PSA - NY State of Health has opened a Special Enrollment Period

[ExGingi]

I've been getting some calls from people that didn't bother to enroll up until now (young invincibles). As of yesterday, the only way to get coverage through the marketplace was if income changed (reduced) and one would qualify for Medicaid or Essential plan.

As of today, this is what I'm seeing:

[ExGingi]

NY State of Health and New York State Department of Financial Services Announce Special Enrollment Period for Uninsured New Yorkers, as Novel Coronavirus Cases Climb

Remind New Yorkers That There is No Cost Sharing for COVID-19 Testing Across Medicaid, Child Health Plus, Essential Plan, and Qualified Health Plans


ALBANY, N.Y. (March 16, 2020) - NY State of Health, together with the New York State Department of Financial Services (DFS), today announced that New York will make a Special Enrollment Period available to New Yorkers during which eligible individuals will be able to enroll in insurance coverage through NY State of Health, New York’s official health plan Marketplace, and directly through insurers. This step is being taken in light of the COVID-19 public health emergency to further protect the public health of New Yorkers.  NY State of Health, DFS, and New York State health insurers are taking this action due to the exceptional nature of the public health emergency posed by the COVID-19 so that individuals do not avoid seeking testing or medical care for fear of cost. The open enrollment period for coverage in 2020 had previously ended on February 7, 2020.

Individuals who enroll in Qualified Health Plans through NY State of Health or directly through insurers between March 16 and April 15, 2020 will have coverage effective starting April 1, 2020.  Individuals who are eligible for other NY State of Health programs – Medicaid, Essential Plan and Child Health Plus – can enroll year-round.  As always, consumers can apply for coverage through NY State of Health on-line at nystateofhealth.ny.gov, by phone at 855-355-5777, and working with enrollment assistors.


As directed by Governor Cuomo, all New York insurers will have waived cost-sharing for a COVID-19 testing,

“With a pandemic spreading through the U.S., it’s important to ensure that healthcare is available to everyone who needs it,” said NY State of Health Executive Director, Donna Frescatore. “This special enrollment period will provide New Yorkers with another opportunity to sign up for high-quality, affordable health insurance.”

“Ensuring access to affordable and quality medical care for all New Yorkers is a top priority during this state of emergency,” said Superintendent of Financial Services Linda A. Lacewell. “Under Governor Cuomo’s leadership, we have established a special enrollment period, providing uninsured New Yorkers an opportunity to select a New York State health insurance provider to access diagnostic testing and care they may need.”

For additional information on COVID-19

The Department of Health provides public health information and guidance here: https://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/coronavirus/, and has implemented a Novel Coronavirus Hotline at 1-888-364-3065.

The Centers for Disease Control’s website offers up to date information at: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

Governor Cuomo has issued a directive regarding access and cost sharing for COVID-19 testing and treatment available at:  https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-cuomo-announces-new-directive-requiring-new-york-insurers-waive-cost-sharing
 

The Department of Financial Services has issued a circular letter on COVID-19 for health insurers here: https://www.dfs.ny.gov/industry_guidance/circular_letters/cl2020_03
 
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Contact: NY State Department of Health
press@health.ny.gov
518-474-7354 ext. 1

[ExGingi]

Additional news. The Federal government just updated the Federal Poverty Guidelines, which would make more people eligible for Medicaid, Essential Plan and Child Health Plus.

Here are the updated guidelines:

[ah giten]

Additional news. The Federal government just updated the Federal Poverty Guidelines, which would make more people eligible for Medicaid, Essential Plan and Child Health Plus.

Here are the updated guidelines:

Thanks

[etech0]

Any idea if NJ is doing this as well?

[ExGingi]

Any idea if NJ is doing this as well?

NJ doesn’t have it’s own exchange. And while they probably could do it off exchange (an email I got from one of the carriers indicated that NY is allowing this off exchange too), it's somewhat more cumbersome and logistically harder.

[etech0]

NJ doesn’t have it’s own exchange. And while they probably could do it off exchange (an email I got from one of the carriers indicated that NY is allowing this off exchange too), it's somewhat more cumbersome and logistically harder.

Thanks!

Also do you know when the Poverty Guidelines changed?

[ExGingi]

Thanks!

Also do you know when the Poverty Guidelines changed?

IINM it's March 7. However I received an email today from NYS clarifying that the new FPL is only applicable to Medicaid, Essential Plan and Child Health Plus. Qualified Health Plans use 2019 FPL until open enrollment in November.

[etech0]

IINM it's March 7. However I received an email today from NYS clarifying that the new FPL is only applicable to Medicaid, Essential Plan and Child Health Plus. Qualified Health Plans use 2019 FPL until open enrollment in November.

TY

[ah giten]

Additional news. The Federal government just updated the Federal Poverty Guidelines, which would make more people eligible for Medicaid, Essential Plan and Child Health Plus.

Here are the updated guidelines:

where can I find this form?

[ExGingi]

where can I find this form?

Attached.

I'll post the other attachments separately due to size limits.

[ExGingi]

Additional attachments

Language in email is:

Attached please find the updated 2020 Federal Poverty Levels (FPLs) and Desk Aid for the Medicaid, Child Health Plus, and Essential Plan programs. These FPLs are effective in NY State of Health on as of March 7, 2020.
 
Also attached is the 2019 Federal Poverty Levels for the 2020 Qualified Health Plan year. Please note, until the next Open Enrollment period, the 2019 Federal Poverty Levels will be utilized for Qualified Health Plans.

[ExGingi]

UnitedHealthcare waiving cost sharing for testing AND TREATMENT of COVID-19.

Got the following by email:

Cost sharing waived for COVID-19 tests and treatment - We are waiving member cost sharing for COVID-19 testing and treatment through May 31, 2020, for our fully insured members whether the treatment  is received in a health care provider’s office, an urgent care center, an emergency department or through a telehealth visit.

Expanded telehealth access - To make it easier for members to connect with a health care provider from the comfort and safety of their homes, we are expanding access to telehealth services. There are two ways to access these services:

Talk to your health care provider about telehealth
All eligible in-network medical providers who have the ability and want to connect with their patient through audio devices or live video-conferencing can do so. We will waive member cost sharing for in-network telehealth visits, including COVID-19 related visits, through June 18, 2020.* Telehealth visits may include:
Urgent and routine medical care: Providers can use both interactive audio/video and audio-only.
Outpatient behavioral care: Providers can use both interactive audio/video and audio-only.
Physical, occupational and speech therapies: Providers must use interactive audio/video technology.

Talk to a telehealth provider through a virtual doctor visit
Members can sign in to the Oxford member website address shown on their health plan ID card or our mobile app to access the telehealth benefit through one of our designated providers and chat with a doctor by phone or video 24/7. A virtual doctor visit can be used for advice and guidance about COVID-19, but cannot be used to test for or treat it. These providers also can assist with other urgent care needs for other illnesses, such as the seasonal flu, allergies, pink eye and more. Hold times may be longer than normal for visits due to high volume for COVID-19 care. We will waive member cost sharing through June 18, 2020 for members with a telehealth benefit through their employer-sponsored plan.*

[ExGingi]

Special enrollment extended to June 15.

Dear Broker:
 
The Governor announced May 4, 2020 that the special enrollment period for uninsured New Yorkers will be extended through June 15, 2020.

You can read the full press release at the following link:

https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/amid-ongoing-covid-19-pandemic-governor-cuomo-outlines-additional-guidelines-when-regions-can