Nonprofit to cover some members of Crystal Run health plans

Jul. 10--A Manhattan-based nonprofit insurer will soon take over coverage for some members of Crystal Run Healthcare's insurance plans, following the large local physician group's March announcement that it's closing its health plans.

Healthfirst will assume health insurance coverage for an unspecified number of Crystal Run Healthcare's Essential Plan and Medicaid members in September. Most of Crystal Run's health insurance plan members live in Orange and Sullivan counties.

Separately, Healthfirst also has received regulatory approval to cover Essential Plan and Medicaid enrollees, who are not part of Crystal Run's plans, in Orange and Sullivan counties.

Plus, in the same two counties, Healthfirst will soon cover non-Crystal Run health plan enrollees in the Child Health Plus or CHP insurance plan and the Health and Recovery Plan.

Although Crystal Run health plan members will become part of Healthfirst's network in September, other locals will be able to purchase Healthfirst's coverage beginning Aug. 1.

"It will be a seamless transition for Crystal Run Health insurance members because all of the doctors that were in Crystal Run's network are in the Healthfirst network," said Elise Titan, a Healthfirst spokeswoman.

As for health providers besides physicians, including hospitals, clinics and testing offices, Titan said Crystal Run health plan members will see a "high overlap" and "have various choices" for high-quality local providers.

As Crystal Run's health plan winds down, members who are not part of the company's Essential Plan and Medicaid will have the option to purchase other coverage, Titan said.

Healthfirst was founded 26 years ago in conjunction with New York City hospitals and health providers. The nonprofit insurer has nearly 1.4 million members. It serves New York City and Long Island, and the company recently expanded into Westchester County.

daxelrod@th-record.com

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