New York: @NYStateofHealth extends January coverage enrollment deadline thru 12/31! #GetCovered

Earlier this week California bumped out their "soft" enrollment deadline for January coverage from 12/15 to 12/30. Yesterday Colorado bumped theirs out to 12/18, and Connecticut tacked on an entire extra month to their Open Enrollment Period (though enrollees there won't start coverage until February at this point).

Today New York continues the trend:

Press Release: NY State of Health Reminds New Yorkers There is Still Time to Sign up for Coverage that Begins on January 1, 2021

Dec 17, 2020

(ALBANY, N.Y) December 17, 2020-- NY State of Health, New York’s official health plan Marketplace today announced New Yorkers applying for Qualified Health Plan coverage have until December 31 to sign up for health coverage starting January 1, 2021. Individuals who were unable to enroll by the December 15 deadline should enroll now by visiting the NY State of Health website.

“As the pandemic continues, it is especially important for New Yorkers to have access to high-quality, affordable health insurance,” said NY State of Health Executive Director, Donna Frescatore. “If you are not insured, don’t wait to sign up. Make 2021 the year you have the health insurance you deserve.”

Enrollment is open for all NY State of Health programs: Medicaid, the Essential Plan, Child Health Plus, and Qualified Health Plans.  Most consumers who enroll through NY State of Health are eligible for financial assistance to lower the cost of their coverage.  Due to the ongoing COVID-19 public health emergency, consumers already enrolled in Medicaid, Child Health Plus, or the Essential Plan will have their coverage continued automatically and do not need to renew at this time.

They don't go into any more detail than that. Of course, this isn't quite as significant as it may seem--like California, New York's Open Enrollment Period already extends out to January 31st...but before this change, anyone enrolling between 12/16 - 12/31 wouldn't have their coverage start until February. This gives folks another chance to avoid a month-long coverage gap.

Frustratingly, NY State of Health, which is usually pretty good about providing occasional ACA enrollment data breakouts, hasn't said a peep so far this year. For that matter, neither has California or several other state-based exchanges. Huh.