Nearly 500,000 moderate-income New Yorkers will lose their health insurance plans on July 1 as a result of HR 1, a Republican-led law enacted nearly one year ago.
The legislation, officially titled the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act," reduced national government health spending by $911 billion to fund permanent tax breaks for high-income families and border security.
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Local organizations are scrambling to transition affected individuals into alternative coverage options within a strict 60-day window before open enrollment begins in November.
"It's an all hands on deck situation," said Maia Dillane, senior director of strategy and implementation at the Arab-American Family Support Center (AAFSC).
The AAFSC is collaborating with 20 community-based organizations alongside the Community Service Society of New York to find alternative coverage for residents.
"We're seeing a lot of families still going back and forth on whether they can enroll in one of the qualified health plans – or whether they are just going to opt out of the coverage completely," said Rahem Bader, director of the community health and well-being program at AAFSC.
Advocates note that premium costs remain a primary obstacle for families navigating these sudden changes.
"Families are having to choose how they're going to split their costs when it comes to their healthcare, food, etc.
," Bader said.
Navigators report that struggling families choosing to maintain insurance are prioritizing immediate medical needs over preventive measures.
"It's because they are not looking for preventive care – they are looking for treatments for illnesses," Bader added.
