MEMORANDUM IN OPPOSITION

Date: June 01, 2010
Bill:S05864 Hassell-Thompson/ A7355-A (Lopez)

Act to amend the insurance law to require coverage of orally administered chemotherapy treatments.

The Employer Alliance for Affordable Health Care is a grassroots coalition of more than 3,000 sole proprietors and small and medium-sized business owners who represent more than 150,000 working New Yorkers. Our members believe that everyone should have access to basic, affordable health insurance. We oppose health insurance mandates that increase premium costs and decrease accessibility of basic, affordable health insurance.

At a time when many of New York’s small businesses are being forced to drop coverage due to increasing premium costs, the Legislature should refrain from this, or any type of action that could, potentially, exacerbate costs even more.

In 2007, the Legislature laid groundwork for establishing a Health Care Quality and Cost Containment Commission which will be responsible for studying the impact of this, or other mandates that expand the scope of coverage, prior to passage. Lawmakers owe it to premium payers to refrain from any such mandates prior to passage.

This, like all health insurance mandates, drive up cost. In 2010, a total of 14.2% of premiums paid per policy holder, per year were needed to fund the 51 mandates required in New York State (Health Insurance Mandates in New York State 2003/NovaRest Consulting and Report by the Superintendent of Insurance on the Cost and Effectiveness of New York’s 2006 Mental Health Parity Legislation). The state should not exacerbate health insurance costs, but instead seek to be part of the solution.

For these reasons, the Employer Alliance for Affordable Health Care asks you to oppose this legislation.

The Employer Alliance for Affordable Health Care is a coalition of more than 3,400 employers and individuals from across New York, representing more than 200,000 working New Yorkers, committed to preserving quality affordable health care.