Enrollment through New York’s official health
plan Marketplace increased more than two-fold
through the end of February, with more than 89
percent of enrollees being uninsured at the time
of application, according to a report released
recently by New York State of Health (NYSOH).
“Year two of NY State of Health was nothing
short of an overwhelming success,” said NYSOH
Executive Director Donna Frescatore. “We built
upon our first year’s solid foundation with
significant increases in enrollment and high
satisfaction rates across the board. As we move
closer to the third open enrollment period, slated
to begin on Nov. 1, this data will inform our efforts
to reach more New Yorkers.”
Compared to the first open enrollment period,
enrollment in Qualified Health Plans (QHP),
Medicaid, and Child Health Plus increased in
every county in the state, with 86 percent of those
eligible to renew their QHP in 2015 doing so,
officials said.
The high renewal rate is indicative of
the high level of satisfaction with the marketplace,
as was similarly found in independent consumer
surveys conducted by the NYS Health Foundation.
According to the report, more than 2.1
million people–over 10 percent of the state’s
population–enrolled in health insurance
coverage through the Marketplace as of Feb.
28, the end of the second open enrollment. This
represents a more than a two-fold increase from
the first open enrollment period, when 960,762
were enrolled.
Consistent with year one, nearly three-quarters
of individuals and families enrolled in a QHP
received financial assistance to reduce the cost of
their insurance. The average tax credit was $220
per month, up slightly from 2014, the report said.
Overall, 89 percent of those enrolled as of Feb.
28 reported that they were uninsured when they
applied for coverage through the Marketplace, a
9 percentage point increase from 2014.
New Yorkers from every region and county
in the state have enrolled in the marketplace.
Enrollees include a mix of New Yorkers across
all age groups, with 60 percent under age 35.
Thirty-two percent of individuals enrolled in a
QHP are under age 35, 18 percent are between
ages 35 and 44, 23 percent are between ages 45
and 54, and 25 percent are between ages 55 and
64, the report said.
Small businesses with 50 or fewer employees
can enroll in the Small Business Marketplace
(SBM) throughout the year. As of Feb. 28, over
3,700 small businesses had offered coverage and
nearly 15,000 employees and dependents had
enrolled through the SBM. Eighty-seven percent
of employers took advantage of the employee
choice model, offering their employees the choice
of two or more QHPs, the report said.
On average, SBM employers contributed
70 percent towards the cost of the employee’s
coverage. Sixty-two percent offered coverage to
their employees’ dependents, up 14 percentage
points from 2014. As projected, the average small
business that enrolled through the SBM had
three employees.
Each of the 10 insurers participating in the
SBM enrolled one or more employer groups.
The SBM covered workers in every county of
the state with more than one-third of SBM
employers located in New York City. Platinum
plans were again the most popular plan selected
in the SBM representing over one-third of total
enrollment. Gold and silver plans had nearly
equal shares of enrollment at 27 percent and 26
percent, respectively, and only 13 percent of SBM
enrollees chose bronze plans.
The next open enrollment period will begin
on Nov. 1, for coverage starting on Jan. 1. Until
that time, only those individuals and families
who qualify for a Special Enrollment Period
are able to enroll in a QHP. Special Enrollment
Period qualifying events include getting married,
gaining a dependent, losing employer insurance,
or permanently moving into New York state.
During the next open enrollment period,
NYSOH will add a new program called the
Basic Health Program (BHP) to the suite of
insurance coverage options available through
the Marketplace. The BHP, which will be called
the “essential plan,” will provide comprehensive
coverage to qualified individuals based on income
at even more affordable rates.
New Yorkers eligible for Medicaid and all
children can enroll in coverage through NYSOH
at any time during the year. NYSOH’s SBM is also
open for enrollment throughout the year.
NYSOH website, the NYSOH customer service
center and certified in-person assistors statewide
remain available to assist eligible New Yorkers
with enrollment. Individuals and families can get
information and enroll in a plan either online at
nystateofhealth.ny.gov.