Press Release: NY State of Health Implements ‘Waiting in Line’ Provision Ahead of February 15 Open Enrollment Deadline

ALBANY (February 13, 2015) - NY State of Health (NYSOH), the State’s official health plan marketplace, today announced that individuals who have taken steps to apply for coverage on or before the February 15, 2015 deadline, but have been unable to complete the enrollment process will have until February 28 to finish their application and enroll in a health plan. 

“The goal of NYSOH is to ensure that all New Yorkers have access to quality, affordable health care,” said NYSOH Executive Director Donna Frescatore. “We are committed to helping people who have sought coverage, but have been unable to complete their application due to an extenuating circumstance, get insured in 2015.”

Individuals who have not started the application process should take immediate steps to enroll before the end of the day, February 15, by visiting the NYSOH website, calling the NYSOH Customer Service Center at 1-855-355-5777, or by making an appointment with a NYSOH in-person assistor. The Customer Service Center is open on February 14 and 15 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. To find an in-person assistor, individuals can call the customer service center or visit NYSOH’s website.

All applications and enrollments in health plans must be completed by the end of the day on February 28. Those who complete their enrollment after February 15, but on or before February 28, will have coverage starting on April 1, 2015.

After this deadline, individuals can only enroll in a Qualified Health Plan during 2015, if they have a qualifying life event such as getting married or divorced, having a child, moving into the state, or if they lose job-based coverage or age out of their parent’s policy.  

 

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About NYSOH

New York opened its Health Plan marketplace, NY State of Health, on October 2013. The Marketplace’s one stop health insurance shopping experience offers high quality comprehensive plans for consumers to choose from. NY State of Health is the only place where consumers can qualify to get help paying for coverage through premium discounts or tax credits. Consumers must enroll in a plan by the 15th of the month to start coverage on the first of the following month. The NY State of Health Small Business Marketplace for employers with 50 or fewer employees is open to enrollment throughout the year.  Eligible New Yorkers can also enroll in Medicaid or Child Health Plus through the Marketplace all year.  For more information about the New York State of Health exchange, please visit https://nystateofhealth.ny.gov/ or call Customer Service at 1-855-355-5777.       

 

Contact: New York State Department of Health

518 474 7354, ext. 1

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