Health Insurance Options in New York

Please note: CHC-NY is not a health care provider or a health insurance provider. The information that follows is meant to serve as a guide to those exploring their insurance choices in the state of New York. Information is deemed accurate but not guaranteed or comprehensive. If you know of a resource available to residents of the state of New York that does not appear on this page, please let us know.

New York State Health Insurance Resource Center

The state of New York has established a Health Insurance Resource Center to provide comprehensive information for New York consumers seeking health insurance.

Health Insurance Coverage Under COBRA

The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) gives workers that lose their group health benefits through their employer the right to choose to maintain those benefits for limited periods of time under circumstances including voluntary or involuntary job loss, reduction in hours worked, transition between jobs, death, divorce, and other life events. Qualified individuals may be required to pay the entire premium for coverage up to 102% of the cost to the plan.

To get more information on maintaining your current coverage under COBRA, visit the US Department of Labor or speak to your HR department or former employer.

Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield
The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association is a federation of 39 health insurance companies that offer some form of health insurance coverage throughout the United States. Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield offers health insurance packages for individuals and families in the state of New York that do not qualify for comparable group coverage through an employer. Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield offers several coverage options with varying monthly premiums. As of January 2009, hospital coverage for an individual could be obtained for as low as $160 monthly.

Health Insurance Through the Freelancers Union
If you are a temporary or freelance worker in the state of New York, you may wish to explore group insurance options with the Freelancers Union. The Freelancers Union offers health, dental, disability, and life insurance packages to qualified members in New York, including high-deductible health insurance with relatively low monthly premiums. Note that you must become a member of the Freelancers Union before you can register for insurance coverage with them.

Healthy New York
The state of New York established the program Healthy New York as a response to the Health Care Reform Act of 2000. Under this program, reduced cost health insurance is available to certain working uninsured individuals that do not qualify for Medicare. Use the Healthy New York Eligibility Screener to determine if you qualify. You can also obtain eligibility information by calling 1-866-HEALTHY NY.

Child Health Plus
The U.S. federal government’s State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) was designed to cover uninsured children in families with incomes that are too high to qualify for Medicaid. New York State has a health insurance plan for kids—it’s called Child Health Plus. You can get information on eligibility for this program by hitting the link heading this paragraph or by calling 1-977-KIDS-NOW (this is a free phone call and you can speak to operators in English or in Spanish). For information on insuring children in other states, please visit the US Department of Health and Human Services' Insure Kids Now! website.

Medicare
Medicare is a health insurance program administered by the U.S. federal government. It provides health insurance coverage to those who are 65 years of age or older and also to persons under the age of 65 that meet certain criteria and have certain disabilities. Click here to learn more about Medicare, including eligibility, enrollment, and premiums.

Medicaid
Medicaid is a joint federal-state government health insurance program for persons with limited incomes. You can find out about Medicaid eligibility in the state of New York from the New York Department of Health.
Please note that Medicaid eligibility requirements and rules vary from state to state.

What Do You Think? Learn more about health policy in New York:

Please note: The following reports are made publically available by various bodies active in health policy research in the New York area. The opinions and recommendations expressed do not necessarily reflect those of Community Health Charities of New York.

Maximizing Kids' Enrollment in Medicaid and SCHIP (pdf report, Februay 2009)

This is a report released by the National Academy for State Health Policy and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Analysis of Five Health Insurance Options for New York State (pdf report, January 2009)

This report was put out by the NYS Health Foundation.

Health Care Opinion Leaders' Views on Priorities for the Obama Administration (January 2009)

Read the Commonwealth Foundation's January 2009 data brief to find out what the future may hold for programs such as COBRA and SCHIP.

Text Size About CHC New York Board of Directors CHC New York Staff Financial Information Our Charities Health Matters At Work Giving At Work Campaign Tools Combined Federal Campaign Employee Engagement Local Campaign Partners Why Give at Work? Charity Spotlight Health Resources Health Insurance Options in New York Medicare RX Access Partnership for Prescription Assistance Support Groups in New York Get Involved Site Search	Return to Health Resources Health Insurance Options in New York Please note: CHC-NY is not a health care provider or a health insurance provider. The information that follows is meant to serve as a guide to those exploring their insurance choices in the state of New York. Information is deemed accurate but not guaranteed or comprehensive. If you know of a resource available to residents of the state of New York that does not appear on this page, please let us know. New York State Health Insurance Resource Center The state of New York has established a Health Insurance Resource Center to provide comprehensive information for New York consumers seeking health insurance. Health Insurance Coverage Under COBRA The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) gives workers that lose their group health benefits through their employer the right to choose to maintain those benefits for limited periods of time under circumstances including voluntary or involuntary job loss, reduction in hours worked, transition between jobs, death, divorce, and other life events. Qualified individuals may be required to pay the entire premium for coverage up to 102% of the cost to the plan. To get more information on maintaining your current coverage under COBRA, visit the US Department of Labor or speak to your HR department or former employer. Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association is a federation of 39 health insurance companies that offer some form of health insurance coverage throughout the United States. Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield offers health insurance packages for individuals and families in the state of New York that do not qualify for comparable group coverage through an employer. Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield offers several coverage options with varying monthly premiums. As of January 2009, hospital coverage for an individual could be obtained for as low as $160 monthly. Health Insurance Through the Freelancers Union If you are a temporary or freelance worker in the state of New York, you may wish to explore group insurance options with the Freelancers Union. The Freelancers Union offers health, dental, disability, and life insurance packages to qualified members in New York, including high-deductible health insurance with relatively low monthly premiums. Note that you must become a member of the Freelancers Union before you can register for insurance coverage with them. Healthy New York The state of New York established the program Healthy New York as a response to the Health Care Reform Act of 2000. Under this program, reduced cost health insurance is available to certain working uninsured individuals that do not qualify for Medicare. Use the Healthy New York Eligibility Screener to determine if you qualify. You can also obtain eligibility information by calling 1-866-HEALTHY NY. Child Health Plus The U.S. federal government’s State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) was designed to cover uninsured children in families with incomes that are too high to qualify for Medicaid. New York State has a health insurance plan for kids—it’s called Child Health Plus. You can get information on eligibility for this program by hitting the link heading this paragraph or by calling 1-977-KIDS-NOW (this is a free phone call and you can speak to operators in English or in Spanish). For information on insuring children in other states, please visit the US Department of Health and Human Services' Insure Kids Now! website. Medicare Medicare is a health insurance program administered by the U.S. federal government. It provides health insurance coverage to those who are 65 years of age or older and also to persons under the age of 65 that meet certain criteria and have certain disabilities. Click here to learn more about Medicare, including eligibility, enrollment, and premiums. Medicaid Medicaid is a joint federal-state government health insurance program for persons with limited incomes. You can find out about Medicaid eligibility in the state of New York from the New York Department of Health. Please note that Medicaid eligibility requirements and rules vary from state to state. What Do You Think? Learn more about health policy in New York: Please note: The following reports are made publically available by various bodies active in health policy research in the New York area. The opinions and recommendations expressed do not necessarily reflect those of Community Health Charities of New York. Maximizing Kids' Enrollment in Medicaid and SCHIP (pdf report, Februay 2009) This is a report released by the National Academy for State Health Policy and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Analysis of Five Health Insurance Options for New York State (pdf report, January 2009) This report was put out by the NYS Health Foundation. Health Care Opinion Leaders' Views on Priorities for the Obama Administration (January 2009) Read the Commonwealth Foundation's January 2009 data brief to find out what the future may hold for programs such as COBRA and SCHIP.
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