New York Health Access

Uninsured

	NYS Essential Plan - Expands April 2024 from 200% to 250% Federal Poverty Level The NYS Essential Plan (EP) will have expanded eligibility levels starting April 1, 2024, under a recently approved federal 1332 Waiver program. Until now, EP covered individuals who are over income for Medicaid (with incomes between 139%-200% of the FPL) and some lawfully present immigrants who...


	Resources for Uninsured and Underinsured This article briefly explains how uninsured people those without Medicare, Medicaid, or private health insurance may obtain help with hospital, prescription drug and other medical bills. First is a brief explanation of New York's Hospital Financial Assistance or Charity Care law, with a longer...


	NYS Hospital Financial Assistance Law -- Hospitals Must Provide Charity Care Assistance Program Overview Charity care refers to free or low cost care provided by hospitals to uninsured or underinsured patients. New York State has provided significant state funding to hospitals for charity care since 1983, but it wasn't until 2007 that hospitals were actually required to provide charity...


	Financial Assistance for Air Conditioners - 2022 Cooling Assistance Program Note: Medicaid also may sometimes pay for an air conditioner. See article. HEAP-funded air conditioners are available in limited supplies to low income people in NYS who meet income and other requirements. In 2022 a qualifying medical condition exacerbated by heat is no longer a requirement to...


	Tool Kit for Community Health Centers: Helping Patients Access Health Care Coverage The tool kit you will find at the link below was created by the Empire Justice Center with funding from the New York State Health Foundation. The tool kit is designed to guide community health center staff in their efforts to help patients access public health insurance or other kind of help...


	How to Prevent and Fix Medical Debt This handbook was designed for community advocates who assist New Yorkers with medical debt. The handbook covers the following: common billing problems faced by uninsured and underinsured patients, how to get financial assistance with hospital bills, how to deal with collection agencies, and what...


	Affordable Care Act --New York State Health Exchange Open Year-Round for Medicaid Applications and for Certain "Special Enrollment" categories New York State of Health Exchange https://nystateofhealth.ny.gov/ MEDICAID Individuals eligible for Medicaid or Child Health Plus and American Indians/Alaskan Natives can enroll at any time during the year on the New York State of Health website. This is for people under age 65 who do not...


	Healthy NY - Subsidized Health Insurance for Low-Income Workers UPDATE! Bad News: As of January 1, 2012, Healthy NY enrollment is now limited to the High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP). New enrollees can no longer enroll in the standard plan. The HDHP has a deductible of $1,200 for an individual, $2,400 for a family. Good News: An optional prescription drug...


	COBRA - Keeping Employer Group Health Insurance After a Job Ends - Federal & New York State Protections Here are resources on rights to continue coverage after losing one's job, under the federal "COBRA" law. FEDERAL INFO on COBRA US Dept. of Labor COBRA Webpage One-year tolling period during pandemic - extra one year to elect COBRA -- this special enrollment period extends until 60...


	Saving Money on Prescription Drugs if You're Uninsured or Underinsured: Discount Cards and PAPs Prescription drugs can be the most expensive healthcare cost for many people. Those who are uninsured are typically stuck with paying full retail price for prescription drugs at the pharmacy counter, which can be hundreds or thousands of dollars per month. Even those who have health insurance -...


	Empire Justice Center Reports on Immigrant Access to Health Care in NY's Health Insurance Exchange The Empire Justice Center published a report in May, 2013 exploring the policies that guide immigrant access to health care and making recommendations for improving immigrant access through New York's Health Insurance Exchange: New York's Exchange Portal: A Gateway to Coverage for Immigrants ...


	AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) and other AIDS/HIV Subsidy Programs AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) What are ADAPs? AIDS Drug Assistance Programs (ADAPs) provide HIV-related prescription drugs to low-income people with HIV/AIDS who have limited or no prescription drug coverage. With more than 210,000 enrollees nationally in FY 2013, ADAPs reach...


	Annual Open Enrollment Period for Qualified Health Plans Begins November 16, 2023 The annual open enrollment period for Qualified Health Plans on the New York State of Health exchange starts November 16, 2023. Go to the New York State of Health website to look at plan options and enroll. You must enroll by December 15, 2023 for coverage starting January 1, 2024. Even if you...


	2015 NYS Law Gives Protection from Surprise Bills and Emergency Services The NYS Surprise Bills for Health Care Services Law went into effect in New York State March 31, 2015, protecting some consumers from "surprise bills" when services are performed by a non-participating (out-of-network) doctor at a participating hospital or ambulatory surgical center in your HMO or...