<b>BUT TURNING NOW TO HEALTH</b> <b>INSURANCE IN NEW YORK.</b> <b>IT'S ABOUT THIS TIME EVERY YEAR</b> <b>THAT THE STATE DECIDES HOW MUCH</b> <b>HEALTH INSURANCE COMPANIES CAN</b> <b>INCREASE THEIR RATES.</b> <b>THIS HAPPENED EVERY YEAR, LIKE</b> <b>LAST YEAR WHEN THE STATE</b> <b>APPROVED AN AVERAGE INCREASE OF</b> <b>ABOUT 10%, WHICH WAS ABOUT HALF</b> <b>OF WHAT THEY ASKED FOR, AND THIS</b> <b>YEAR, INSURANCE COMPANIES ARE</b> <b>ASKING FOR A SIMILAR INCREASE,</b> <b>BUT THEY SAY THAT'S NOT THEIR</b> <b>FAULT AND POINT, INSTEAD, TO THE</b> <b>RISING COSTS OF HEALTH CARE IN</b> <b>NEW YORK AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY.</b> <b>AT THE SAME TIME, PROGRESSIVES</b> <b>IN ALBANY ARE MAKING A FRESH</b> <b>PUSH FOR A HEALTH CARE OVERHAUL</b> <b>WITH THE NEW VERSION OF THE NEW</b> <b>YORK HEALTH ACT.</b> <b>THAT'S A BILL THAT WILL ENACT</b> <b>SINGLE-PAYER HEALTH CARE,</b> <b>MEANING THE STATE WOULD TAKE THE</b> <b>PLACE OF INSURANCE COMPANIES WHO</b> <b>ARE AGAINST THE BILL AND</b> <b>SOMETHING WE'VE NEVER DONE IS</b> <b>TALKED TO THE ACTUAL INSURANCE</b> <b>COMPANIES ABOUT THESE ISSUES AND</b> <b>OTHERS BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE.</b> <b>SO THIS WEEK, WE SPOKE WITH ERIC</b> <b>LINZER, NEW YORK HEALTH PLAN</b> <b>ASSOCIATION, WHICH REPRESENTS</b> <b>INSURANCE COMPANIES IN NEW YORK.</b> <b>[ THEME MUSIC ]</b> <b>>> ERIC, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR</b> <b>BEING HERE.</b> <b>I APPRECIATE IT.</b> <b>>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME, DAN.</b> <b>>> OF COURSE.</b> <b>WE DON'T REALLY TALK ABOUT</b> <b>HEALTH INSURANCE THAT MUCH ON</b> <b>THIS SHOW.</b> <b>I'M THRILLED TO HAVE YOU.</b> <b>I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT A</b> <b>FEW BILLS THAT YOU WERE WATCHING</b> <b>THIS YEAR DURING THE SESSION</b> <b>THAT DEAL WITH YOUR INDUSTRY.</b> <b>ONE BILL THAT I FOUND REALLY</b> <b>INTERESTING, IT WOULD REQUIRE</b> <b>DRUG MANUFACTURERS TO GIVE AT</b> <b>LEAST 60 DAYS NOTICE THAT</b> <b>THEY'RE GOING TO RAISE THE PRICE</b> <b>OF A DRUG MORE THAN 16%.</b> <b>SO I DON'T REALLY PAY ATTENTION</b> <b>THAT MUCH TO THE PRICE OF THE</b> <b>MEDICATION THAT I PICK UP AT THE</b> <b>PHARMACY BECAUSE USUALLY IT'S</b> <b>PRETTY CLOSE TO WHAT I BOUGHT IT</b> <b>FOR THE LAST TIME.</b> <b>HOW COMMON IS IT FOR THESE DRUG</b> <b>MANUFACTURERS TO CHANGE THESE</b> <b>PRICES SO ABRUPTLY?</b> <b>>> EACH YEAR, YOU SEE PRETTY</b> <b>SIGNIFICANT PRICE INCREASES.</b> <b>THIS PAST YEAR ALONE IN JANUARY,</b> <b>MANUFACTURERS INCREASED THE</b> <b>PRICES OF DRUGS ON ABOUT A</b> <b>THOUSAND DIFFERENT DRUGS.</b> <b>IN SOME INSTANCES, BY MORE THAN</b> <b>DOUBLE DIGITS.</b> <b>>> WOW.</b> <b>>> LAST YEAR IN 2022, ABOUT 850</b> <b>MEDICATIONS GOT INCREASED.</b> <b>AGAIN, SOME BY DOUBLE DIGITS,</b> <b>AND THESE ARE PRETTY COMMON</b> <b>DRUGS.</b> <b>THEY TREAT CANCER, HYPERTENSION,</b> <b>ADHD, THINGS THAT MOST</b> <b>INDIVIDUALS NEED.</b> <b>THE REAL CHALLENGE WITH THIS IS</b> <b>THAT WHILE THESE DRUGS MAY</b> <b>PROVIDE TREMENDOUS CLINICAL</b> <b>BENEFITS, THEY SHOULDN'T BE A</b> <b>BLANK CHECK THAT CONSUMERS HAVE</b> <b>TO PICK UP THE TAB.</b> <b>REALLY WHAT THIS WOULD DO IS</b> <b>PROVIDE EMPLOYERS, CONSUMERS,</b> <b>HEALTH PLANS AND PROVIDERS SOME</b> <b>ADVANCED NOTICE THAT YOU CAN</b> <b>PLAN APPROPRIATELY BEFORE YOU</b> <b>ARE DEALING WITH A SIGNIFICANT</b> <b>INCREASE AT THE PHARMACY</b> <b>COUNTER.</b> <b>>> WOULD THE BILL DEAL WITH--</b> <b>WOULD IT ALLOW ANY KIND OF STATE</b> <b>ENTITY OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT TO</b> <b>PUSH BACK ON THAT PROPOSED PRICE</b> <b>INCREASE, OR IS THIS JUST WE'RE</b> <b>JUST GIVING YOU A HEADS UP?</b> <b>>> THIS IS A NOTICE REQUIREMENT.</b> <b>BACK IN THE '21 STATE BUDGET,</b> <b>THE STATE GAVE THE DEPARTMENT OF</b> <b>FINANCIAL SERVICES THE ABILITY</b> <b>TO INVESTIGATE PRICE INCREASES</b> <b>ON DRUG MANUFACTURERS OVER 50%,</b> <b>BUT IT DIDN'T REQUIRE ANY KIND</b> <b>OF PRE-NOTIFICATION.</b> <b>THIS IS A GOOD CONSUMER</b> <b>PROTECTION BILL, GIVING THEM</b> <b>ADVANCE-- BY REQUIRING ADVANCE</b> <b>NOTICE IS A GOOD WAY TO HELP</b> <b>CONSUMERS THINK ABOUT, OKAY,</b> <b>WHAT ARE MY POTENTIAL</b> <b>OUT-OF-POCKET COSTS.</b> <b>WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT SEVERAL</b> <b>YEARS AGO WHEN YOU SAW INCREASES</b> <b>FOR EPIPENS, ANYBODY WHO HAS A</b> <b>KID WITH A NUT ALLERGY HAS THREE</b> <b>OR FOUR EPIPENS.</b> <b>IF THE PRICE GOES UP, YOU WANT</b> <b>TO AT LEAST HAVE SOME ADVANCED</b> <b>NOTICE TO MAYBE, YOU KNOW, GO</b> <b>OUT AND GET-- UPDATE YOUR</b> <b>PRESCRIPTION BEFOREHAND SO YOU</b> <b>CAN PROVIDE A LITTLE BIT OF COST</b> <b>CERTAINTY FOR YOURSELF.</b> <b>>> OH YEAH, ESPECIALLY WHEN</b> <b>WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THINGS LIKE</b> <b>ALLERGIES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.</b> <b>THOSE ARE LIFE-OR-DEATH THINGS.</b> <b>IT'S NOT LIKE MY ALLERGY</b> <b>MEDICATION THAT I MAYBE DON'T</b> <b>NEED SOMETIMES.</b> <b>>> UNFORTUNATELY, WE'VE SEEN</b> <b>SIGNIFICANT INCREASES FROM</b> <b>PHARMACEUTICAL MANUFACTURERS.</b> <b>THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME</b> <b>ACCOUNTABILITY FOR BIG PHARMA.</b> <b>YOU KNOW, THIS IS REALLY</b> <b>PROVIDING SOME NOTICE.</b> <b>AS I SAID, IT'S PASSED IN A</b> <b>NUMBER OF STATES AND MY HOPE IS</b> <b>NEW YORK 0 WOULD FOLLOW SUIT AND</b> <b>DO SOMETHING SIMILAR.</b> <b>>> SO THAT KIND OF LEADS ME TO</b> <b>MY NEXT QUESTION FOR YOU ABOUT</b> <b>THE COST OF HEALTH CARE.</b> <b>YOU'RE GOING THROUGH SOMETHING</b> <b>RIGHT NOW.</b> <b>NOT YOU, INDIVIDUALLY, BUT YOUR</b> <b>MEMBERS ARE GOING THROUGH</b> <b>REQUESTS EVERY YEAR FROM</b> <b>FINANCIAL SERVICE RATE HIKES SO</b> <b>THAT YOU CAN CHARGE CONSUMERS</b> <b>MORE.</b> <b>YOU SAY THAT'S BECAUSE THE COST</b> <b>OF HEALTH CARE IS GOING UP.</b> <b>TALK TO ME ABOUT WHAT THAT LOOKS</b> <b>LIKE FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE.</b> <b>WHERE DO WE SEE THOSE CHANGES?</b> <b>WHY HAVE A RATE INCREASE?</b> <b>>> SURE.

SO HEALTH INSURANCE IS</b> <b>EXPENSIVE BECAUSE HEALTH CARE IS</b> <b>EXPENSIVE.</b> <b>>> YEAH.</b> <b>>> THE UNDERLYING FACTORS</b> <b>DRIVING HEALTH INSURANCE</b> <b>PREMIUMS ARE THE COSTS THAT</b> <b>DOCTORS, HOSPITALS AND</b> <b>PHARMACEUTICAL MANUFACTURERS ARE</b> <b>CHARGING FOR SERVICES, WHICH</b> <b>WE'VE SEEN SIGNIFICANT INCREASES</b> <b>OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.</b> <b>IN ADDITION TO THAT, NEW YORK</b> <b>HAS PARTICULARLY HIGH HEALTH</b> <b>INSURANCE COSTS BECAUSE OF SOME</b> <b>OF THE FACTORS THAT HAVE BEEN</b> <b>DECIDED AROUND MANDATED</b> <b>BENEFITS, AS WELL AS TAXES THAT</b> <b>ARE IMPOSED ON HEALTH INSURANCE,</b> <b>ABOUT $6 BILLION A YEAR GETS</b> <b>IMPOSED ON THE COST OF HEALTH</b> <b>INSURANCE THROUGH VARIOUS TAXES,</b> <b>FEES AND ASSESSMENTS.</b> <b>THAT ADDS ABOUT A THOUSAND</b> <b>DOLLARS TO THE COST OF COVERAGE</b> <b>TO A FAMILY POLICY.</b> <b>WHAT WE'RE SEEING THIS YEAR--</b> <b>YOU KNOW, LAST YEAR'S RATE</b> <b>INCREASES WERE ABOUT 8 TO 9%.</b> <b>THE RATES THAT GOT PUT FORWARD</b> <b>IN MAY TO THE DEPARTMENT OF</b> <b>FINANCIAL SERVICES WERE</b> <b>SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 15 AND 20%,</b> <b>DEPENDING UPON WHERE YOU ARE IN</b> <b>THE STATE, WHAT TYPE OF</b> <b>COVERAGE, WHEN IT'S INDIVIDUAL</b> <b>OR EMPLOYER-SPONSORED COVERAGE</b> <b>AND WHAT THAT REALLY REFLECTS IS</b> <b>THOSE UNDERLYING COSTS.</b> <b>OVER A FIVE-YEAR PERIOD FROM</b> <b>2017 TO 2021, WE SAW--</b> <b>NATIONALLY WE SAW PRICES FOR</b> <b>HEALTH CARE SERVICES GO UP ABOUT</b> <b>14%.</b> <b>NEW YORK, THEY WENT UP ABOUT</b> <b>18%.</b> <b>THERE'S NO INDICATION THAT</b> <b>THERE'S BEEN A SLOWDOWN IN THOSE</b> <b>COSTS.</b> <b>IN FACT, WITH INFLATION AND</b> <b>OTHER COST PRESSURES THAT</b> <b>PROVIDERS AND PHARMACEUTICAL</b> <b>MANUFACTURERS ARE PUTTING ON,</b> <b>YOU KNOW, THOSE COSTS ARE GOING</b> <b>UP EVEN HIGHER.</b> <b>>> WHY ARE THEY GOING UP SO</b> <b>MUCH?</b> <b>18% IS NOT A SMALL NUMBER.</b> <b>DO YOU HAVE ANY INDICATION?</b> <b>IS IT JUST INFLATION THAT'S HOW</b> <b>BAD INFLATION IS THAT IT'S</b> <b>TRICKLING INTO THE HEALTH CARE</b> <b>INDUSTRY, OR ARE THERE OTHER</b> <b>COST THAT ARE BEING BORNE?</b> <b>>> SOME OF IT WILL BE FACTORS</b> <b>THAT I THINK WE'RE SEEING IN</b> <b>OTHER PARTS OF THE ECONOMY.</b> <b>INFLATION IS CERTAINLY AFFECTING</b> <b>THE COST OF HEALTH CARE, BUT</b> <b>THERE'S ALSO, YOU KNOW, PUSH ON</b> <b>BY PROVIDERS TO INCREASE, THAT</b> <b>ARE CHARGING HIGHER PRICES FOR</b> <b>THE SERVICES, SAME THING WITH</b> <b>PHARMACEUTICAL MANUFACTURERS, AS</b> <b>I MENTIONED.</b> <b>IT STARTED THIS YEAR AND SEEING</b> <b>SOME MANUFACTURERS CHARGE</b> <b>DOUBLE-DIGIT PRICE INCREASES FOR</b> <b>THEIR DRUGS.</b> <b>THAT'S, YOU KNOW, EVEN HIGHER</b> <b>THAN INFLATION AND REALLY THE</b> <b>QUESTION COMES DOWN TO WHY ARE</b> <b>THOSE COSTS GOING UP?</b> <b>PART OF THE REASON SOME OF THE</b> <b>BILLS THAT WE ADVOCATED FOR THIS</b> <b>PAST SESSION AROUND TRANSPARENCY</b> <b>IS TO HELP ANSWERS SOME OF THOSE</b> <b>QUESTIONS, BUT AT THE SAME TIME,</b> <b>HEALTH INSURANCE PREMIUMS ARE</b> <b>INEXTRICABLY LINKED.</b> <b>WHEN HEALTH CARE COSTS GO UP,</b> <b>PREMIUMS WILL REFLECT THOSE</b> <b>COSTS.</b> <b>>> DO YOU SEE A REALISTIC</b> <b>SCENARIO EVER WHERE HEALTH CARE</b> <b>COSTS COULD GO DOWN?</b> <b>SO THEN MAYBE YOUR MEMBERS COULD</b> <b>REQUEST LOWER RATES.</b> <b>I DON'T THINK THAT MAY HAPPEN.</b> <b>>> WELL, CERTAINLY IF THINGS</b> <b>WERE DONE TO ADDRESS UNDERLYING</b> <b>HEALTH CARE COSTS, I MEAN, YOU</b> <b>MOVE BEYOND SOME OF THE BILLS WE</b> <b>TALKED ABOUT AROUND PRICE</b> <b>TRANSPARENCY, BUT IF YOU WERE TO</b> <b>TAKE SOME OF THE STEPS TO</b> <b>ADDRESS SOME OF THE CHALLENGES</b> <b>IN THE MARKETPLACE.</b> <b>YOU KNOW, FOR EXAMPLE, THERE'S</b> <b>LEGISLATION THAT WE PUSHED FOR</b> <b>AND WE HOPE GETS TAKEN UP NEXT</b> <b>YEAR THAT WOULD ADDRESS SOME OF</b> <b>THE ANTICOMPETITIVE CONTRACTING</b> <b>PRACTICES THAT HOSPITALS</b> <b>UNDERTAKE, WHERE THEY REQUIRE</b> <b>THINGS LIKE ALL-OR-NOTHING</b> <b>PROVISIONS IN THEIR CONTRACT, SO</b> <b>THAT WHERE A HEALTH PLAN MAY</b> <b>WANT TO CONTRACT WITH ONE</b> <b>PARTICULAR FACILITY, YOU KNOW,</b> <b>YOU HAVE TO TAKE THEM ALL ON,</b> <b>THAT ADDS TO COSTS.</b> <b>THAT CREATES DYSFUNCTIONS IN THE</b> <b>MARKET.</b> <b>YOU KNOW, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS</b> <b>I THINK WOULD HELP TO ADDRESS</b> <b>SOME OF THE CHALLENGES IN THE</b> <b>MARKET, DEAL WITH SOME OF THOSE</b> <b>PRICING PRESSURES.</b> <b>WE MAY NOT SEE A REDUCTION IN</b> <b>PREMIUMS BUT CERTAINLY IF YOU</b> <b>DEAL WITH THE UNDERLYING COSTS</b> <b>THAT SHOULD EVENTUALLY BE</b> <b>REFLECTED IN PREMIUMS.</b> <b>>> SOME PROGRESSIVE LAWMAKERS IN</b> <b>ALBANY HAVE BEEN PUSHING FOR A</b> <b>NUMBER OF YEARS A BILL CALLED</b> <b>THE NEW YORK HEALTH ACT, WHICH</b> <b>THEY SEE AS THE SOLUTION TO ALL</b> <b>THESE PROBLEMS WE'VE BEEN</b> <b>TALKING ABOUT.</b> <b>THIS A BILL THAT WOULD CREATE</b> <b>SINGLE PAYER HEALTH CARE IN NEW</b> <b>YORK.</b> <b>SO ALL OF YOUR MEMBERS WOULD</b> <b>DISAPPEAR.</b> <b>YOU WOULDN'T EXIST ANYMORE AND</b> <b>THE STATE WOULD BE MANAGING THE</b> <b>HEALTH CARE SYSTEM FOR</b> <b>EVERYBODY.</b> <b>(CLEARS THROAT) EXCUSE ME.</b> <b>SO THEY HAVE RECENTLY COME OUT</b> <b>WITH A REVISED VERSION OF THE</b> <b>NEW YORK HEALTH ACT, WHICH THEY</b> <b>SAY ADDRESSES SOME CONCERNS FROM</b> <b>RETIRED PUBLIC EMPLOYEES SAYING</b> <b>BASICALLY, YOU WILL GET YOUR</b> <b>BENEFITS AS YOU WERE PROMISED</b> <b>UNDER THIS BILL.</b> <b>DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT.</b> <b>YOU HAVE BEEN AGAINST THE BILL</b> <b>AND I KNOW YOU'RE AGAINST THE</b> <b>REVISED VERSION AS WELL.</b> <b>TELL ME WHY.</b> <b>>> I MEAN, WE BELIEVE THAT ALL</b> <b>NEW YORKERS DESERVE HIGH</b> <b>QUALITY, AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE,</b> <b>BUT THEY ALSO SHOULD HAVE THE</b> <b>POWER TO CHOOSE THE OPTIONS THAT</b> <b>BEST MEET THEIR NEEDS.</b> <b>WHAT THE NEW YORK HEALTH ACT</b> <b>DOES IS MOVES 20 MILLION NEW</b> <b>YORKERS INTO A ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL</b> <b>GOVERNMENT-RUN HEALTH CARE</b> <b>SYSTEM THAT'S REALLY AND</b> <b>UNTESTED-- THAT WOULD BE AN</b> <b>UNTESTED PROGRAM.</b> <b>AND IT WOULD LEAD TO LONGER WAIT</b> <b>TIMES FOR INDIVIDUALS AND TAKE</b> <b>OPTIONS AWAY FROM SENIORS.</b> <b>YOU KNOW, THAT ALL SAID, THERE</b> <b>ARE WAYS TO GET THERE.</b> <b>WE'VE GOT-- TO GET TO UNIVERSAL</b> <b>COVERAGE.</b> <b>WE'VE GOT MORE THAN THE 95, 96%</b> <b>OF NEW YORKERS WHO ARE COVERED.</b> <b>YOU KNOW, THERE ARE STEPS,</b> <b>INCLUDING EXPANDING THE STATE'S</b> <b>ESSENTIAL PLAN TO ENABLE THOSE</b> <b>INDIVIDUALS WHO AREN'T ABLE TO</b> <b>PARTICIPATE NOW BECAUSE OF THEIR</b> <b>IMMIGRATION STATUS.</b> <b>THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE</b> <b>SUPPORTED.</b> <b>WE HOPE THAT GETS TAKEN UP NEXT</b> <b>YEAR AND ON YOUR POINT ABOUT THE</b> <b>CHANGES TO THE NEW YORK HEALTH</b> <b>ACT AND PUBLIC RETIREES, THE</b> <b>BILL WOULD ACTUALLY REQUIRE</b> <b>PUBLIC RETIREES TO PAY, YOU</b> <b>KNOW, A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT TAX</b> <b>TO HELP FUND THIS THING AND FOR</b> <b>MANY OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO</b> <b>ARE GETTING, YOU KNOW, THEIR</b> <b>COVERAGE FOR FREE RIGHT NOW THAT</b> <b>WOULD BE AN INCREASE.</b> <b>SO REALLY, ACTUALLY ADVERSELY</b> <b>AFFECTS A LOT OF PUBLIC RETIREES</b> <b>IN ADDITION TO MANY, MANY</b> <b>MILLIONS OF NEW YORKERS.</b> <b>>> IT HAS BEEN TALKED ABOUT</b> <b>BEFORE THAT THE JOBS THAT WOULD</b> <b>BE LOST FROM YOUR MEMBERS COULD</b> <b>BE KIND OF CHANGED IN A WAY</b> <b>WHERE THE STATE OVERSEES THE</b> <b>PROGRAM BUT INSURANCE COMPANIES</b> <b>ADMINISTER IT.</b> <b>SO IT WOULD BE STATE-RUN PROGRAM</b> <b>ADMINISTERED BY YOUR MEMBERS.</b> <b>I'VE HEARD THAT TALKED ABOUT.</b> <b>WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT?</b> <b>>> YOU KNOW, YOU'RE STILLING</b> <b>WITH A ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL</b> <b>GOVERNMENT PROGRAM, THAT TAKES</b> <b>OPTIONS AND CHOICES AWAY FROM</b> <b>INDIVIDUALS AND ON THE JOB LOSS,</b> <b>WHILE ABOUT A THIRD OF THAT</b> <b>161,000 WOULD COME FROM THE</b> <b>INSURANCE INDUSTRY, YOU KNOW,</b> <b>THE REMAINDER OF THAT WOULD COME</b> <b>FROM OTHER AREAS THAT WERE</b> <b>SOMEWHAT RESISTANT TO THE</b> <b>ECONOMIC DOWNTURN AS A RESULT OF</b> <b>THE PANDEMIC, YOU KNOW, FINANCE</b> <b>AND OTHER INDUSTRIES BEING SOME</b> <b>OF THEM, SO YOU'RE STILL TALKING</b> <b>ABOUT A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT JOB</b> <b>LOSS AS A RESULT OF THE NEW YORK</b> <b>HEALTH ACT.</b> <b>IT'S REALLY THE WRONG</b> <b>PRESCRIPTION.</b> <b>REALLY, I THINK WHAT NEW YORKERS</b> <b>WANT IS FOR POLICYMAKERS TO</b> <b>FOCUS ON WHAT'S WORKING, FIX</b> <b>WHAT'S NOT, AND WE THINK THAT</b> <b>TAKING THE STEPS AROUND</b> <b>EXPANDING COVERAGE PARTICULARLY</b> <b>FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO CAN'T</b> <b>ACCESS IT TODAY, YOU KNOW,</b> <b>INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE SHUT OUT</b> <b>BECAUSE OF THEIR IMMIGRATION</b> <b>STATUS IS REALLY THE LAST BIG</b> <b>VACUUM OF INDIVIDUALS TO GET TO</b> <b>US UNIVERSAL COVERAGE.</b> <b>THAT'S A BETTER APPROACH THAN</b> <b>UPENDING THE SYSTEM FOR 20</b> <b>MILLION NEW YORKERS</b> <b>>> ALL RIGHT.</b> <b>SOMETHING THAT WE'LL BE</b> <b>WATCHING.</b> <b>I'M CURIOUS TO SEE IF THE NEW</b> <b>HEALTH CHAIR IN THE ASSEMBLY</b> <b>MAKES A MAJOR PUSH FOR IT NEXT</b> <b>YEAR WITH THE SENATE HEALTH</b> <b>CHAIR.</b> <b>IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'VE BEEN</b> <b>TALKING ABOUT FOR A FEW YEARS</b> <b>NOW.</b> <b>IT DOESN'T SEEM TO HAVE MADE A</b> <b>LOT OF PROGRESS BUT I THINK SOME</b> <b>LAWMAKERS SEE AN OPPORTUNITY IN</b> <b>THE YEARS AHEAD.</b> <b>WE'LL BE WATCHING THIS.</b> <b>ERIC LINZER, PRESIDENT AND CEO</b> <b>OF THE NEW YORK HEALTH PLAN</b> <b>ASSOCIATION.</b> <b>, THANK YOU SO MUCH.</b> <b>>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME, DAN.</b> <b>[ THEME MUSIC ]</b> <b>>> AND AS WE MENTIONED, THE</b> <b>STATE IS CURRENTLY CONSIDERING</b> <b>NEW RATE HIKES FOR HEALTH</b> <b>INSURANCE.</b> <b>WE'LL LET YOU KNOW WHAT THEY</b> <b>DECIDE WHEN THAT HAPPENS.</b>