Press Release: NY State of Health Awarded $1.1 Million to Help More New Yorkers Access Affordable Health Coverage

State Receives Marketplace Modernization Grant, Awarded by Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Under American Rescue Plan Act  

 

ALBANY, N.Y. (September 17, 2021) – NY State of Health, the state’s official health plan Marketplace, today announced it has been awarded a Marketplace Modernization Grant by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).  This funding, a total of $1.1 million dollars, the maximum awarded to state-based marketplaces, has been made available by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021 for the purpose of modernizing or updating state technology systems and/or conducting targeted consumer outreach activities that can improve access to health coverage for consumers.  

 

Modernization Grant funding will support New York’s Information Technology system development needs for the Marketplace and increase consumer education and outreach necessary as a result of the new ARPA federal requirements and enhanced financial assistance.  Building on the State’s strong commitment to health equity, using this funding the State aims to increase awareness of ARPA’s enhanced federal premium tax credits for eligible New Yorkers, make the process of obtaining financial assistance and enrolling in a health plan as seamless as possible, and ultimately increase enrollment levels among traditionally uninsured populations. 

 

“This federal funding will allow us to enhance our investment in an already successful and innovative state-based health plan marketplace IT system and consumer education campaign, as we remain steadfast in our commitment to providing access to quality, affordable health coverage to all New Yorkers,” said NY State of Health Acting Executive Director, Danielle Holahan.  

 

The federal Modernization Grant is crucial in its timing to supplement the state’s efforts in helping all New Yorkers get covered.  During the COVID-19 pandemic emergency, NY State of Health has served as a critical safety net for individuals who lost jobs and/or income, helping them to find and enroll in affordable, comprehensive health insurance.  Thanks to the ARPA, the Marketplace extended enhanced subsidies to current enrollees starting in April 2021 and financial assistance to higher-income New Yorkers for the first time in June 2021; in July, NY State of Health reached a record-breaking enrollment total of 6 million. 

 

Consumers can apply for coverage through the remainder of the year by visiting https://nystateofhealth.ny.gov, or by calling 1-855-355-5777 and by connecting with a free enrollment assistor. 

 

To read more about the federal Modernization Grant available through the American Rescue Plan Act, please go to https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/biden-harris-administration-invests-20-million-american-rescue-plan-funding-improve-access   

 

To read New York State’s Modernization Grant information and application please go to https://info.nystateofhealth.ny.gov/resource/ny-state-health-exchange-modernization-grant-application  

 

To read more about how NY State of Health enrollees benefit from the American Rescue Plan, please go to https://info.nystateofhealth.ny.gov/americanrescueplan   

 

 

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Contact: New York State Department of Health 

518-474-2043 x. 2 

 

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. 

 

 

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