NY State of Health, the state’s official health plan marketplace, will conduct a statewide college campaign, with informational events taking place on campuses as students return.
Certified enrollment assistors will be available in popular spots on campus to educate students about affordable, quality health insurance through the marketplace, and help current enrollees renew their coverage.
“College can be an exciting but stressful time in a young person’s life, and it’s so important that they make their health a priority as well as stay informed about their health insurance options,” state Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said.
“Many students are eligible or currently enrolled in public health insurance, and we want to ensure a seamless process to newly enroll or stay covered,” NY State of Health Executive Director Danielle Holahan said. “By partnering with SUNY and CUNY, we can help direct students to renew their coverage and find a health plan that best fit their needs and their budget.”
Officials said that as of May, almost 9.6 million New Yorkers—nearly half of the State’s population—were enrolled in Medicaid, Child Health Plus and the Essential Plan. Many students may qualify for free or low-cost health insurance coverage through Medicaid, Essential Plan, or Qualified Health Plans with financial assistance.
Enrollment is currently open for all programs.
With federal COVID-19 continuous coverage provisions that allowed individuals to stay enrolled in Medicaid, Child Health Plus, or the Essential Plan without renewing ending this year, redeterminations for these public health programs are resuming for the first time since 2020.
Renewal notices are being mailed based on individual enrollment end dates and began with enrollees whose coverage ended June 30. The state is monitoring enrollment during this process with a Public Health Emergency Unwind Dashboard, which tracks renewal status, demographics, and state program transitions every month.
All redeterminations are required to be completed by May 2024. Enrollees have been encouraged to make sure their contact information is up to date with their local Department of Social Services, the New York City Human Resources Administration (HRA) or NY State of Health.
The Department of Health will continue to promote the public health enrollment unwind through targeted outreach activities, including a robust public education campaign and close partnership with healthcare providers to ensure they are equipped to help consumers through the process.
College students can sign up for NY State of Health text alerts to receive important health insurance updates, including when it’s time to renew, by texting START to 1-866-988-0327. Current consumers are encouraged to update their NY State of Health account information (mailing address, phone, email) so they know when to renew.
For more information or questions about redeterminations and the renewal process, consumers should reach out to the NY State of Health Customer Service Center at 1-855-355-5777 or to their local Department of Social Services office, or learn more on the NY State of Health website and the Department of Health’s Medicaid website. Both sites are updated regularly.
Information about New York State of Health can be found at nystateofhealth.ny.gov.