State leaders working to preserve New Yorker's healthcare amid cuts

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — Leaders in New York are urging lawmakers in Washington to extend tax credits connected to the affordable care act that expire at the end of this year. In a letter co-signed by Governor Hochul, she claims 140,000 New Yorkers will lose access to affordable healthcare if lawmakers don’t act.

This week on Empire State Weekly, Danielle Holahan, executive director at New York State of Health, reacts to the ongoing talks in Washington and breaks down the fallout on New Yorkers if those subsidies fail to pass.

“What we’re talking about is unfortunately a nearly 14% percent increase in premiums that consumers pay, who purchase their coverage through New York State of Health,” Holahan said. “Unfortunately, it does not look like congress is going to act, and we will need to be telling consumer their premiums are going up.”

Also this week, Joshua Brietbart, the Director of Broadband Access at ConnectAll, breaks down the state’s new $400 million proposal to boost broadband connectivity. Brietbart said that in 2025, working broadband is a must for families.

“The future of New York’s economy is digital”, Brietbart stated. “That means every single person having access to affordable, reliable high-speed internet service. These grants are closing the availability gap for that one percent of households that haven’t been otherwise served.”

To see more from these interviews, here is a list of where and when you can watch Empire State Weekly in your area of New York: