Pre-existing condition insurance plan coming

As part of the new health reforms in the country, residents of New York State can now apply for the Pre-existing Condition Insurance Plan.
“The insurance plan is [a] result of the health care reform law, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act that Congress passed in March 2010,” explained Councilmember Julissa Ferreras. “The law created a temporary program until January 2014 that makes coverage available for individuals who have a pre-existing medical condition, have not had insurance for six months and who are legal citizens or U.S. residents.”
The NY Bridge Plan will be administered by EmblemHealth company Group Health Incorporated (GHI). The Pre-existing Condition Insurance Plan will be available throughout the United States.
“The plan will operate until 2014, at which point state health benefit exchanges will be available for individuals to purchase coverage,” Ferreras said.
Included in the NY Bridge Plan is preventative and vision care and co-pays of $20 for office visits, $500 for hospital admittance and $100 for emergency room visits. For prescriptions, there is no co-pay for generic brands and a $10 co-pay for brand names.
According to www.nybridgeplan.com, “The NY Bridge Plan covers a broad range of services, including primary and specialty care, inpatient and outpatient hospital care, and prescription drugs, as well as assistance from professional nurses and caseworkers to help members manage chronic conditions and maintain overall health.”
For more information about the NY Bridge Plan, including enrollment, visit www.nybridgeplan.com or call 1-866-NY-EZ-APP (1-866-693-9277).
“This is a great time for New Yorkers who have previously been left out in the cold by health insurance companies,” Ferreras said. “This is just the first step in the overhaul of our country’s health care industry.”