This week, most of us are thinking about holiday time off, last-minute gifts or not having to move our cars for alternate side street parking. But before you completely turn off for the holidays, don’t forget to apply for health insurance through the state’s Affordable Care Act marketplace if you are one of the millions of New Yorkers who rely on it.
If you don’t get insurance through your job and rely on the marketplace, you have until Jan. 31 to enroll for 2025 health coverage. If you didn’t apply by Dec. 15, your coverage will begin on Feb. 1. The exception to this is those who use the Essential Plan, Medicaid, and Child Health Plus, as those plans are open for enrollment year-round.
If you’ve avoided insurance through the marketplace in the past because it was unaffordable, it might be worth applying again. State subsidies and federal waivers have expanded eligibility rates and lowered some New Yorkers’ costs.
How to get coverage
You can enroll in three ways:
- Online at nystateofhealth.ny.gov
- Calling the New York State of Health Customer Service Center at 1-855-355-5777
- Requesting free personalized help from a Certified Enrollment Assistor info.nystateofhealth.ny.gov/findassistor
You can also get an estimate of how much the plan will cost you here.
Dental plans
Some insurance plans through the marketplace include dental coverage, but others require a stand-alone dental plan, which is also available through the marketplace.
More information on dental plans can be found here.
Language help
If you or a loved one speaks or reads a language other than English, help is available. Call the Marketplace at 1-855-355-5777 to get help applying for coverage in your language.
Scams
The state Attorney General’s office is warning New Yorkers about scams during open enrollment.
Here are some of the scams the AG’s office says you should look out for:
- Threatening New Yorkers that their Medicaid or health coverage will be canceled unless they pay hundreds of dollars to continue coverage.
- Scammers will ask for money to enroll people in the marketplace.
- Scammers will use a combination of fake generosity and phishing scams. They offer people gift cards or money to update their health account to avoid losing coverage.
The AG’s office says if you are enrolled in Medicaid, Child Health Plus, or the Essential plan, a red flag that something might be a scam is if the person who contacts you uses the term “Obamacare.” The state agencies that administer those specific plans never use “Obamacare.”
If you suspect you or a loved one is a scam victim, report it to the AG’s office by submitting a complaint online or calling 1-800-771-7755.
To read more of our health stories, go here.
