New York: 260.5K QHPs thru 1/21; 3% ahead of last year's total with 9 days left to #GetCovered!

New York State of Health continues to roll on with the 2019 ACA Open Enrollment Period. With nine days left for people to enroll, they're now nearly 3% ahead of last year's final QHP selection total:

Press Release: NY State of Health Hosts Online Informational Webinars in Spanish and Mandarin Tomorrow

• Enrollment Remains Strong During Final Weeks of Open Enrollment
• Enroll Today! 2019 Open Enrollment Ends January 31, 2019
• Customer Service Center Hours Extended before Deadline

ALBANY, N.Y. (January 22, 2019) - NY State of Health, the state’s official health plan Marketplace, today reminded New Yorkers that now is the time to enroll in a Qualified Health Plan (QHP) for 2019 coverage. NY State of Health will hold webinars in Spanish and Mandarin tomorrow night, January 23, 2019. Open Enrollment for 2019 ends January 31. Consumers across the state have a choice of many quality health plans, and financial assistance is available to most individuals who buy coverage through NY State of Health.

Enrollment for 2019 coverage through the Marketplace continues to surge with more than 4.6 million enrolled across all programs. More than 5,600 enrolled in a QHP or Essential Plan through the Marketplace in the last three weeks, bringing enrollment as of today, to more than 260,500 in a QHP and 773,300 in the Essential Plan. Marketplace enrollment has already exceeded numbers reported at the end of the 2018 Open Enrollment Period. 

“Higher enrollment shows ongoing consumer demand for the affordable, quality health plans offered by the Marketplace,” said NY State of Health Executive Director, Donna Frescatore. “With the January 31 deadline quickly approaching, we encourage anyone who needs coverage for 2019 to enroll now.”

In an effort to educate New Yorkers about the enrollment process and how to find in-person enrollment assistance, NY State of Health is hosting free online enrollment webinars tomorrow night on Wednesday, January 23, that will feature live question and answer sessions. The webinars will be held from 7:00-8:00 p.m. and will be offered in Spanish and Mandarin. The English language version of the webinar can be viewed here.

Register here for tomorrow’s webinar:

• Spanish
• Mandarin

NY State of Health’s Customer Service Center will offer extended hours during the final weekend before the January 31 deadline. Available at 1-855-355-5777, Customer Service Center representatives can enroll consumers in health plans over the phone, assist with website enrollments and answer questions. The Customer Service Center is open:

• Monday to Friday from 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
• Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
• Extended hours on: Saturday, January 27, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Last year's final QHP tally in NY was 253,102, which they're already ahead of by 7,400 people as of today, or around 2.9% year over year.

Interestingly, "Essential Plan" enrollment (aka NY's name for their Basic Health Plan program) has dropped slightly since the last update (it was 776,481 as of 12/15/18). There's any number of reasons for this including last-minute drop-outs or status changes, paperwork issues and so on. It's also possible a few people miscalculated their income and were instead redirected towards QHPs.