Senate bill · S10698 (2025-26)
Relates to health care for children; repealer
New York State Senate
Sponsor: Jeremy Cooney (State Senator, District 56, Democratic/Working Families)
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From NY Open Legislation, the NY Senate and Assembly, and official rosters. This record was last updated Oct 30, 2026. About our data
Summary
Removes the household income as a factor for determining eligibility for healthcare for children.
Summary from NY Open Legislation. How we handle summaries
Amends the Public Health Law.
Purpose, from the sponsor's memo
Section 1: Amends paragraphs (a), (b), and (c) of subdivision 6 of section 2510 of the public health law to remove access to other health insurance as a factor for eligibility, to extend the period of eligibil- ity for child health plus for a child who becomes eligible for medical assistance, and to remove an unpaid premium payment as a cause for inel- igibility. Section 2: Amends subdivision 9 of section 2510 of the public health law by adding a new paragraph, (f), that removes payments for eligible chil- dren. Section 3: Amends subparagraphs (ii) and (iii) of subdivision 2 of section 2511 of the public health law to remove outdated language, and adds a new subparagraph, (iv), that removes household income as a factor for determining eligibility. Section 4: Amends paragraph (b) of subdivision 2 of section 2511 of public health law to extend the amount of time a child who becomes eligible for medical assistance may also be covered by child health plus Section 5: Repeals paragraph (f) of subdivision 2 of section 2511 of the public health law, and adds a new paragraph (f) which establishes presumptive temporary eligibility for child health plus for children under the age of 19 while an eligibility determination is completed. Section 6: Amends subdivision 4 of section 2511 of the public health law to remove misstating income for the purposes of obtaining benefits as a reason to have to repay subsidy payments to the commissioner. Section 7: Directs the commissioner of health to submit appropriate waivers and state plan amendments to the appropriate federal agencies to execute this legislation. Section 8: Sets the effective date as the first day of the new year after it shall become a law, however, effective immediately the commis- sioner of health is authorized and directed to add, amend, and/or repeal any rule or regulation and to take other actions reasonably necessary to implement this act on such effective date.
Filed with the bill. Read it on nysenate.gov (opens in a new tab)
Where it stands
Assigned to a committee for review.
- Introduced
- In committee
- Up for a vote
- Passed one chamber
- Passed
- Enacted
Committee
Rules · New York State Assembly
Also referred to Rules · New York State Senate.
Your position on this bill
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The sponsor's argument
Why Jeremy Cooney says this is needed
In the United States, approximately one in five children lack adequate health insurance, with one third of commercially insured youth facing high costs or limited benefits, and those on public plans facing chal- lenging coverage gaps and delayed care. New York has been a leader in addressing these challenges for decades, and now can show a low rate of only 2.7% of children in the state without insurance. But one child uninsured, or with insurance that costs too much to utilize, is one child too many. The American Pediatric Association has continuously advocated for the benefits that proper, accessible health care has for children and the community at large, advocating for policies that create universal access. There is substantial research which confirms early interventions and preventative care for manageable conditions prevent escalation of the conditions into lifelong chronic illnesses requiring expensive and time-intensive care. Simply put, healthy kids grow into healthy, productive adults. In addition to the individual health benefits for the children receiving universal health coverage, implementing universal health coverage in New York State will help all New York families already struggling with high prices. Rising medical costs outpace inflation, and insurance carriers have been asking for 20%-plus premium increases, raising the cost of family health insurance by over $2,000 a year. By implementing universal children's health coverage, all families, regardless of income, will see savings and have the peace of mind to know whatever their children need, they will have it covered. This legislation will create universal health care coverage for New York children by working with the existing federal medicaid programs, and opening New York's Child Health Plus access to all children in house- holds whose income is above the threshold for children's medicaid. This legislation also removes premium payments from Child Health Plus plans for all children at all income levels, and removes income as a factor for eligibility for the Child Health Plus plan.
This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.
Full history
- Oct 28, 2026
Amend and Recommit to Rules
AMEND AND RECOMMIT TO RULES
NY Senate
- Sep 11, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO RULES
NY Senate
Read the record
- Read on NY Senate (opens in a new tab) The official record on nysenate.gov.