State legislators urge governor to use state funds to maintain health insurance coverage in delayed budget negotiations.
6:39 PM
State legislators are pressing Governor Kathy Hochul to allocate state funds to maintain health insurance coverage for approximately 450,000 New Yorkers who are set to lose access to the Essential Plan this summer, according to officials familiar with the budget discussions.
The push comes as the state budget remains delayed, with lawmakers seeking to include a solution for the coverage gap in the final agreement. The Essential Plan provides health insurance to low-income residents across New York State, and the loss of coverage would affect a substantial portion of the state's population.
Legislators have made clear that they view state funding as a necessary measure to prevent the coverage lapse. The timing of the issue coincides with broader budget negotiations that have extended beyond the traditional April 1 deadline, leaving multiple policy questions unresolved as lawmakers work toward a final agreement.
The Essential Plan coverage question represents one of several health-related issues being debated as part of the state budget process. Officials said the decision on whether to allocate state funds for the program will likely be determined as part of the overall budget settlement between the governor and the legislature.
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