NEW YORK (WBNG) — On Tuesday, Oct. 6, Rep. Josh Riley (NY-19) introduced the Restoring Essential Plan Coverage Act to restore federal funding for New York’s Essential Plan.
The bill seeks to reestablish coverage for nearly 15,000 people in NY-19 and more than 450,000 New Yorkers statewide, according to Riley’s website.
The Essential Plan provides inclusive health coverage at affordable rates for working families.
Riley says funding was reduced under H.R. 1, Republicans’ One Big Beautiful Bill Act. He says the change pushes some Upstate New Yorkers toward more expensive private insurance or loss of coverage.
“Upstate New Yorkers work hard, play by the rules, and deserve health care they can actually afford,” Riley said. “Washington politicians handed out massive tax breaks to the wealthy and big corporations, then paid for them by ripping health care away from working families. These cuts will drive up premiums, put more pressure on our rural hospitals, and leave thousands of Upstate New Yorkers without coverage. I’m fighting to reverse them and restore the health care our communities depend on.”
The proposal follows Riley’s prior health care actions. Those include supporting the Protecting Options for Seniors Act in April 2025 for fairer rural hospital reimbursement and requesting over $55 million for rural infrastructure and community health projects in May 2025.
In July 2025, he opposed H.R. 1 over Medicaid cuts and potential hospital closures.
In August 2025, he co-sponsored the Rural Hospital Stabilization Act to provide $500 million in emergency support for rural hospitals.
In November 2025, he sent letters to UnitedHealth Group, Humana and CVS Health over dropped Medicare Advantage plans in rural Upstate communities.
In December 2025, he supported CommonGround2025 to address premium hikes and coverage affordability.
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