NY State of Health Partners With the Office of Temporary Disability Assistance to Connect People to Nutrition Assistance Needed to Improve Health

ALBANY, New York, Oct. 9 -- The New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance issued the following news release:

NY State of Health, the state's official health plan Marketplace, today announced a new partnership with the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) to make it easier for individuals and families to access the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). In just the first week, more than 6,000 individuals have opted in to receive information about SNAP.

SNAP is a federally funded program overseen at the state level byOTDA that helps more than 2.6 million New Yorkers, or nearly 1.5 million households, put food on their table each month. Many people who are eligible for Medicaid may also be eligible for SNAP. As of September 26, people who are determined eligible for Medicaidare now able to opt in to receiveinformation about SNAP and how to apply for benefits when applying foror renewingcoverage through the Marketplace.

"Millions of New Yorkers use the NY State of Health Marketplace as a trusted source to get information about and enroll in health insurance," said NY State of Health Executive Directorand State Medicaid Director,Donna Frescatore. "Now we have the capability to useNY State of Health to also connect people to other benefits for which they may be eligible. Through this collaboration with OTDA, we have the potential to help New Yorkers reduce their food insecurity - a Social Determinant of Health that can impact overall health and wellness."

"Health care and good nutrition go hand-in-hand and we are excited to be working with NY State of Health to help connect potentially eligible New Yorkers with SNAP," said OTDA Commissioner Mike Hein. "SNAP can help families and individuals put healthy food on the table while freeing up their limited income for other households needs. We will continue to work closely with our fellow state agencies and community partners to combat hunger and improve nutrition."

Most SNAP recipients in New York are in families with children, older adults or people with disabilities. Nearly 40 percent are in families that are working but earn too little to feed themselves.

Under Governor Cuomo's leadership, New York State has taken aggressive action to bring hunger relief to thousands of New Yorkers. The Governor has launched several groundbreaking initiatives to bring healthier foods to underserved communities, including expanding SNAP, by extending eligibility to more families and individuals, eliminating unnecessary requirements and simplifying the application process. This new initiative builds on that work.

The NY State of Health Open Enrollment Period begins November 1, 2019 and ends January 31, 2020. New Yorkers who are new to the Marketplace can enroll starting November 1, and existing customers can renew their health plans starting November 16.Consumers must enroll or renew by December 15,for coverage effective January 1, 2020. Consumers applying for or renewing Medicaid coverage year-round will have the opportunity to receive information about SNAP.

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- NY State of Health Partners with the Office of Temporary Disability Assistance to Connect People to Nutrition Assistance Needed to Improve Health

- In First Week, More Than 6,000 New Yorkers Eligible for Medicaid Have 'Opted In' for Information About SNAP

- Partnership Builds on State's Commitment to Combat Hunger