NEW YORK – New York Attorney General Letitia James and Acting Department of Health (DOH) Commissioner Dr. James McDonald today warned New Yorkers about a new scam targeting New Yorkers enrolled in public health insurance programs and provided important tips to protect consumers. For the first time since March 2020, people enrolled in Medicaid, Child Health Plus and the Essential Plan will have to renew their health insurance coverage. Attorney General James and Acting Commissioner Dr. McDonald are urging New Yorkers to be vigilant in light of reports of scammers deceptively calling people and asking them to pay hundreds of dollars to maintain their health insurance.
“It is despicable that scammers are trying to exploit New Yorkers’ need for quality health insurance and uncertainty over ongoing Medicaid coverage,” said Attorney General James. “The best tool consumers and families have to combat scams is knowledge, and that is why I am committed to raising this issue. I urge everyone to follow our important tips, and anyone impacted by this scam to contact my office immediately.”
Enrollment Assistors Attend YMCA Kids Day Events Throughout the State to Help Consumers Renew or Enroll in Health Coverage
Eligibility Redeterminations will be Resuming for Over 9 Million New Yorkers in Medicaid, Child Health Plus and the Essential Plan
ALBANY, N.Y. (April 27, 2023) – NY State of Health, the state’s official health plan Marketplace, today announced it will participate in the YMCA’s annual Healthy Kids Day, a national initiative featuring free community events with family-friendly activities that promote wellness. Certified enrollment assistors will be available at select YMCAs statewide on April 29, 2023, to provide free help to New Yorkers. They will provide information about upcoming changes to their health insurance, answer questions about renewals, and provide information to uninsured New Yorkers about enrolling in coverage through the Marketplace.
As Eligibility Redeterminations Resume, New York Gets Ready to Renew Coverage for Over 8 Million Enrollees in Medicaid, Child Health Plus and the Essential Plan
Enrollment Assistors Available at Kinney Drugs, ShopRite and Rite Aid to Educate Consumers About Insurance Through the Marketplace
ALBANY, NY (April 26, 2023) – NY State of Health, the state’s official health plan Marketplace, is teaming up with retail pharmacies across the state to educate New Yorkers enrolled in public health insurance programs about upcoming changes to their coverage. With federal rules now requiring the state to resume eligibility redeterminations for nearly 9 million enrollees in Medicaid, Child Health Plus and the Essential Plan this spring, the Marketplace is increasing outreach to ensure consumers don’t risk a gap in their coverage. Certified enrollment assistors will be available on-site at pharmacies to answer current enrollees’ questions about renewals, as well as provide information to uninsured New Yorkers about enrolling in health insurance through NY State of Health.
Since March 2020, Aligned with Federal Continuous Coverage Requirements, Enrollment in NY State of Health Programs has Grown by 41 Percent
As the Post-Public Health Emergency Redetermination Process Begins, State Has Deployed Multi-pronged Strategy to Maximize Number of Consumers who Maintain Coverage
ALBANY, N.Y. (April 20, 2023) – NY State of Health, the state’s official health plan Marketplace, today released the 2023 Health Insurance Coverage Update, a detailed summary of NY State of Health enrollment, including demographics, quality measures, and the cost savings realized by millions of New Yorkers who have comprehensive health insurance through the Marketplace. As of January 31, 2023, NY State of Health enrollment is nearly 6.9 million, or more than one in three New Yorkers across the state.
In my post a few weeks ago about Minnesota's plan to dramatically expand their existing Basic Health Plan (BHP) program, MinnesotaCare, into a full-fledged Public Option open to residents not currently eligible for the program, I made an offhand reference to similar BHP expansion-related news happening in New York State. However, I haven't gotten around to actually writing about NY's BHP program until now.
New York's implementation of the ACA's BHP provision (Section 1331 of the law) is called the Essential Plan, and it already serves over eleven times as many people as Minnesota's does (around 1.1 million vs. 100K). Part of this is obviously due to New York having a larger population, but that's only part of it (NY has 19.84M residents, just 3.5x higher than MN's 5.71M).
As I noted this morning, while the 2023 ACA Open Enrollment Period has now officially ended in all states, there's still a lot of Special Enrollment Period (SEP) exceptions for people who have Qualified Life Experiences (QLEs) such as losing their current coverage, turning 26, moving, getting married/divorced, giving birth and so forth.
There's also year-round enrollment available for members of Native American tribes, as well as those eligible for Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
Finally, in most states, residents are eligible to enroll year-round as long as their income is below a certain threshold--usually 150% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL), somewhat higher in some states, including New York, where residents earning. up to 200% FPL can enroll in the Essential Plan year-round.
Enrollment Assistors Will Be Available to Educate Shoppers on Their Health Plan Options and Help Them Enroll
Consumers Who Enroll by January 15th Will Have Coverage on February 1st
ALBANY, N.Y. (January 11, 2023) – NY State of Health, the state’s official health plan Marketplace, today announced it is once again partnering with the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets to educate New Yorkers about enrolling in quality, affordable health insurance at select winter farmers’ markets across the state. Throughout January and February, certified enrollment assistors will provide in-person support by helping market shoppers compare health plan options, answering questions, scheduling appointments, and walking them through the enrollment process.
Consumers Must Renew or Enroll by December 15 for January 1 Coverage
Several Events Scheduled Statewide with Enrollment Assistors on Site to Help Consumers Enroll
Expanded Federal Tax Credits Continue for 2023 Health Plans
ALBANY, NY. (December 14, 2022) – NY State of Health, the state’s official health plan Marketplace, today announced the December 15 deadline is quickly approaching for New Yorkers who want their coverage in a Qualified Health Plan (QHP) effective by January 1, and urges consumers to take action now to avoid a gap in health insurance coverage.
New Yorkers Enrolling by December 15 will be Covered on January 1
ALBANY, N.Y. (November 23, 2022) – NY State of Health, the state's official health plan Marketplace, is working with food pantries for the sixth consecutive holiday season to help consumers access high-quality, affordable health insurance for the upcoming year. Certified enrollment specialists will be available at food pantries across the state during November and December to provide consumers with enrollment assistance. Consumers must enroll by December 15, 2022, for health coverage starting January 1, 2023.
Enhanced Federal Subsidies Will Continue to Lower Monthly Premiums for New Yorkers to Lowest Levels in Recent Years
Certified Enrollment Assistors Available Across the State to Offer Free Enrollment Guidance, Plan Comparisons, and Cost Estimates
ALBANY, NY. (November 16, 2022) – NY State of Health, the State’s official health plan Marketplace, today announced the launch of the 2023 open enrollment period for New Yorkers seeking a consumer-oriented, one-stop shopping experience for public and commercial health insurance. Consumers can begin enrolling or renewing today, November 16, and have until December 15, 2022, to complete their enrollment into a quality, low-cost Qualified Health Plan (QHP), with coverage starting on January 1, 2023.
