In response to cuts from the Republicans’ 2025 budget reconciliation law, Gov. Kathy Hochul was forced to seek approval to scale back an expanded waiver for the Essential Plan in order to protect the viability of the program.

In other words, to ensure most people on the plan can continue receiving this health insurance, about 450,000 New Yorkers will lose health care coverage starting in July. 

But Gustavo Rivera, chair of the state Senate Health Committee, introduced a bill (S.9589) to preserve health care for that cohort of New Yorkers: Those with incomes between 200% and 250% of the federal poverty level, and immigrants with legal status who were eligible under the expanded waiver, but not any longer. 

According to Rivera, who spoke with Capital Tonight about the bill, the governor has already allocated $2.3 billion in her executive budget to address federal Medicaid cuts; that allocation would cover the bill’s costs.

The state budget is due on April 1, but is expected to be late.

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