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Council Discourse

NYC Council meetings, chaptered and linked by time.

Created by Uzair Qadir

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Q&A

CM Restler on NYC Care enrollment and immigrant community fears

New York City Council · Jun 5, 2026 · starts 5:55:30 · 1 min

Restler asks about NYC Care enrollment trends. Katz reports 10,000 more enrollees than last year, with anecdotal evidence some immigrants have left the program or the country due to federal climate. Restler emphasizes the need for primary and secondary care capacity.

Lincoln Restler

Any update on NYC care enrollment?

Lincoln Restler

Have the federal attacks on immigrants suppressed enrollment?

Lincoln Restler

And do we anticipate, are we modeling increased enrollment because of the 750,000 New Yorkers that we think are going to lose their health care?

Dr. Mitch Katz

10,000 more than previous.

Dr. Mitch Katz

Yes, we're assuming more people will come in.

Dr. Mitch Katz

And I think anecdotally, all of us, including me, note that there are some people who are, who,

Dr. Mitch Katz

We're in the program who just don't seem to be around anymore.

Dr. Mitch Katz

And we take that to mean that they've gotten scared of the climate and have returned to their country of origin.

Lincoln Restler

Or are no longer coming in for care.

Lincoln Restler

Or just no longer coming in for care.

Lincoln Restler

I think that the, you know,

Lincoln Restler

with the anticipated expansion, making sure that we have the primary and secondary care capacity in place, which costs money for you all, is going to be critically important, because this is the only way that an increasing number of New Yorkers are going to have any access to care.

Lincoln Restler

Thank you for your work, and thank you, chairs, for your latitude.

Lincoln Restler

I greatly appreciate it.