One in four New Yorkers enrolled through NY State of Health
Enrollment through the Marketplace increased by over 150,000 from last year
ALBANY, N.Y. (February 20, 2020) - NY State of Health, the state’s official health plan Marketplace, today announced that over 4.9 million people, more than one in four New Yorkers, signed up for health coverage through NY State of Health during this year’s Open Enrollment Period. With an increase of 150,000 people over 2019, enrollment is at a record level, including more than 1 million people enrolled in Qualified Health Plans and the Essential Plan. Marketplace enrollment growth is consistent with New York’s declining uninsured rate, which reached a historic low of 4.7 percent. Open Enrollment ran from November 1, 2019, through February 7, 2020.
“NY State of Health continues to meet the strong demand for comprehensive, affordable health insurance coverage,” said NY State of Health Executive Director, Donna Frescatore. “Under Governor Cuomo’s leadership, New York State continues to drive down the uninsured rate and expand access to healthcare.”
ENROLLMENT HGHLIGHTS: As of February 7, 2020:
Total Marketplace enrollment: | 4,918,886 |
Medicaid enrollment through NYSOH: | 3,397,390 |
Non-Medicaid program enrollment: | 1,521,496 |
Qualified Health Plan | 272,948 |
Essential Plan | 796,998 |
Child Health Plus | 451,550 |
Qualified Health Plan Enrollment Details:
Qualified Health Plan enrollment: | 272,948 |
Share with financial assistance: | 159,152 (58 percent) |
Share without financial assistance: | 113,796 (42 percent) |
Share of enrollees who were new in 2020: | 23 percent |
Share of enrollees who renewed for 2020: | 77 percent |
Essential Plan Enrollment Details:
Essential Plan enrollment: | 796,998 |
Share of enrollees who were new in 2020: | 12 percent |
Share of enrollees who renewed for 2020: | 88 percent |
NY State of Health attributes another successful Open Enrollment Period to its strong product offerings, extended open enrollment period, availability of more than 7,500 in-person assistors, and its commitment to getting its positive messages out to consumers through its robust advertising campaign, 2.4 million direct to consumer emails, and participation in more than 250 community outreach events throughout the State. Costs for nearly all Marketplace enrollees will not increase in 2020. This includes enrollees in Medicaid, Child Health Plus, Essential Plan and QHPs who receive tax credits. Consumers who receive premium tax credits, 58 percent of QHP enrollees, saw no change, or in some cases a small decrease, in the cost of coverage compared to 2019. The majority of people who enrolled in coverage through NY State of Health receive financial assistance to help pay for coverage.
New Yorkers once again had a broad choice of high quality, affordable health plan options in every county of the state, with free in-person assistance available to help consumers shop for and enroll in the best coverage for themselves and their families. All 12 of the insurers that offered Qualified Health Plans last year offered them again for 2020. Consumers once again had a broad choice of Essential Plan insurer options, with 15 insurers offering the plan.
NY State of Health’s commitment to ensuring that consumers have time to shop for the best coverage for themselves and their families is steadfast. NY State of Health’s 2020 Open Enrollment Period was seven weeks longer than the federal marketplace’s to provide consumers the time needed to enroll. The State also maintained funding levels for advertising and navigators to ensure consumer awareness and the availability of free in-person enrollment assistance. During the 2020 Open Enrollment Period, website traffic and call center volume surged, with more than 2 million website visitors and nearly 1.6 million calls to customer service, including nearly 20,000 calls on February 7, alone.
Additional information detailing the 2020 Open Enrollment Period, including county-level data, will be available in the coming weeks.
While the 2020 Open Enrollment Period for Qualified Health Plans has ended, individuals who have a Qualifying Event may be eligible for a Special Enrollment Period. Individuals eligible for the Essential Plan, Medicaid or Child Health Plus can enroll year-round.
For information on enrollment eligibility or to enroll in a health plan, visit nystateofhealth.ny.gov, call customer service at 1-855-355-5777, or find an enrollment assistor for free.
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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.