New York

As I noted last week, while the 2024 ACA Open Enrollment Period ended in most states back on January 15th, and in several more as late as January 31st, there are two remaining states where it's technically still going on: California, which bumped their final Open Enrollment deadline out by an extra 9 days at the last minute on the 31st, and New York, which announced last fall that they're keeping enrollment fully open to anyone all the way out until the end of May, to coincide with the end of the ongoing Medicaid Unwinding process.

Thanks to Louise Norris for catching this one.

This is a bit odd...… earlier today I noted that Covered California is extending their Final 2024 Open enrollment deadline out until January 9th due to a service center issue they had over the past few days. A key thing about this, however, is that they included a formal press release to announce the extension.

By contrast, New York State of Health, also supposed to have a deadline of midnight tonight, just posted the following tweet without any formal press release being emailed or posted on their website. Of this writing there's also no notice posted on the front page website.

Very strange, although perhaps they'll send one out/post a notice tonight or tomorrow morning?

via City & State NY:

Monday marks the 51st anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the now-overturned Supreme Court decision that created the right to an abortion. The 51st may not be an anniversary you would typically mark, but it does fall on an election year. Although New York has long had abortion rights codified in state law, state lawmakers will celebrate the occasion by approving additional measures to expand access to reproductive care as Democrats again hope that the issue will drive voters to the polls in November in ways it hasn’t in the past. 

New York already has some of the strongest abortion protections in the country, but state lawmakers annually see an opportunity to expand on reproductive rights.

NY State of Health hasn't issued any formal 2024 Open Enrollment Period press releases with hard enrollment data yet, but they have posted this January 2024 Essential Plan and Qualified Health Plan Enrollment by County and Plan report.

Most of the report is devoted to breaking out enrollment in NY's Basic Health Plan (BHP) program, called the Essential Plan in the Empire State, but it also breaks out enrollment in Qualified Health Plans (QHPs) as of January 1st via their ACA exchange platform by county...including statewide summaries at the bottom.

As of January 1st, 2024, NYSoH reports:

• 1,197,534 BHP enrollees
• 276,962 QHP enrollees

I don't remember whether the deadline for January 1st effectuation was 12/15 or 12/31 in New York, but assuming it was 12/31 this means a whopping 32% more people signed up by New Year's Eve than last year at the same point (209,854). If it was 12/15, it's a bit higher (32.6%).

via NY State of Health:

• Enrollees in Public Health Insurance Programs Must Take Steps to Renew their Coverage for 2024

• New Yorkers Shopping for Qualified Health Plans Can Enroll by December 15 for
  Coverage Starting January 1

  ALBANY, N.Y. (December 8, 2023) – NY State of Health, the state's official health plan Marketplace, is working together with food pantries to help New Yorkers fight food insecurity and help them access high-quality, low-cost health insurance for the seventh consecutive holiday season. NY State of Health’s annual open enrollment period for Qualified Health Plans started November 16 and consumers who enroll by December 15 will have health coverage starting January 1, 2024.

via NY State of Health:

• Health Insurance Scams Related to Renewals Are Increasing

• Health Commissioner and Attorney General Offer Tips to Avoid Scams

ALBANY, NY. (November 16, 2023) State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald and Attorney General Letitia James today cautioned New Yorkers about health insurance enrollment scams as 2024 enrollment through the NY State of Health is set to begin on November 16.

The NY State of Health, New York’s Health Plan Marketplace, offers one-stop health insurance shopping for both public health programs, Medicaid, Child Health Plus, and the Essential Plan, and commercial health insurance, Qualified Health Plans. Earlier this year, after the pandemic’s continuous coverage rules expired, New York State resumed the practice of reviewing and renewing eligibility for those enrolled in the public health programs. Health insurance scams regarding these renewals are increasing.

Every year I seem to forget that New York State of Health launches their annual ACA Open Enrollment Period two weeks later than every other state for some reason...

• New Yorkers Who Enroll by December 15 Will Have Health Insurance in Place for January 1

• Enhanced Health Insurance Premium Tax Credits Remain Available in 2024

• NY State of Health Makes Available Certified Enrollment Assistors to Offer Free Help, Plan Comparisons , and Cost Estimates to Consumers Across the State

ALBANY, NY. (November 16, 2023) – NY State of Health, the state’s Official Health Plan Marketplace, today announced the beginning of its eleventh annual open enrollment period for health insurance. New Yorkers shopping for coverage through the Marketplace are offered a wide selection of high-quality comprehensive health plans, with the support of certified enrollment assistors to guide them through the enrollment process, establish eligibility, and determine any potential financial assistance. Beginning today, consumers have until December 15, 2023, to renew or enroll in a Qualified Health Plan for health insurance starting January 1, 2024.

I'm a bit late following up on this, but since New York State of Health isn't launching their 2024 ACA Open Enrollment Period until tomorrow anyway (Nov. 16th...every other state already started theirs on Nov. 1st or earlier), it's still timely.

Two weeks ago a Twitter follower of mine gave me a heads up:

The letter I received had the Essential Plan at 250%. My Navigator told me it was a mistake and pending approval? DM me for specifics

This is definitely cause for concern, since New York's Essential Plan is only available to NY residents who earn between 138 - 200% of the Federal Poverty Level ($29,160/yr for a single adult, $60,000/yr for a family of four).

Sure enough, they sent me the full letter they received from New York State of Health (personal info redacted, of course):

New York's implementation of the ACA's Basic Health Plan provision (Section 1331 of the law) is called the Essential Plan. It currently serves over 1.1 million New Yorkers, or over 5x as many residents as ACA exchange plans do.

Whenever I write about BHPs I always throw in a simple explainer about what it is, with an assist from Louise Norris:

Under the ACA, most states have expanded Medicaid to people with income up to 138 percent of the poverty level. But people with incomes very close to the Medicaid eligibility cutoff frequently experience changes in income that result in switching from Medicaid to ACA’s qualified health plans (QHPs) and back. This “churning” creates fluctuating healthcare costs and premiums, and increased administrative work for the insureds, the QHP carriers and Medicaid programs.

The out-of-pocket differences between Medicaid and QHPs are significant, even for people with incomes just above the Medicaid eligibility threshold who qualify for cost-sharing subsidies.

via NY State of Health:

• Consumers Can Preview 2024 Plan Options Now, Enroll Starting November 16, 2023

• Marketplace Helps New Yorkers Stay Covered Throughout Pivotal Renewal Process of State Public Health Programs

• State’s Uninsured Rate Drops to Record Low of Less than 5 Percent

• Enhanced Federal Financial Assistance Will Remain Available for 2024 Health Coverage

ALBANY, N.Y. (October 4, 2023) – NY State of Health, the state’s official health plan Marketplace, today announced the health and dental insurance plans offered through the Marketplace for the 2024 coverage year.