Concerns about Paterson’s Young Adult Coverage Proposal

Governor Paterson has proposed to extend a “COBRA-like” insurance benefit to young people up to the age of 29 through their parent’s policies. However he seeks to “age rate” these young people, a dangerous move for New York’s health insurance consumers with disabilities and serious illnesses. New York is an example for the nation in its efforts to achieve health reform - -- a state that has “pure community rating” which means that all of us must be treated the same by an insurance company, no matter our age or disability. Read the response of Mark Scherzer, Legal Counsel to New Yorkers for Accessible Health Coverage, to the New York Times coverage of the proposal here.