Find Affordable Health Insurance In New York

How To Get Health Care Insurance When You Are Not On An Employer’s Group Health Plan

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Affordable Care Act Plans in New York

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) health insurance popularly known as Obamacare, offers medical coverage beyond doctor visits and surgical procedures. The majority of plans cover all or part of the cost of your prescribed drugs as well as other healthcare-related services including rehab, physical therapy, mental health care, and nursing home care.

What It Is: Traditional health care coverage like you would have through an employer. Provides coverage for pre-existing conditions.

Cost: $400 – 700/month, per person. The national average is $438.

Source: https://www.healthmarkets.com/content/health-insurance-cost-per-month

When Is Federal Open Enrollment?

During the Federal Open Enrollment period, you are eligible to enroll in an ACA health plan. This typically takes place every year from November 1 till January 15.

When Is New York Open Enrollment Period?

New York follows the yearly federal open enrollment period which runs from November 1 through January 15.

Special Enrollment Periods

You may sign up for an ACA health plan outside of the federal Open Enrollment within 60 days after a qualifying life event.

Types Of Qualifying Life Events:

  • Loss of health coverage. Losing existing health coverage, including job-based, individual, and student plans.
  • Changes in marital status (getting married/divorced)
  • Having a baby or adopting
  • Changes in residence. Moving to a different ZIP code or county

Temporary Medical Insurance In New York

During a gap in insurance coverage, a short-term health insurance plan can provide you with basic medical coverage. 

What It Is: These types of plans are for people in good health that do not need to treat pre-existing conditions.

Cost: Dependent on your age and state availability. Compared to ACA, these plans are very affordable.

Who Needs Temporary Health Insurance?

  • Individuals who missed the deadlines for the ACA exchanges and need to wait until the next enrollment period
  • Individuals who have a waiting period before enrollment in an employer’s health insurance or another program
  • People who are temporarily in between jobs or have been laid off
  • Self-employed individuals
  • People looking for a plan less expensive COBRA health insurance
  • Those needing temporary coverage:
    • College students or recent graduates
    • Young adults coming off their parent’s health benefit plan
    • Retirees waiting for Medicare eligibility
    • Coverage for dependents not covered under an employer plan

What Is COBRA Insurance?

The Federal COBRA Act allows employees and their qualifying dependents to extend the coverage of their workplace health insurance if the policy would expire due to a qualifying event.

COBRA coverage is available for up to 18 months for workers and 36 months for families.

To join a COBRA plan, the employer who provided the work health insurance will give enrollment information within 45 days of losing the benefits.

What It Is: A continuation of your most recent employer group health plan.

Cost: $400 – 700/month, per person. National average is $438.

COBRA is provided for up to 18 months for employees and 36 months for families.

To start a COBRA plan, the employer who offered the work health insurance will provide enrollment information within 45 days of losing those benefits.

Low-Income Health Insurance In New York

The Medicaid program in New York provides comprehensive health coverage to nearly 7.3 million low-income New Yorkers (as of December 2021.) Medicaid covers a wide range of services, based on your age, financial position, family situation, or living situation. You can receive these services directly with your Medicaid card or via your managed care plan if you’re enrolled in managed care through a large network of healthcare providers.

Visit health.ny.gov to check if you are eligible.

Reporting Health Insurance Fraud In New York

Health care for low-income families and others in need is provided through New York Medicaid using taxpayer funds. Each year, hospitals, doctors, pharmacists, and other suppliers of medical supplies and services in New York cost the government billions of dollars in unnecessary costs due to healthcare fraud, waste, and abuse. To report Medicaid fraud visit ag.ny.gov.

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