NYC Health + Hospitals Hosts Health Insurance Seminars to Prepare New Yorkers for Upcoming Open-Enrollment Periods

NEW YORK, Oct. 23 -- The New York Health and Hospitals issued the following news release:

Leading up to the open-enrollment periods for Medicare and New York State of Health, the State's official online marketplace, NYC Health + Hospitals and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) are collaborating to help community partners, faith-based organizations, caregivers, and community members understand health insurance options available to them.

Health insurance specialists from CMS will provide updates on Medicaid and Medicare (Parts A,B,C and D), as well as information on initiatives underway toward improving the health care system, and how to select and purchase affordable insurance on New York State of Health. CMS will also provide details about what to expect as new Medicare cards are issued in 2018, including tips about protecting against fraud and abuse. This is the sixth consecutive year NYC Health + Hospitals and CMS are partnering to bring free seminars to communities across New York City.

The seminars are open to the public and will be held at NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull (Brooklyn), NYC Health + Hospitals/Coney Island (Brooklyn), NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi (Bronx), and NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan (Manhattan). Community partners, faith-based organizations, caregivers, community members, and NYC Health + Hospitals' staff nearing age 65, are all encouraged to attend.

Outreach specialists from GetCoveredNYC, the City of New York's health insurance enrollment program, will also be present to help attendees understand their coverage options and begin their enrollment.

"Choosing the insurance that is most right for you and your family can be challenging. It's not surprising that people have questions," said Mitchell Katz, MD, president and chief executive officer, NYC Health + Hospitals. "Having an understanding of the different insurance options is empowering, so I encourage New Yorkers to take advantage of this free information."

With the exception of people with Medicare, the next open enrollment period for New York State of Health, when residents will be able to either change their insurance plan, or enroll in health insurance for the first time, will start on November 1, 2018. For people with Medicare, the annual enrollment period began as of October 15, 2018, and ends December 7, 2018. During this time, people with Medicare can select a Medicare Advantage plan or prescription drug plan. They can also switch plans if they are already enrolled.

Topics of information at the public seminars include:

* The benefits of Medicare and how to apply

* The parts of Medicare - Part A: hospital insurance; Part B: medical insurance (outpatient visits, lab work, preventive services); Part C: health plans; and Part D: prescription drug coverage

* The Medicare appeals process

* The Medicare programs in place for people with limited income and resources

* The new Medicare card

* Medicaid basics

* Updates on New York State of Health

* Enrollment resources and assistance for the uninsured provided by GetCoveredNYC

* Health in their neighborhood

"With open-enrollment fast approaching, training our community partners and community members about Medicare, Medicaid, and private health insurance is as important as it has ever been," said Frank Winter, partnership manager, CMS New York Regional External Affairs Office. "Patients have so many options regarding what coverage to select and how to access the health care system, it is important that we provide good information to them, the health insurance counselors who assist them, and the caregivers who look out for them, to make sure they are getting the services they need to stay healthy and enjoy a good quality of life."

Registration is free and required in advance of the event. Light refreshments will be served, and attendees will have the chance to win a fitness tracker. Participants may also register by calling: 212-788-3450.

Thursday, October 25, 2018, 1:30pm - 5pm

NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull

Dolores E. Jackson Auditorium, 3rd Floor

760 Broadway, Brooklyn, NY 11206

To register, visit: https://woodhullhealth101.eventbrite.com

Thursday, November 8, 2018, 1:30pm - 5pm

NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi

Nurses Pavilion Conference Center (Building #4, 2nd Floor)

1400 Pelham Parkway South, Bronx, NY 10461

To register, visit: https://jacobihealth101.eventbrite.com

Tuesday, November 13, 2018, 8:30am - 12:30pm

NYC Health + Hospitals/Coney Island

2nd Floor, Conference Center

2601 Ocean Parkway, Brooklyn, NY 11235

To register, visit: https://coneyhealth101.eventbrite.com

Thursday, November 15, 2018, 3pm - 6:30pm

NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan

6th Floor Auditorium

1901 1st Avenue, New York, NY 10029

To register, visit: https://metropolitanhealth101.eventbrite.com

Contact: Press Office, 212-788-3339

About NYC Health + Hospitals

NYC Health + Hospitals is the largest public health care system in the nation serving more than a million New Yorkers annually in more than 70 patient care locations across the city's five boroughs. A robust network of outpatient, neighborhood-based primary and specialty care centers anchors care coordination with the system's trauma centers, nursing homes, post-acute care centers, home care agency, and MetroPlus health plan--all supported by 11 essential hospitals. Its diverse workforce of more than 42,000 employees is uniquely focused on empowering New Yorkers, without exception, to live the healthiest life possible. For more information, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org and stay connected on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NYCHealthSystem or Twitter at @NYCHealthSystem.

About The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is a branch of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. CMS is the federal agency which administers Medicare, Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Program and parts of the Affordable Care Act. CMS provides information for health professionals, local governments, consumers and other stakeholders. For more information about the CMS, visit www.cms.gov. For more information on the New York State of health visit www.nystateofhealth.ny.gov