The rising cost of health insurance coverage is a major concern for New York’s businesses. While most acknowledge the need for health care reform, they are increasingly concerned about adding new costs through higher taxes.

Unlike many other states, New York already has an extensive health care infrastructure with a variety of public plans subsidized by huge health care taxes charged to the state’s employers and others. In a letter to New York’s Congressional delegation, Kenneth Adams, president & CEO of The Business Council of New York State, calls on lawmakers to be mindful of the cost of federal health care reform on New York businesses. Adams asks that they view national reform proposals through “a New York lens” and avoid adding new costs to employers in a state that already has above average costs.

“New York State already has the broadest safety net of subsidized health coverage options of any state in the nation,” wrote Adams. “Subsidized health insurance options in New York come at a cost to our businesses and taxpayers. Currently, taxes on New Yorkers who voluntarily buy private health coverage total about $4.2 billion per year, reflecting as much as 10 percent of the cost of health insurance in some areas of New York.”

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