst way to get health care. NYC Care is something that will be paid for through the public health care system. Mayor de Blasio sat down with MSNBC and said, "We're making it a priority. We'll put the money in to make it work. It's going to save us money down the line because we're not going to have as many emergency room visits. It's going to save us money because we are going to see people get healthier over all. There's no question."
The program is expected to cost approximately $100 million and will be available to New York residents through the NYC website or by calling 311.