New York: NYSoH announces 259K QHPs, extends Open Enrollment deadline until 2/07!

This just in from the New York State of Health ACA exchange:

Press Release: New Yorkers Have More Time to Get Covered in 2020: NY State of Health Open Enrollment Deadline Extended to February 7

• Enroll Now for Affordable, High-Quality Health Coverage in 2020
• Free, In-Person Enrollment Help is Available: Click Here to Find a NY State of Health Certified Assistor

ALBANY, N.Y. (January 28, 2020) – NY State of Health, the state’s official health plan Marketplace, announced that consumers will have an additional week to enroll in a Qualified Health Plan (QHP) for 2020. The Open Enrollment deadline has been extended until February 7 to give consumers more time to enroll. NY State of Health’s Customer Service Center representatives and in-person assistors are available to help individuals find the best plan for themselves and their families.

Huh. That's unexpected.

Enrollment through NY State of Health continues to grow with more than 4.8 million enrolled across all programs. Currently, 259,153 consumers have enrolled in a Qualified Health Plan. Twenty percent of enrollees are new, and 80 percent have renewed their coverage.

Hmmm...NYSoH is running around 13,000 short of last year so far (around 4.7%). I guess this explains the extra week being tacked on, but it still seems odd...I don't recall any exchanges going beyond 1/31 in years unless there were serious technical issues. It's also a bit unusual for them not to include any numbers for Medicaid expansion, Essential Plan (BHP) enrollment or Child Health Plus, although all three of those are year-round anyway.

“While the Trump Administration continues to roll back the Affordable Care Act, we are doing the opposite in New York,” said NY State of Health Executive Director Donna Frescatore. “By extending the Open Enrollment Period, we are putting consumers first, making sure they have time to find the plan that best fits their needs and enroll in coverage for 2020.”

New Yorkers can easily find plans and check their eligibility for financial help by entering their ZIP code, household income and the ages of those who need coverage using the Marketplace estimator tool. Nearly all Marketplace enrollees will see no increase in costs in 2020. This includes enrollees in Medicaid, Child Health Plus, Essential Plan and QHPs who receive tax credits. Consumers who receive premium tax credits, typically about 60 percent of QHP enrollees, will see no change, or in some cases a small decrease, in the cost of coverage compared to 2019.

NY State of Health has made important changes to QHP cost-sharing levels to improve the value of insurance products to enrollees. In 2020, standard Silver products have a lower deductible -$1,300 down from $1,700 in 2019. Also new in 2020, standard Bronze products now cover three free “sick visits” to a provider without copayments or being subject to the deductible. Additionally, there are Gold and Silver plans in every county that also include three low-cost sick visits not subject to the deductible. This benefit ensures that consumers can receive primary care when they need it.

Consumers can enroll in a health plan:

• Online at nystateofhealth.ny.gov,
• With the help of an in-person assistor
• By calling the Customer Service Center at 1-855-355-5777.

The Customer Service Center is open Monday - Friday from 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. and has extended hours this weekend: Saturday and Sunday 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Consumers can enroll online until 11:55 p.m. on Friday, February 7. Once the Open Enrollment Period ends, consumers may sign up for a QHP only if they experience a qualifying life-change event, such as losing health coverage, getting married, having a child or moving. Enrollment in the Essential Plan, Medicaid and Child Health Plus is available year-round.

About NY State of Health

New York opened its health plan Marketplace, NY State of Health, in October 2013. The Marketplace’s one stop health insurance shopping experience offers high quality comprehensive health plans. NY State of Health is the only place where consumers can qualify to get help paying for coverage through premium discounts or tax credits. Eligible New Yorkers can also enroll in Medicaid, Child Health Plus and the Essential Plan through the Marketplace all year. For more information about the NY State of Health Marketplace, please visit: https://nystateofhealth.ny.gov/ or call Customer Service at 1-855-355-5777, TTY: 1-800-662-1220 or find an enrollment assistor.