Organizations Working to Improve Health Insurance Coverage

WNYHCC is a coalition of organizations dedicated to finding solutions to the crisis in health care access, quality, and affordability.

The Business Council of New York State, Inc. is the largest business organization in New York State, representing the interests of large and small firms throughout the State. Its membership comprises thousands of member companies, as well as local chambers of commerce, and professional and trade associations. In addition to its other activities, BCNYS helps members cut costs and provide important benefits to their employees with group insurance programs.

The Commission on the Public’s Health System (CPHS) was formed in 1991 to ensure that decisions about health care include public input and address the diverse needs of New York City communities. CPHS is a coalition of New York residents, community health advocates, health workers, and labor unions that mobilizes around public health related issues in New York City.

Planned Parenthood of New York City provides essential reproductive health care, innovative educational programs, and advocacy for New York City women, men, and teens regardless of age or income.

The New York Immigration Coalition is an umbrella policy and advocacy organization for more than 200 groups in New York State that work with immigrants and refugees on a variety of issues including health care access issues.

New York Lawyers for the Public Interest (NYLPI) is a nonprofit, civil rights law firm that strives for social justice. In partnership with member law firms, corporate law departments and other organizations, NYLPI helps underrepresented people develop legal strategies to serve their vision for themselves and their communities.NYLPI's Access to Health Care Program strives to improve access for New York's most vulnerable populations.

Paraprofessional Healthcare Institute (PHI) is a nonprofit organization that works to improve the lives of people who need homes or residential care by improving the lives of the workers who provide that care, which includes nearly 3 million home health aides, certified nurse aides, and personal care attendants. PHI’s programs and activities develop recruitment, training, supervision, and client-centered care giving practices—along with the public policies necessary to support those practices.

The Actors Fund is a nonprofit, national human services organization that helps entertainment and performing arts professionals in theater, film, music, opera, television and dance through a broad spectrum of social, health, employment, and housing programs that address their essential and critical needs.

Fractured Atlas is a nonprofit organization that helps artists and arts organizations function more effectively as businesses by providing access to funding, health care, education, and more.

The mission of the Human Resources Administration's Office of Citywide Health Insurance Access (OCHIA) is to expand access to health insurance for all New Yorkers. The office has two key priorities: ensuring that uninsured New Yorkers who are eligible for public health insurance programs (e.g., Child Health Plus, Family Health Plus and Medicaid) are enrolled; and expanding access to affordable health insurance for the City’s small businesses, sole proprietors, and working individuals.”

Public Health Solutions is a nonprofit organization that develops, implements and advocates dynamic solutions to prevent disease and improve community health. It conducts research on public health issues, creates and manages community health programs, and provides services to organizations to address public health challenges.

Empire Justice Center protects and strengthens the legal rights of New Yorkers who are poor, disabled, or disenfranchised through systems change advocacy, training, and support to other advocates and organizations, and legal representation in civil matters.

The Health and Welfare Council of Long Island is a private, nonprofit, health and human services planning, research/public education, and advocacy organization that serves as the umbrella for public and voluntary agencies serving Long Island’s poor and vulnerable individuals and families.

Make the Road New York promotes economic justice, equity and opportunity for all New Yorkers through community and electoral organizing, strategic policy advocacy, leadership development, youth and adult education, and high-quality legal and support services.

The Health Care for All New York  Campaign (HCFANY) is a statewide coalition dedicated to winning affordable, comprehensive, and high-quality health care for all residents of New York by 2010

The New York Health Plan Association (NYHPA) is a membership organization that includes managed care plans, prepaid health service plans, and preferred provider organizations. The Association is dedicated to promoting the statewide development of managed care plans. The Association works closely with the New York State government to develop policies that focus on health care cost containment and promote the efficient use of State health care resources.

The Primary Care Development Corporation (PCDC) is dedicated to improving access to primary and preventative health care for underserved communities. PCDC has supported construction, expansion, and renovation of 60 primary care centers in New York City. PCDC also promotes public policies that enable the delivery of efficient high-quality services to underserved communities.

The Greater New York Hospital Association (GNYHA) is a trade association that comprises nearly 300 hospitals and continuing care facilities in New York State, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. Through advocacy, research, and health care policy analysis and development GNYHA improves access to high-quality and cost-efficient health care.

The LIA Health Alliance is a health insurance purchasing cooperative that offers a range of insurance coverage options for sole proprietors and small business owners in New York City and Long Island.

Through education, community engagement, and evidence-based advocacy the New York Academy of Medicine (NYAM) addresses health issues facing individuals in urban environments across New York State.

The New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC) serves approximately 1.3 million New Yorkers and is the largest municipal hospital and health care system in the nation. HHC is committed to promoting and protecting New Yorkers’ health and welfare through community partnerships, advocacy, and the extension of high-quality health services to New York City residents.

The Greater Rochester Health Foundation is dedicated to improving the health status of residents in this region of New York State. The Foundation’s primary areas of focus are prevention, health status improvement, and health system improvement.

The New York Business Group on Health (NYBGH) is a nonprofit coalition of 150 businesses in the New York metropolitan area that focuses on employer health benefit issues. NYBGH helped establish Health Pass, which provides health insurance coverage options to small business owners in New York City.

The Medicaid Institute at United Hospital Fund was established in 2005 to conduct research and analysis on the Medicaid program of New York State. The work of the Medicaid Institute helps New York State’s legislators, policymakers, health care providers, researchers, and other stakeholders make informed decisions about statewide Medicaid reform.

Children’s Defense Fund of New York is a private, nonprofit organization that conducts research, policy development, public education, community organizing, and advocacy to help develop New York’s children’s health insurance program (SCHIP). CDF has spent the last decade monitoring the implementation of New York’s SCHIP implementation to ensure that children receive coverage.

Citizen Action of New York is a statewide membership organization. Their membership includes labor, senior citizen, women's, student, tenant, and community organizations. The Citizen Action agenda includes health care, employment, education, campaign finance reform, tax legislation, and consumer protections.

The Community Service Society of New York (CSS) supports and trains social services professionals and community-based organizations on a range of service and advocacy issues. CSS also conducts research and advocacy for social service issues, including health.

Manhattan Institute for Policy Research, Center for Medical Progress is dedicated to articulating the importance of medical progress and the connection to free-market institutions. The Center encourages the development of market-based policy alternatives to promote medical innovation.

New York State Department of Health is the agency responsible for administering New York’s Medicaid program. The Department of Health serves as the State’s liaison to the federal government on Medicaid issues, develops eligibility and benefits policies, oversees claims, and establishes rates of payment.

New York State Insurance Department is responsible for supervising and regulating all private insurance business in New York State. The Department regulates the conduct of insurers’ financial operations to eliminate fraud and unethical conduct. The Department also is responsible for administering the Healthy NY program.

The Rockefeller Institute of Government conducts studies and special projects to assist government and enhance the capacity of states and localities to meet their challenges. The Institute established the New York State Health Policy Research Center in 2007 to provide relevant, nonpartisan health policy research and analyses for New York State and national policymakers.

United Hospital Fund is a health services research, policy analysis, and philanthropic organization working to advance policies and support programs that promote high-quality, patient-centered healthcare services. Its activities seek to improve the financing and delivery of care in hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, and other care settings.

Working Today-Freelancer's Union launched in 2001, allows members of the Freelancer's Union to purchase group-rate health insurance plans in New York State.

New Yorkers for Accessible Health Coverage (NYFAHC) is a statewide coalition of over 50 organizations representing people with disabilities. Housed in The Center for Independence of the Disabled, NY, NYFAHC tracks and reviews legislative proposals and actions to determine their impact on people's ability to get or keep health insurance, particularly for people with higher than average health care needs.