Sick, but Still at Work: The cost of care in New York City | This Robin Hood Moment

What happens when going to the doctor means risking your paycheck, your rent, or your livelihood?

In New York City, getting sick can cost more than your health—it can cost you your paycheck, your rent, or even your job. For low-income workers who lack paid sick leave, time off for a doctor’s visit or recovery isn’t an option; it’s a luxury. That impossible tradeoff—between caring for your health and staying afloat financially—is all too common in a city where essential workers keep the city running, even when they’re running on empty. Whether dealing with chronic illness, long COVID, or everyday ailments, these New Yorkers are often left to choose between healing and survival.

In this episode, our hosts Kevin Thompson and Crystal Cooper are joined by Dr. Jonathan Jiménez, Executive Director of NYC Care at NYC Health + Hospitals, to examine how the city is working to close the care gap for those left out of the traditional health system—especially the uninsured. Dr. Jiménez brings years of public health and clinical experience to the conversation, reflecting on the structural barriers that force people to sacrifice their well-being for economic stability—and how NYC Care is creating pathways to primary care, dignity, and long-term health for all. This is a conversation about what kind of city we become when the basic right to get better is out of reach for those who keep our city going.

Tune in for insightful discussions on shaping policies to uplift communities and #FightPoverty. Subscribe for more episodes wherever you listen to your podcasts.

You can find transcripts and more episodes of "This Robin Hood Moment" at robinhood.org/podcasts.

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