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New York state health insurance marketplace open for enrollment

Open enrollment has begun for New York's health insurance marketplace.
New York State Department of Health
Open enrollment has begun for New York's health insurance marketplace.

Open enrollment is underway for New York's state health care marketplace. WXXI's Brett Dahlberg has more on what that means.

Open enrollment is underway for New York’s state health care marketplace.

New Yorkers who don’t get health insurance through their work or through Medicare can now enroll in a variety of plans in the state’s insurance marketplace, called New York State of Health.

Open enrollment has begun for New York's health insurance marketplace.
Credit New York State Department of Health
Open enrollment has begun for New York's health insurance marketplace.

The state health department said prices for most of its insurance policies are not increasing from 2018 to 2019.

The state department of financial services sent a message to insurance providers Thursday, reminding them that some plans that are legal under federal law are not legal in New York. Health insurance offered on the state marketplace has to meet certain requirements like accepting people with pre-existing conditions, the department said.

As part of last year’s federal tax bill that revised the Affordable Care Act passed under President Barack Obama, there’s now no penalty on federal taxes for not having health insurance, but there is a state penalty in New York.

Open enrollment runs through Jan. 31, but for coverage that starts Jan. 1, you’ll have to sign up by Dec. 15.

The New York State of Health website has phone numbers and online chat assistance for people looking for help.

Copyright 2018 WXXI News

Brett is the health reporter and a producer at WXXI News. He has a master’s degree from the City University of New York Graduate School of Journalism and before landing at WXXI, he was an intern at WNYC and with Ian Urbina of the New York Times. He also produced freelance reporting work focused on health and science in New York City. Brett grew up in Bremerton, Washington, and holds a bachelor’s degree from Willamette University in Salem, Oregon.
Brett Dahlberg