New York State Department of Health awarded the 2014 Citizens Budget Commission Prize for Public Service Innovation for providing ‘extraordinary public service through an innovative use of technology and an impressive array of consumer services’
ALBANY (March 24, 2014) – NY State of Health (NYSOH), the State’s official health plan marketplace, reported that as of 9 a.m. today, 1,055,931 New Yorkers have completed their applications and 717,207 have enrolled for coverage since the launch of the Marketplace on October 1, 2013. More than 70 percent of those who have enrolled to date were uninsured at the time of application. All New Yorkers are urged to enroll before March 31, which is the open enrollment deadline set by the federal government. Also, individuals who have completed applications must select a health plan before the March 31 deadline to be enrolled. New York is on track to meet or exceed its enrollment goal of 1.1 million people by the end of 2016.
In recognition of the success of New York’s Marketplace, the Citizens Budget Commission (CBC) today announced that the winner of the 2014 CBC Prize for Public Service Innovation is the New York State Department of Health for the creation of NY State of Health. The CBC Prize is awarded annually – in alternating years to either a New York City or a New York State agency – to recognize and promote successful innovations in the delivery of public services. The Prize will be presented tomorrow in New York City at the CBC Annual Dinner. Founded in 1932, the Citizens Budget Commission is a nonpartisan, nonprofit civic organization devoted to influencing constructive change in the finances and services of New York State and New York City governments.
“New York State has distinguished itself by creating NY State of Health, which has excelled while other state Marketplaces and the federally facilitated Marketplace have faltered,” said CBC President Carol Kellermann. “New York’s initiative provides an extraordinary public service through an innovative use of technology and an impressive array of consumer services.”
“We’re very excited that more than 717,000 New Yorkers have enrolled for quality, low-cost health insurance, and more than 1 million people have completed applications since the Oct. 1 launch. I’d also like to thank the CBC for its recognition of New York’s efforts on the marketplace,” said Donna Frescatore, executive director of NY State of Health. “With the March 31 open enrollment deadline for individuals just one week away, we urge all New Yorkers to enroll in time and remind those who have completed applications to select a health plan before open enrollment closes.”
New Yorkers continue to enroll each day through the Marketplace, and people who purchase their coverage directly are seeing premium rates that are 53 percent lower than the rates in effect in 2013 for comparable coverage. To further reduce costs, NY State of Health is making available financial assistance in the form of federal tax credits to help reduce the monthly cost of coverage. More than 70 percent of those who have enrolled thus far have qualified for financial assistance to help pay for their coverage. New Yorkers can access available plans, estimated costs, and financial assistance (for their county) by using the Tax Credit and Premium Estimator at: http://info.nystateofhealth.ny.gov/PremiumEstimator.
NY State of Health Customer Service Center representatives have answered nearly 912,000 calls from New Yorkers since the launch of the Marketplace. More than 8,500 specially trained and certified assistors are available in counties throughout the state to help people apply in person.
Plans offered on NYSOH are available in four easy-to-compare metal tiers (platinum, gold, silver, and bronze) from 16 qualified insurers and 10 qualified dental insurers. New Yorkers can see plans available in their area at http://info.nystateofhealth.ny.gov/PlansMap.
The Small Business Marketplace offers small businesses with 50 or fewer employees a range of flexible options to meet their needs. Small businesses can access expert advice and enroll on NYSOH either online at https://nystateofhealth.ny.gov/employer, by calling toll-free at 1-855-355-5777, or by contacting an insurance broker.
Individuals and families can get information and enroll in a plan either online at https://nystateofhealth.ny.gov/, by calling toll-free at 1-855-355-5777, or in-person through a navigator. A list of community navigators can be found by county on the website.
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Contact:
The New York State Department of Health
518 474 7354, ext. 1