By Forum Staff
Governor Kathy Hochul on Friday announced three new policies that will put money back in the pockets of millions of New Yorkers.
This week marks the first implementation of an increased minimum wage, the nation’s first paid prenatal leave law, and a ban on insulin co-pays for State-regulated insurance plans.
On Jan. 1, 2024 the State minimum wage increased to $16 in New York City and the counties of Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester, and to $15 in all other parts of the State and is scheduled to increase by $0.50 per year on Jan. 1, 2025 and Jan. 1, 2026.
Beginning in 2027, the minimum wage will increase annually by the three-year moving average of the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers for the Northeast Region. An “off-ramp” is available in the event of certain economic or budget conditions.
Effective Jan. 1, 2025, any privately employed pregnant New Yorker is now able to receive an additional 20 hours of paid leave for prenatal care. The New York State Department of Labor estimates that about 130,000 pregnant women per year will be eligible for this benefit, with about 65,800 of those being hourly workers.
Pregnancy-related health care includes:
- Physical examinations
- Medical procedures
- Monitoring
- Testing
- Discussions with a health care provider needed to ensure a healthy pregnancy
- Fertility treatment
- End of pregnancy care
The paid prenatal leave benefits are in addition to New York State Paid Family Leave, existing employer-provided leave and existing sick leave benefits, ensuring workers can receive the health care needed to address all pregnancy related care to create healthy outcomes without jeopardizing their employment or finances. The law applies to all private employers in New York State, with no minimum employee threshold, and is applicable to both full-time and part-time employees.
With 1.8 million New Yorkers diagnosed with diabetes, eliminating insulin co-pays on State-regulated insurance plans is estimated to save eligible New Yorkers up to $1,200 per year, and an estimated $14 million in 2025 alone.
According to the American Diabetes Association, people with diabetes have medical expenses that are 2.3 times higher than people who do not have diabetes and the impact is even larger for communities of color, which face disproportionately high diagnosis rates.
“Our Senate Majority’s efforts to make life more affordable for New Yorkers will continue to be our primary focus for this year’s legislative agenda, and I’m excited to start the new year with impactful policies that will make a real difference,” said State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins. “For hardworking families across New York, the minimum wage increase will help ease the burden of rising living costs. We’re also eliminating insulin cost-sharing, ensuring no New Yorker has to choose between life-saving medication and other essentials. And our new paid prenatal leave policy will allow expectant parents to take time off without financial strain, promoting healthier beginnings for both parents and babies. These policies demonstrate what’s possible when we prioritize working families, creating a state where all New Yorkers can thrive.”
