N.Y. State Department of Health Offers Broad Choices of Affordable, Comprehensive Health and Dental Insurance Plans for 2024

ALBANY, New York, Oct. 5 -- The New York State Department of Health issued the following news release on Oct. 4, 2023:

NY State of Health, the state's official health plan Marketplace, today announced the health and dental insurance plans offered through the Marketplace for the 2024 coverage year.

New Yorkers looking for affordable and comprehensive health insurance can experience the ease of a one-stop shopping experience by comparing Qualified Health plan options now to prepare for the 2024 Open Enrollment Period, which begins on November 16, 2023.

"When it comes to choosing your health insurance, you have many good choices and can choose the plan that is best for your situation," State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said. "I encourage New Yorkers to put this on their "to do" list and find a health insurance plan that fits their needs; having good health insurance provides peace of mind."

NY State of Health Executive Director Danielle Holahan said, "NY State of Health continues to play a critical role for New Yorkers in need of high-quality, low-cost health insurance and celebrates the state's uninsured rate dropping below 5 percent for the first time ever. We remain diligent in providing access to coverage, for both public program enrollees navigating renewals, as well as consumers shopping the Marketplace for 2024 Qualified Health Plan coverage."

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Essential Plan, Medicaid and Child Health Plus

The Essential Plan, Medicaid and Child Health Plus are open for enrollment year-round. All of these programs offer comprehensive benefits, including vision and dental benefits for all enrollees with no monthly premium, no deductible and low-cost sharing.

The 12 insurers offering the Essential Plan in 2024 are:

* Capital District Physicians Health Plan

* Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield HP and Anthem Blue Cross HP (formerly known as Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield HealthPlus)

* Excellus (Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield in Central NY and Univera in Western NY)

* Fidelis Care

* Health Insurance Plan of Greater New York (EmblemHealth)

* Healthfirst

* Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield

* Independent Health

* MetroPlus Health Plan

* Molina Healthcare

* MVP Health Care

* United Healthcare of New York, Inc.

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Qualified Health Plans

Consumers can enroll or renew in a 2024 Qualified Health Plan starting November 16, 2023, and are encouraged to enroll before December 15, 2023 for coverage starting January 1, 2024. All Qualified Health Plans cover preventive care, such as routine doctor visits and screenings, and pre-existing conditions at no additional cost.

The 12 insurers offering Qualified Health Plans* in 2024 are:

* Capital District Physicians Health Plan

* Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield HP and Anthem Blue Cross HP (formerly known as Empire Blue Cross HealthPlus and Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield HealthPlus)

* Excellus (Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield in Central NY and Univera in Western NY)

* Fidelis Care

* Health Insurance Plan of Greater New York (EmblemHealth)

* Healthfirst

* Highmark (Highmark BlueShield and Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield)

* Independent Health

* MetroPlus Health Plan

* MVP Health Care

* Oscar Insurance Corporation

* United Healthcare of New York, Inc.

*Please note: Some individual products will be discontinued as of 12/31/23. In some cases, consumers must select a new plan when they renew their coverage for 2024. NY State of Health will include this information in renewal notices sent to consumers. Consumers should pay close attention to any notices received during this time of the year and be prepared to take actions necessary to ensure that they maintain coverage into 2024. This will impact approximately 1,000 enrollees.

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Small Business Marketplace

Eligible small employers can lower the cost of offering employee coverage with the federal Small Business Healthcare Tax Credit when purchasing Small Business Marketplace-certified plans approved through NY State of Health. Currently, more than 18,900 employers are signed on with the Small Business Marketplace (SBM), the highest level since its inception in 2013. Employers can only access small employer tax credits by completing a short application at nystateofhealth.ny.gov/employer.

There are seven insurers offering plans on the Small Business Marketplace in 2024:

* Capital District Physicians Health Plan

* Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield and Anthem Blue Cross (formerly known as Empire Blue Cross and Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield)

* Excellus (Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield in Central NY and Univera in Western NY)/*

* Health Insurance Plan of Greater New York (EmblemHealth)/*

* MVP Health Care/*

* Oscar Insurance Corporation

* United Healthcare (Oxford)

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Dental Plans

Dental coverage is available for adults and families in certain Qualified Heath Plans or through a stand-alone dental plan on the individual Marketplace:

* Delta Dental

* Empire HealthChoice Dental BlueCross and Empire Health Choice Dental Blue Cross BlueShield

* Excellus Dental and Excellus Univera Dental

* Guardian

* Solstice

In 2024, HealthPlex will no longer offer dental plans on the Individual Marketplace. Consumers in the counties served by these insurers will continue to have a choice of three or more insurers offering dental plans.

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Public Health Insurance Program Renewals

During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) period, NY State of Health experienced an unprecedented enrollment increase of 2 million people as New Yorkers lost income and/or jobs during the pandemic. The combination of new enrollees and continuous coverage of existing enrollees, led to record high enrollment levels and, according to the recently released American Communities Survey (https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs), the uninsured rate in

New York dropped to a milestone of 4.9 percent.

As part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023, signed into law on December 29, 2022, Congress ended the PHE continuous enrollment requirement on March 31, 2023.

Renewal notices are sent on a rolling basis 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. Notices are distributed based on enrollees' enrollment end dates and will include a renewal deadline to take action before risking a gap in coverage.

Enhanced tax credits for Qualified Health Plan coverage will continue through 2025, and the Marketplace will remain open through May 2024 during the "PHE unwind" renewal process so consumers can enroll in a Qualified Health Plan or the Essential Plan if they become ineligible for Medicaid.

The State is monitoring enrollment during this process with a Public Health Emergency Unwind Dashboard, which tracks renewal status, demographics, and state program transitions every month.

NY State of Health will continue a robust public education campaign and encourage consumers to sign up for text alerts to receive important reminders, including when it is time to renew their health insurance. Consumers can subscribe to NY of Health alerts by texting START or INICIAR to 1-866-988-0327.

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Open Enrollment Resources

Several resources available to help consumers shop and compare plan options are:

* Compare Plans and Estimate Cost Tool is available to view plan options side by side.

* Lists of plans (https://info.nystateofhealth.ny.gov/2024plans) by county are also available to help consumers learn what health and dental insurance plans will be available in their county in 2024.

* Plan selection resources are available in 27 different languages.

* Certified Enrollment Assistors can provide consumers with free step-by-step help through the enrollment process.

* The NY State of Health Customer Service Center has 386 bilingual Spanish-speaking representatives on staff. Additionally, translation services are available for all languages to provide assistance in a consumer's preferred language.

Three ways to enroll in a health plan through the Marketplace include:

* Receive free personalized help from a Certified Enrollment Assistor. Consumers can find one at info.nystateofhealth.ny.gov/findassistor.

* Call the NY State of Health Customer Service Center at 1-855-355-5777.

* Visit nystateofhealth.ny.gov. A web chat feature is available to consumers during Customer Service Center hours to help them complete their applications.

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Footnote:

*/ Also offer SBM-certified Healthy NY Plans

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Original text here: https://www.health.ny.gov/press/releases/2023/2023-10-04_broad_choices.htm