More than 930,000 Consumers Enroll in a Qualified Health Plan or the Essential Plan
December 15 is the Deadline to Enroll for January 1, 2019 Coverage
ALBANY, N.Y. (December 5, 2018) - NY State of Health, the official health plan Marketplace, today announced in the first four weeks of the 2019 open enrollment period, enrollment is outpacing last year. More than 930,000 consumers have enrolled or renewed coverage in a Qualified Health Plan or the Essential Plan for 2019. Consumers must enroll or renew by December 15, for coverage beginning January 1, 2019.
“Open Enrollment for 2019 coverage is off to a robust start in New York. Current consumers are re-enrolling at a rapid rate and more than 51,000 new consumers have already enrolled in a plan,” said NY State of Health Executive Director, Donna Frescatore. “The swift pace of enrollment shows that New Yorkers want the affordable health coverage they deserve. We urge consumers to shop now and pick the right plan before December 15.”
The high renewal rate reflects administrative improvements NYSOH has made to make it easier for enrollees to automatically renew their coverage, as well as increased outreach to enrollees to provide information about when and how to renew their coverage.
As of December 1, 2018, total QHP and EP enrollment stands at 933,254. More than 170,000 consumers have already renewed coverage or are newly enrolled in a QHP for 2019, and Essential Plan enrollment has reached more than 760,000. More than 4.5 million New Yorkers have enrolled in a health plan through the Marketplace. Open Enrollment in a QHP continues through January 31, 2019.
Consumers who are eligible for a Qualified Health Plan with federal tax credits will see no or little increase in monthly costs in 2019. Bronze level Qualified Health Plans will be free to individuals with incomes up to $25,000 and not eligible for Medicaid or the Essential Plan in every county of the state, and less than $50 a month for individuals with incomes up to $30,000 a year in 41 counties. Bronze level Qualified Health Plans have a higher annual deductible than other metal level plans, but provide free preventive care and protect against catastrophic costs.
The 2019 advertising campaign again features real consumers and their assistors telling their stories about the benefits of enrolling through NY State of Health. Ads will continue through the open enrollment period and special events will be held in Queens and the Bronx, two areas of the state with higher than average rates of uninsured, to get the word out about coverage options and when and how to enroll. The first event will be held next Wednesday, December 12, as a live webinar with enrollment assistors, in English, Spanish and Mandarin. More information about this event will be announced soon.
Enrollment in the Essential Plan, Medicaid and Child Health Plus is open all year. For information on enrollment eligibility or to enroll in a health plan visit: www.nystateofhealth.ny.gov, call the Customer Service Center at: 1-855-355-5777, or contact an enrollment assistor.
NY State of Health representatives will be available at many events across the state to educate New Yorkers about the Marketplace, and to enroll consumers in health plans. A list of locations is available on the events map.
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Contact: NY State Department of Health
518-474-7354 ext. 1
About NY State of Health
New York opened its health plan Marketplace, NY State of Health in October 2013. The Marketplace’s one stop health insurance shopping experience offers high quality comprehensive health plans. NY State of Health is the only place where consumers can qualify to get help paying for coverage through premium discounts or tax credits. Eligible New Yorkers can also enroll in Medicaid, Child Health Plus and the Essential Plan through the Marketplace all year. For more information about the NY State of Health Marketplace, please visit: https://nystateofhealth.ny.gov/ or call Customer Service at 1-855-355-5777, TTY: 1-800-662-1220 or find an enrollment assistor.