ALBANY, N.Y. (August 20, 2013) – State Health Commissioner Nirav R. Shah M.D., M.P.H., today announced the new name for the New York Health Benefit Exchange, ‘NY State of Health.’ The launch of the new name and logo is an important milestone for communications around the exchange, which will open for enrollment on Oct. 1, 2013.
“The NY State of Health name reflects our commitment to deliver what the exchange is all about –a marketplace that will provide quality, affordable health insurance for individuals and small businesses across the state,” said Commissioner Shah.
The brand and logo were developed by advertising agency, DDB New York, and is the first reveal in a campaign that will air across New York media beginning Oct.1. The brand is anchored in a mantra that defines what it is to be a New Yorker; visit www.nystateofhealth.ny.gov.
“In creating a name, we wanted it to be meaningful, memorable and capture the essence of what it is to be a New Yorker – that unique ‘can do’ attitude and state of mind,” said Donna Frescatore, NY State of Health’s executive director. “Across the state, there’s a growing sense of excitement as we move closer to enrollment. We’re confident the ‘NY State of Health’ name and campaign will inspire New Yorkers who are uninsured or underinsured to explore the options and choose the plan that fits their needs.”
Also announced today were the insurers that will offer health and dental plans to individuals and small business owners when NY State of Health opens for enrollment on Oct. 1. The New York State Department of Financial Services announced on July 17 the approved health insurance plan rates for insurers seeking to offer coverage in New York’s exchange marketplace.
“By assuring access to quality, affordable health insurance, NY State of Health will play an essential role in making New York the healthiest state in the nation,” said Commissioner Shah. “As a result of Governor Cuomo’s leadership, individuals and small businesses will soon be able to choose from a variety of plans to suit their needs.”
The health plans that will be offered in NY State of are:
- Affinity Health Plan, Inc.
- American Progressive Life & Health Insurance Company of New York (Today’s Options of NY, Inc.)
- Capital District Physicians Health Plan, Inc.
- Health Insurance Plan of Greater New York (EmblemHealth)
- Empire BlueCross and Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield
- Excellus (Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield in Central NY and Univera in Western NY)
- Fidelis Care
- Freelancers Co-Op (Health Republic Insurance)
- Healthfirst New York
- HealthNow New York, Inc. (Blue Shield of NENY; Blue Cross Blue Shield of Western NY)
- Independent Health
- MetroPlus Health Plan (Market Plus)
- MVP Health Plan, Inc.
- North Shore LIJ
- Oscar Insurance Corporation
- United Healthcare of New York, Inc. (United, Oxford)
The dental plans that will be offered in NY State of Health are:
- Delta Dental Insurance Company
- Dentcare
- Dentegra Insurance Company
- Emblem
- Empire BlueCross and Empire Blue Cross BlueShield
- Guardian
- HealthNow New York, Inc. (Blue Shield of NENY; Blue Cross Blue Shield of Western NY)
- Healthplex
- MetLife
- Solstice
An interactive map that shows health plans by county is available at: www.nystateofhealth.ny.gov/PlansMap
Plans offered in NY State of Health will be available in four easy-to-compare metal tiers (platinum, gold, silver and bronze). Plans on the Marketplace will cover doctor’s visits; hospital stays; emergency care; maternity and newborn care; mental health and substance abuse disorder services; prescription drugs; rehabilitative and habilitative services and devices; laboratory services; preventive and wellness services, chronic disease management and pediatric dental and vision. Some plans will offer additional benefits such as adult dental and vision coverage.
Individuals and families with incomes below certain levels ($45,960 for individuals and $94,200 for a family of four) may be eligible for financial assistance in the form of federal tax credits only available through NY State of Health. Federal tax credits limit the amount a person pays for insurance each month. Monthly payments will be far below the cost of buying insurance today. For example, if a silver level plan is selected, an individual with an annual income of $17,000 will pay $55 per month; a family of four with an income of $35,000 will pay $114 per month.
In addition, starting today, New Yorkers may use the calculator on the NY State of Health website (nystateofhealth.ny.gov) to estimate their eligibility for tax credits; see: www.nystateofhealth.ny.gov/PremiumEstimator
NY State of Health will offer New York’s small businesses with 50 or fewer employees a range of coverage options and ease the administration of employee benefits for owners. Moreover, NY State of Health will be the only place where small businesses with 25 or fewer employees and average wages of $50,000 or less per year may qualify for tax credits to reduce the cost of providing coverage.
Insurance coverage begins Jan.1, 2014. It is estimated that at full enrollment nearly 1.1 million New Yorkers will obtain insurance through NY State of Health, including 615,000 individuals and 450,000 employees of small businesses.
For more information, visit the NY State of Health website at nystateofhealth.ny.gov and on Facebook, Twitter or Google+.
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