With federal health care funding threatened in Washington, New York Democrats are hoping that a plan to provide coverage for all state residents will gain new momentum in Albany. Governor Andrew Cuomo has expressed openness to the idea, but as State House Reporter Zack Fink explains, it's a very expensive prospect.

As New York State braces for Medicaid cuts coming from Washington, some Democrats hope single-payer health care in New York State gets a second look.

For the last three years, Assembly Democrats have passed a bill for a single-payer health plan in New York State, only to see it fail to catch momentum in the state Senate, which is controlled by Republicans. 

But the climate has shifted in the age of Donald Trump, and in a radio interview earlier this week, Governor Andrew Cuomo called single-payer health care "an exciting possibility."

"I think we passed it the first time in 2015," said Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie. "And usually, that's helpful when you have the governor and the Assembly supporting something. I think it increases the chances of it passing."

On Tuesday, Cuomo was more circumspect.

"Single-payer is an exciting idea to me. But it's also a very expensive idea, depending on who you listen to," the governor said. "It could be a $100 billion idea."

Assembly Democrats say the plan would provide insurance to the 20 million New York State residents, including the 1.3 million who are uninsured. They also claim it will save $45 billion.

But the plan would also require new taxes, at least $92 billion worth. And some estimates put the initial tax hike at over $225 billion. 

"The point of the matter is, it's a great way to deliver health care to everyone and make sure that people have health care," Heastie said. "If you are going to deliver health care to everyone, of course it's going to be more expensive."

While it's unlikely single-payer health care will pass the Republican-controlled Senate any time soon, there are two additional factors at play here. Number one, there is an election next year, and the makeup of the state Senate could change. And number two, Democrats believe that with the assault on health care funding in Washington, there has been an evolution in the thinking on single-payer.