Rockland County Executive, County Health Commissioner Discuss Healthcare Access

From Rockland County:

As part of National Public Health Week, Rockland County Executive Ed Day and County Health Commissioner Dr. Patricia Schnabel Ruppert are updating the community about the issue of access to health insurance.

Trained staff at the health department, called "Navigators," can help individuals sign up in person, free of charge, in English, Spanish or Creole for health insurance through the N.Y. State of Health Marketplace. Interested individuals must call (845) 364-3394 to schedule an appointment. One can also sign up online, by phone toll-free at 1-855-355-5777 or in person, free of charge with a Navigator from the Monsey Community Outreach Center who speaks English and Yiddish. Individuals may call (845) 356-9600 for an appointment.

Think you missed your chance to enroll in a low-cost health plan through N.Y. State of Health? Maybe not. Even though enrollment for 2016 has ended, you still may be able to enroll and get financial assistance. You can enroll at any time if you are eligible for the Essential Plan, Medicaid or Child Health Plus, if you are an American Indian or Alaska Native, or if you had what is called "a qualifying life event" within the past 60 days. This includes moving to New York State, getting married or divorced, having a baby or adopting a child, becoming a citizen, national or lawfully present individual, losing employer insurance or no longer being eligible to be on your parent's plan. Small business owners and employees interested in the Small Business Marketplace can enroll any time during the year.

Low and moderate income New Yorkers who are struggling to pay for health insurance will be able to get much more affordable comprehensive health care, called the Essential Plan, a new health plan for New Yorkers, only available through the N.Y. State of Health Marketplace. It costs much less than other health plans, and it offers the same essential benefits. Who can buy it? Lower income people who don't qualify for Medicaid or Child Health Plus. You pay a monthly fee, called a premium, of either $0 or $20 depending on your income. It has no deductible, so the plan starts paying for your health care right away. You get free preventive care like routine doctor exams and screenings to keep you healthy. The plan covers the same services covered by other plans, such as doctor visits, including specialists, tests ordered by your doctor, prescription drugs and inpatient and outpatient care at a hospital. You might be required to pay a small fee, called a co-payment, for services like doctor's visits, urgent care, hospital stays, lab work and prescription drugs. You qualify if you are a U.S. citizen or a qualified immigrant under the age of 65 who earns too much to qualify for Medicaid. This means you are a single person earning more than $17,655- $23,540 per year or a family that meets the income requirements.