MetroPlusHealth Reports 50 Percent Growth in Essential Plan Enrollment over Seven Months
Oct 20, 2016
Enrollment in MetroPlusHealth’s Essential Plan has grown by 50 percent over the past seven months, now surpassing 63,000 enrollees.
“Uninsured New Yorkers are embracing this opportunity to enroll in great health insurance at affordable prices,” said Arnold Saperstein, MD, executive director of MetroPlusHealth health plan. “NYC Health + Hospitals has been the longtime provider for many of the new enrollees, so we offer continuity of care for them. In addition, enrollment is possible throughout the year, and it costs only $20 a month, or nothing for some. It’s an affordable option that presents easier access to all the services provided by NYC Health + Hospitals in all five boroughs, as well as to our other providers.”
Created through the federal Affordable Care Act, the Essential Plan is new to the insurance market this year. While it features the same essential benefits offered by other plans available through New York State of Health, the State’s insurance marketplace, it costs much less than the other plans and is available only to adults who meet specific income criteria. For example, an individual cannot earn more than $23,540 a year. In addition, those who qualify for Medicaid are not eligible.
MetroPlusHealth in late September reported other success in connecting New Yorkers to affordable insurance. When the members of District Council 1707 and the Day Care Council of New York ratified a new contract agreement, the 2,700 affected day care employees voted in favor of MetroPlusHealth as their health plan option, with premiums as low as $15 per month. This is the first union agreement that offers MetroPlusHealth as the sole plan of choice for members and their families living in New York City.
In addition, October 11 marked the beginning of the open enrollment period for city employees, to whom MetroPlusHealth is promoting its MetroPlusHealth Gold product. Because of changes made by other plans, MetroPlusHealth Gold is currently the only plan to have no employee premium and no co-pays for a wide range of in-network services. For the first time this year, MetroPlusHealth Gold also offers a gym membership benefit. In advance of open enrollment, staff from MetroPlusHealth have attended open houses at a number of agencies and employers, including several CUNY schools, the Department of Education, NYCERS, and some community boards, as well as at NYC Health + Hospitals sites throughout New York City.
“We are encouraged at the continuing enrollment growth of MetroPlusHealth,” said Dr. Ram Raju, President and CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals. “Achieving and maximizing a more predictable and sustainable income stream is a key part of our efforts to transform ourselves into a high-performing health system. Equally important, our insurance products allow us to more effectively engage the enrollees in our care, so increased enrollment means that we can help more New Yorkers live their healthiest lives.”
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