NEW YORK: NY State of Health Reminds New Yorkers To Enroll In Health Insurance Before December Deadline

via NY State of Health:

December 15 Deadline Approaches for Enrollment in Health Coverage Beginning January 1, 2025 Through NY State of Health 

New Cost Savings and Expanded Eligibility in the Essential Plan and Qualified Health Plans Make Insurance More Affordable for More New Yorkers 

ALBANY, N.Y. (December 13, 2024) — The State Department of Health’s NY State of Health, the State’s official health plan Marketplace, reminds New Yorkers that December 15 is the last day to enroll in health coverage beginning January 1, 2025. This year brings unprecedented cost savings in the Essential Plan and Qualified Health Plans, which offer dramatically reduced out-of-pocket costs. 

“We want to make sure that all New Yorkers have affordable and quality health insurance,” State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said. “The 2025 coverage year introduces reductions in out-of-pocket costs that make healthcare more affordable than ever for New Yorkers. We strongly encourage consumers to enroll before the December 15 deadline to ensure their coverage starts January 1." 

“The new subsidies New York is introducing for 2025, coupled with the federal enhanced premium tax credits that are in place through the end of 2025, make Qualified Health Plan coverage significantly more affordable for consumers – both their monthly premiums and co-payments and deductibles when they seek care,” NY State of Health Executive Director Danielle Holahan said. 

In October, NY State of Health announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of the Treasury approved New York’s State Innovation Waiver amendment, cutting an estimated $307 million in out-of-pocket costs annually for over 117,000 New Yorkers enrolled in Qualified Health Plans.

Highlights of the 2025 cost savings and expanded eligibility include:

• The Essential Plan, for eligible New Yorkers with incomes up to 250 percent offers $0 monthly premiums, and covers doctor’s visits, hospital care, screenings, prescription medicine, dental and vision benefits. Additional savings for pregnancy and postpartum services and certain diabetes services are included for the 2025 coverage year.

• Qualified Health Plans, organized by metal level, have been upgraded for 2025. Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum Plans benefits now include $0 out-of-pocket costs for most pregnancy and postpartum health services and $0 out-of-pocket costs for most diabetes services.

• New Cost-Sharing Reductions (CSR) in Silver plans will provide significant additional savings for consumers.

NY State of Health has expanded eligibility for subsidies in Silver levels for consumers with incomes up to 350 percent of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) and between 350 to 400 percent of FPL. 

Eligible consumers can also take advantage of enhanced premium tax credits, which have helped keep Marketplace insurance coverage affordable. These tax credits, due to expire at the end of 2025, have provided significant cost savings to New Yorkers and funding for innovative programs to eliminate health disparities across the state.

Over 6.6 million individuals have enrolled in the NY State of Health Marketplace, including 1.5 million Essential Plan enrollees and nearly 195,000 Qualified Health Plan enrollees, 145,000 benefitting from enhanced tax credits. 

The Marketplace is a one-stop shop offering comprehensive tools to help New Yorkers compare plans and estimate costs for affordable coverage that meets their needs. 

Consumers can easily enroll through:

• The Marketplace website: nystateofhealth.ny.gov
• Customer Service Center: 1-855-355-5777
• Free assistance from Certified Enrollment Assistors: info.nystateofhealth.ny.gov/findassistor