The NY State of Health (NYSOH), the official health plan marketplace, currently offering the new Essential Health Plan to lower income New Yorkers, will end enrollment for its qualified health plans on Sunday, Jan. 31. Essential Plans, as well as Medicaid and Child Health Plus plans, are open for enrollment to qualified individuals throughout the year.
The Essential Plan has no annual deductible and offers the same essential benefits as other plans, including free preventive care. Consumers pay $0 or $20 a month per adult, depending on their income.
MetroPlus Health Plan, a subsidiary of NYC Health + Hospitals, not only has the most affordable plans available on the Marketplace, including Essential Plans, but is the only NYC plan to actually lower its premiums for 2016.
“Despite substantial enrollment in health insurance under the Affordable Care Act, it is estimated that over 400,000 New Yorkers remain uninsured and providing these New Yorkers with insurance is critical to the goals of ensuring health equality,” MetroPlus Chief Operating Officer Seth Diamond said.
To make sure New Yorkers are aware of this low cost option, MetroPlus is running ads in the subway, on city buses, at street level, on radio, online, in social media as well as a television campaign.
“The enhanced outreach and advertising are required to reach those, who despite substantial publicity over a two-year period, have not yet enrolled in health insurance,” Diamond said. “The 2015 open enrollment cycle through the implementation of the Essential Plan and MetroPlus’ reduced price, bring new opportunities for low income New Yorkers to receive low price, quality health insurance,” he added.
Already the plan of choice for nearly half a million New Yorkers, MetroPlus offers access to a network of over 12,000 primary care physicians and specialist sites across the city and has the most affordable options in three of the four metal levels available on the Marketplace.
The plan covers all essential health benefits, including emergency services, maternity and newborn care, mental health and substance use services, prescription drugs, and preventive and wellness services. It also offers a vision and dental rider for an additional low cost; the rate varies per level. Nearly 67 percent of new members shopping on the Marketplace chose this added level of care.
Even with the Jan. 31 deadline, there are special circumstances, such as job loss, that allow people to enroll past that deadline. To learn more, contact MetroPlus at 1-855-809-4073 or visit metroplus.org and nystateofhealth.org.
