Partnership with the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children Brings In-Person Assistors On-Site at Clinics Statewide
ALBANY, N.Y. (June 13, 2017) – NY State of Health, the state's official health plan Marketplace and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) are working together to share information about and enroll participants in affordable health insurance coverage. Each month, WIC provides approximately 440,000 mothers and children throughout New York State with health and nutrition services.
“NY State of Health and WIC both aim to improve lives by providing access to services that lead to better health and well-being,” said New York State Department of Health Commissioner Dr. Howard A. Zucker. “By letting mothers know about the health insurance options available to them and their kids, we’re helping to provide families with a brighter, more secure future.”
Throughout June, assistors trained and certified by NY State of Health will hold 92 in-person informational sessions at 26 WIC clinics across New York State. They will be available to answer questions about obtaining health coverage and schedule enrollment appointments. Details on the WIC clinics where NY State of Health assistors will be on-site can be found here: http://info.nystateofhealth.ny.gov/events
“The Marketplace plays an important role in helping families get a healthy start by providing affordable, quality health insurance coverage with free preventive care and comprehensive benefits,” said NY State of Health Executive Director Donna Frescatore. “Partnering with WIC is an effective way to reach moms and help them learn about the health plans they’re eligible for.”
Marketplace health insurance programs, including Medicaid, Child Health Plus (CHP), and the Essential Plan, are available to New Yorkers with income levels that fall within WIC eligibility guidelines and are open for enrollment all year. Children up to age 19 in households with incomes up to 400 percent of the federal poverty level can enroll in a health plan through CHP. In 2016, over 1.1 million children enrolled in coverage through the Marketplace, including nearly 300,000 in CHP. Ninety-five percent of children enrolled in CHP through the Marketplace are enrolled with no premium or sliding scale premiums.
-###-
Contact: New York 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
About WIC
The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) is a public health nutrition program comprised of a statewide network of local agency service providers that offer nutrition education; breastfeeding support; health care referrals; and a variety of nutritious foods to low-income pregnant, breastfeeding or postpartum women, and infants and children up to age five. Families with income up to 185 percent of the federal poverty level may qualify for WIC. Family members who are receiving Medicaid, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program automatically meet the income eligibility requirements for WIC. For more information on WIC programs, visit http://health.ny.gov.wic.