Press release

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Contact: Tracy Munford
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New Yorkers Agree - Health Insurance Should be a Top Policy Priority in Albany; Support CSS Proposal

CSS Poll Reveals New Yorkers Upstate & Downstate are Worried Political Leaders Will Do Nothing

New York, NY, January 09, 2008 -- More than 2.5 million or 13 percent of New Yorkers are uninsured, even though New York spends more per capita on health than any other state in the nation. In its recently released "Cornerstone for Coverage" (PDF) poll of 1,600 New Yorkers statewide, the Community Service Society of New York reports there is an urgent need for affordable health coverage; employer-sponsored insurance (ESI) is declining and the public believes health insurance should be a policy priority.

Healthcare tops the list of the issues New Yorker's are personally worried about most, according to the statewide poll. And respondents said their votes in next fall’s state elections will be influenced by legislators’ action or inaction on health care -- over 40 percent of New York City, rural upstate, and Long Island residents said their state legislator’s support for a statewide health care proposal would affect their vote. The most critical healthcare concerns are not having insurance, losing insurance, an increase in premiums/co-pays and deductions and the cost of prescription drugs, according to the survey.

The poll also shows that 22 percent of New Yorkers have not sought or postponed getting medical care or had surgery because of a lack of money or insurance and that 25 percent needed to fill a prescription but could not.

"We are in a crisis in healthcare in New York City and New York State," said David R. Jones, president and CEO of the Community Service Society of New York. "The polling data is clear and should sound an alarm to state and local leaders; that more than any other pressing issue that impacts the quality of life for New Yorkers, the lack of health insurance is paramount. We must begin to create healthcare policy that is comprehensive, affordable, and available to everyone. The Governor asked for building blocks and we have provided just that through our 'Cornerstone for Coverage' proposal."

Polling data found that New Yorkers have a range of important concerns about health care; they worry about losing health insurance, rising costs, inadequate coverage and not having any coverage at all. A surprising number – one in four in New York City – have gone without needed care in the past year due to unaffordable costs. And they worry that government officials won’t take action to address these pressing concerns, more than about increases in taxes or government health care expenditures. The main concern – by three to one –is that government won’t take action on access.

The CSS "Cornerstone for Coverage" poll surveyed New York residents from suburban, rural and urban communities in order to get a cross-section of New Yorker’s thoughts on health insurance. The poll also shows that 22 percent of New Yorkers have not sought or postponed getting medical care or had surgery because of a lack of money or insurance and that 25 percent needed to fill a prescription but could not.

"Our plan has an incremental approach and an overall goal of universal access to health coverage for all New Yorkers," said Elisabeth Ryden Benjamin, CSS Director of Health Care Initiatives. "In a comprehensive analysis of other plans including state plans, we believe ours is the best, simply because it incorporates components identified by New Yorkers as important equally to anyone concerned about issues of affordability and access to health insurance." Given the choice of a range of health care options, respondents chose health insurance coverage with sliding-scale premiums, and opposed Health Savings Accounts and consumer-directed plans.

"What this survey makes clear," noted Jones, "is that a window of opportunity exists for the Spitzer administration to leave an indelible mark upon this state. We have always sensed that there was broad public support for health care reform but this survey reveals an alignment of interests that is a rarity today. When we laid out the elements of our proposal, New Yorkers enthusiastically endorsed our rationale for reform and confirmed that our incremental approach is politically palatable. The fervor with which they want action should not be lost upon our lawmakers in Albany."

Key components of the Cornerstone Plan include eliminating waiting periods, facilitating, reducing or eliminating co-premiums and automatic enrollment for all people who are uninsured. In a breakdown by region, it becomes apparent that New Yorkers stand behind the Cornerstone Plan.

• 52 percent of people polled in rural upstate strongly favor the Plan, while it is supported by 79 percent overall.
• 50 percent of people polled in urban upstate strongly favor the Plan, while it is supported by 76 percent overall.
• The plan is strongly favored by 47 percent of people polled on Long Island, while it is supported by 77 percent of respondents overall.
• 47 percent of New York City residents polled strongly favored the Cornerstone proposal while it is supported by 83 percent of city dwellers overall.

The CSS Cornerstone for Coverage Plan includes comprehensive benefits including in-patient and out-patient hospitalization, primary and preventive care, family cost-sharing and rates. The Plan also includes emergency services, prescription drugs, dental and vision, durable medical equipment, reproductive health services and behavioral health and substance abuse treatments.

The "Cornerstone for Coverage" poll conducted by CSS and fielded by national polling firm, Lake Research Partners.

CSS's "Cornerstone for Coverage" health proposal is partially funded through the generous support of The Nathan Cummings Foundation, The New York Community Trust, and United Hospital Fund.

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