Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that extends healthcare coverage to as many as 240,000 undocumented immigrants who are residents of New York.

Highlights:

• Expands eligibility for health care coverage to include individuals that are ineligible for the basic health program on the basis of immigration status, provided that they are determined to be eligible through the waiver process to receive coverage under this section regardless of direct federal financial support for such individuals (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that an individual is eligible for health care coverage if they are not eligible for medical assistance, excluding eligibility for limited medical assistance for the treatment of an emergency medical condition (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes the commissioner of health to place limitations on enrollment to ensure that the costs associated with services to this population does not exceed the revenues anticipated (Sec. 1).

• Requires that the commissioner enrolls at least 240,000 individuals and authorizes them to enroll more as reasonably practicable while ensuring continual coverage for the additional individuals (Sec. 1).

• Requires that while determining limitations on enrollment, the commissioner determines income bands for individuals from 2 to 250% of the federal poverty line and prioritize the enrollment of individuals from the lowest income band first and then the remaining income bands in ascending order (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes the commissioner to include subsets of the pollution whose health and well-being would be significantly at risk without routine access to healthcare (Sec. 1).

• Requires that the commissioner take all actions necessary to obtain approvals from the secretary of health and human services and the secretary of the treasury to use funds transferred to the basic health program trust fund, for costs associated with the provision of health care services to all persons eligible for coverage under the waiver (Sec. 1).

• Expands the requirements on reporting from the commissioner of health to include any enrollment limitations, historical data, transferred funds, and totals on savings (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text