Eligibility Redeterminations are Resuming for Over 9 Million Enrollees with Public Health Insurance
New Yorkers with Medicaid, Child Health Plus and the Essential Plan will Receive Renewal Notices with Instructions on How to Keep Their Coverage and When They Need to Act
ALBANY, N.Y. (June 15, 2023) – NY State of Health, the state’s official health plan Marketplace, will return to farmers’ markets this summer to educate shoppers and their families about affordable health insurance, and how to enroll or renew their coverage. In a continued partnership with the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets, Marketplace enrollers [representatives] will be at more than 15 farmers markets throughout the state, with certified enrollment assistors available to provide information about upcoming changes to public health insurance programs, answer questions about renewals, and help uninsured New Yorkers enroll through the Marketplace.
“People go to farmers’ markets to access healthy local food, and with this partnership they can also leave with important information about their health coverage options,” New York State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said. “It’s so important that people understand the choices they have and the steps they need to take -- now and in the months ahead -- as we begin renewals for public health insurance programs for the first time since the start of the pandemic.”
“NY State of Health is happy to partner with the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets to make sure consumers know their options for health insurance,” NY State of Health Executive Director, Danielle Holahan said. “With the return of renewals for Medicaid, Essential Plan and Child Health Plus, ensuring that consumers stay covered is our top priority. Our enrollment assistors will be at various markets to educate shoppers of how to enroll or renew in low-cost, quality health insurance.”
New York State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball said, “Farmers’ markets are important community gathering places that provide an opportunity for outreach and education while connecting New Yorkers with local agricultural producers. That makes them an ideal place to inform people not only about their options for eating fresh, nutritious foods, but also about affordable healthcare coverage. We’re proud to partner with NY State of Health on this initiative and to support the health and well-being of all New Yorkers.”
Details on farmers’ market locations that will have NY State of Health assistors on site are included here.
Renewal notices are currently being sent to enrollees in Medicaid, Child Health Plus and the Essential Plan by NY State of Health, the New York City Human Resources Administration (HRA), and local Departments of Social Services based on enrollees’ enrollment end dates. Renewal notices will include the deadline to take action to renew their insurance or risk having a gap in coverage. Deadlines will be based on the enrollees’ enrollment end dates and will range from June 30, 2023 through May 31, 2024. Consumers whose current enrollment ends June 30, 2023 are encouraged to renew by June 15th to avoid a gap in coverage.
At this time, NY State of Health is maintaining open enrollment for Qualified Health Plans (QHPs), with enhanced subsidies available through the Inflation Reduction Act to reduce the cost of monthly health insurance premiums for those who qualify. The Marketplace is prepared to transition enrollees into the Essential Plan, Child Health Plus, or a QHP if they are determined to be ineligible for Medicaid during the renewal process. Enrollment in the Essential Plan, Medicaid or Child Health Plus is open all year.
NY State of Health has been working diligently for the past year to educate the public about the upcoming renewal process, engaging in continuous outreach that includes a robust public education campaign with paid advertising, option to receive text notifications about renewals, an informational consumer webpage, and an online Communications Tool Kit for partners, providers, advocates and stakeholders.
For more information or questions about eligibility reviews and the renewal process, consumers should reach out to the NY State of Health Customer Service Center at 1-855-355-5777 or go to their local Department of Social Services office, or learn more on the NY State of Health website and the Department of Health’s Medicaid website. Both sites are updated regularly.
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Contact: NY 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, a division of the New York State Department 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.