Elisabeth Benjamin

Elisabeth Benjamin, VP of Health Initiatives at Community Service Society and policy advocate, and Caroline Lewis, health care reporter for WNYC/Gothamist, discuss looming eligibility changes to New York’s Essential Plan after federal funding cuts. They outline who stands to lose coverage, the timeline and costs to backfill funding, and policy options and resources people can use to respond.

Elizabeth Benjamin, a health policy advocate and Vice President at the Community Service Society of New York, discusses the ongoing ACA open enrollment, highlighting rising premiums due to subsidy expirations. Sam Rivera, Executive Director of On Point NYC, shares insights into harm reduction and overdose prevention centers in Manhattan, arguing for their expansion based on evidence of reduced crime and lives saved. They also touch on political perspectives surrounding healthcare and community responses, balancing public health with safety concerns.

Elisabeth Benjamin, Vice President of Health Initiatives at the Community Service Society and co-founder of the Health Care for All New York Campaign, shares insights on the upcoming challenges in health insurance costs. She discusses the expected 30%-45% premium increases, the impact of political opposition to ACA subsidy extensions, and offers practical enrollment tips. Elisabeth emphasizes the importance of personalized help from navigators and outlines how recent policy changes affect eligibility for essential plans. Listeners are encouraged to reach out for local support and advocacy resources.