To: The New York State House, The New York State Senate, and Governor Andrew Cuomo

Tax Assessment on Nursing homes

Nursing home residents are charged a 6% tax on room and board in NYS. Most residents are paid for by the county so people are unaware of this. Only those with private insurance find out about this. This should be outlawed!

Why is this important?

I accepted responsibility of a neighbor who has no family. She entered a nursing home as a full time resident in January. She has long term healthcare insurance which covers a majority of the expense but not all of it. When they sent me a bill for the uncovered balance there was a separate 6% tax assessment. I was amazed that such a tax was passed back in 2002. I believe this is a way charging the tax payers twice. Our tax dollars are being used to pay for people with no assets and then the state is charging the county another tax of 6%. With the growing number of people living longer this is going to be a windfall for the state to put money back into the general fund to be used as they please.