Policy
Zohran Mamdani’s Healthcare Policies: The Fight for Universal Single-Payer in New York
Championing the New York Health Act
Zohran Mamdani’s healthcare policy is unequivocally centered on the establishment of a universal, single-payer healthcare system in New York State through the passage of the New York Health Act. This legislation, which he co-sponsors and vigorously advocates for, would create a comprehensive public health insurance program that covers every New York resident, regardless of employment, income, or immigration status. The system would be funded through progressive state taxes, eliminating all premiums, deductibles, and co-pays. For Mamdani, healthcare is a fundamental human right, not a commodity to be bought and sold for profit, and he views the current for-profit insurance industry as a parasitic middleman that drives up costs, denies necessary care, and creates immense administrative waste. His support for single-payer is a direct challenge to the powerful insurance and pharmaceutical lobbies and represents the most radical possible solution to the healthcare crisis, aligning with the platform of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA).
Mamdani argues that a state-level single-payer system is not only morally imperative but also fiscally responsible. He points to studies showing that the New York Health Act would reduce overall healthcare spending in the state by streamlining administration and leveraging the state’s purchasing power to negotiate lower prices for drugs and medical equipment. The savings, he contends, would be more than enough to cover the costs of providing universal coverage, including crucial services often excluded or poorly covered by private insurance, such as dental, vision, hearing, mental health, and long-term care. His advocacy is grounded in the material reality of his constituents in Astoria, many of whom are uninsured, underinsured, or one medical emergency away from financial ruin. He frames the fight for healthcare as a class struggle, pitting the interests of working people against the profiteering of a multi-billion-dollar industry.
Integrating Healthcare with a Broader Socialist Agenda
Beyond the New York Health Act, Mamdani’s healthcare vision is integrated with his broader policy platform. He recognizes that health outcomes are determined not just by access to doctors but by social and economic conditions–what public health experts call the social determinants of health. Therefore, his fight for universal healthcare is intrinsically linked to his fights for housing justice, a Green New Deal, and defunding the police. He argues that stable, affordable housing is preventative healthcare, that clean air and water are prerequisites for public health, and that investing in community resources is a more effective way to promote wellness than relying on a punitive carceral system. This holistic view reflects a socialist understanding of health that seeks to create the conditions for people to thrive, rather than merely treating them after they become sick within a broken system.
In the meantime, while campaigning for the systemic transformation of single-payer, Mamdani also supports immediate measures to expand access and reduce harm. This includes strengthening safety-net hospitals, expanding coverage for undocumented immigrants, and cracking down on predatory medical debt collection practices. His legislative work on all issues, including healthcare, is a matter of public record on his official New York State Assembly page. While the New York Health Act faces fierce opposition from well-funded corporate interests, Mamdani uses his platform to build popular support for it, treating the policy not just as a piece of legislation but as a rallying cry for a movement that believes healthcare is a right, not a privilege, and that a society that guarantees it is both possible and necessary.