Certified Assistors Provide Enrollment Guidance at YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day Events Across the State
ALBANY, N.Y. (April 18, 2024) – The State Health Department’s NY State of Health, the state’s official health plan Marketplace, today announced it will once again participate in the YMCA’s annual Healthy Kids Day, a national initiative featuring free community events with family-friendly activities to encourage a healthy lifestyle. Certified enrollment assistors will be at select YMCAs throughout the state starting on April 20 to answer questions about insurance enrollment and renewals, provide information about health plan options, and help consumers access financial assistance available through the Marketplace.
“Choosing the right health insurance is an extremely important decision for New Yorkers and participating in community events like the YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day is another way for our NY State of Health to provide helpful information,” State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said. “Certified enrollment assistors will be on-hand to answer questions about quality health insurance plans that are affordable, fit their needs, and keep their families in good health.”
“YMCA’s annual Healthy Kids Day provides consumers the opportunity to learn about many community wellness resources, including the affordable, quality health insurance available through New York’s Marketplace,” NY State of Health Executive Director Danielle Holahan said. “New Yorkers attending YMCA Healthy Kids Day events may be eligible for free or low-cost health insurance that can help keep their families healthy.”
Find a YMCA Healthy Kids Day event here.
YMCA has hosted Healthy Kids Day for more than 30 years, offering free community events aimed to inspire kids and families to adopt an active lifestyle to improve their health and well-being.
New York is two-thirds of the way through the process of renewing all public health insurance enrollees post public health emergency. The Marketplace continues to provide extensive outreach assistance to millions of consumers to help them with renewals. Renewal notices have been 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 individuals’ enrollment end dates. Renewal notices include the deadline to take action to renew their insurance or risk having a coverage gap. Consumers are encouraged to renew by the 15th of the month for coverage to start on the first of the following month.
Enrollment remains open for a Qualified Health Plan (QHP) during the Public Health Emergency Unwind, which ends May 2024, with enhanced subsidies available through the Inflation Reduction Act to reduce the cost of monthly health insurance premiums for those who qualify. Eligibility for New York’s Essential Plan was expanded effective April 1, 2024 so even more New Yorkers are now eligible for premium-free coverage. Enrollment in the Essential Plan, Medicaid, and Child Health Plus is open all year. 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.
For more information or questions about the new expanded Essential Plan, 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.
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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.