Print 
Email CSS is committed to the goal of universal health coverage as the most fair and efficient method of achieving positive health outcomes for individuals and the greater community. In an effort to achieve this goal, CSS has launched a comprehensive campaign to provide access to affordable, quality health care coverage to the nearly 2.5 million New Yorkers who lack health insurance. Working with local partners, our aim is to build public will and advocate for significant government support to ensure that a plan for universal health coverage is in place by 2010.
Our approach is an incremental one that focuses on the following principles:
- Affordability: An adequate affordability standard is critical to any health reform proposal adopted by New York State if it is to work in favor of the needs of its working families and not cause any unintentional financial harm. Through qualitative and quantitative research and statistical analyses, CSS seeks to define health care affordability and spending among low-income and working poor people.
- Leveraging existing public programs: Public coverage programs in New York are an effective and efficient means of providing access to health care for millions of New Yorkers. To this end, CSS has designed a “Cornerstone for Coverage” health reform proposal that builds on the strength of our public programs to meet the health care needs of New York’s working families.
- Building momentum: CSS is a founder of the Health Care For All New York (HCFANY) campaign – a statewide coalition dedicated to winning affordable, comprehensive health care for all residents by 2010. HCFANY brings the voices and experiences of New Yorkers into the policy conversation. Through it we are working to make health reform in New York a reality.
Elisabeth R. Benjamin, M.S.P.H., J.D.
Vice President of Health Initiatives212.614.5461
ebenjamin@cssny.org
Health Reform New York Can Afford: The Cornerstone for Coverage Plan