NY State of Health, the state’s official health plan Marketplace, have announced the affordable health insurance options available to New Yorkers in 2022.
Open enrollment for coverage in a 2022 Qualified Health Plan starts Nov. 16 for new and returning consumers and ends on Jan.31.
“Marketplace enrollment has topped 6.3 million people this year as more New Yorkers choose to protect themselves and their families with affordable, quality coverage during the COVID-19 public health emergency,” said Acting NY State of Health Executive Director Danielle Holahan. “Consumers can begin previewing their 2022 plan options and premiums today through NY State of Health’s plan shopping tool.”
Significantly, officials said, expanded federal tax credits remain available to New Yorkers who enroll in Qualified Health Plans (QHP.) This enhanced American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) financial assistance is available now, including to higher-income individuals for the first time. Consumers who receive premium tax credits, more than 60 percent of QHP enrollees, will see no change in their premium costs for 2022, or in some cases a small decrease in the cost of coverage compared to 2021.
According to the Health Department, one in three New Yorkers are enrolled in health coverage through the Marketplace. Enrollment has increased across all marketplace programs since April 2021, when the state began implementing ARPA tax credit and Essential Plan (EP) enhancements.
All 12 insurers that offered Qualified Health Plans last year will offer them again in 2022. Consumers who enroll in a QHP between Nov. 16 and Dec. 15 will have coverage starting Jan. 1.
The 12 insurers offering Qualified Health Plans in 2022 are: Capital District Physicians Health Plan; Empire Blue Cross HealthPlus and Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield HealthPlus; Excellus (Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield in Central NY and Univera in Western NY); Fidelis Care; Health Insurance Plan of Greater New York (EmblemHealth); Healthfirst; Highmark (Highmark of Northeastern NY and Highmark of Western NY); Independent Health; MetroPlus Health Plan; MVP Health Care; and Oscar Insurance Corp; United Healthcare of New York Inc.
Officials said the Essential Plan will continue to offer coverage with no monthly premium, no deductible and low-cost sharing and will include vision and dental benefits for all enrollees.
The 12 insurers offering the Essential Plan in 2022 are: Capital District Physicians Health Plan; Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield HealthPlus; Excellus (Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield in Central NY and Univera in Western NY); Fidelis Care; Health Insurance Plan of Greater New York (EmblemHealth); Healthfirst; Highmark (Highmark of Northeastern NY and Highmark of Western NY); Independent Health; MetroPlus Health Plan; Molina Healthcare; MVP Health Care; and United Healthcare of New York, Inc.
The NY State of Health Small Business Marketplace (SBM) offers reduced-cost, comprehensive health insurance to small employers, uninsured working individuals, and sole proprietors. There are currently more than 16,000 employers signed on with the Marketplace, the highest level since its inception in 2013, officials said.
Eligible small employers can access small employer tax credits by completing a short application at nystateofhealth.ny.gov/employer and enrolling in NY State of Health-certified plans directly with insurers of their choice.
The nine insurers offering plans on the Small Business Marketplace are: Capital District Physicians Health Plan, Empire (Empire Blue Cross and Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield), Excellus (Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield in Central NY and Univera in Western NY), Healthfirs, Health Insurance Plan of Greater New York (EmblemHealth), Independent Health, MVP Health Care, Oscar Insurance Corp., and United Healthcare (Oxford).
Dental coverageis available for adults and families in some QHPs or through a stand-alone dental plan.
The Marketplace will offer the following eight dental plans on the individual Marketplace: Delta Dental, Dentcare, Empire HealthChoice Dental BlueCross and Empire Health Choice Dental Blue Cross BlueShield, Excellus Dental and Excellus Univera Dental, Guardian, Highmark of Northeastern NY; Highmark of Western NY), Healthplex, and Solstice.
Enrollment for 2021 coverage continues through the end of the year and consumers can enroll or renew for 2022 coverage for QHPs starting Nov. 16. Consumers are encouraged to research and compare their 2022 plans prior to the open enrollment date to jumpstart their application and secure enrollment before the end of the year.
Enrollment in the Essential Plan, Medicaid and Child Health Plus is open all year. For additional information, visit the NY State of Health website at: nystateofhealth.ny.gov or call 1-855-355-5777.