NY State expands affordable health plan eligibility with $10 billion

September 6, 2024 Brooklyn Eagle Staff

A doctor sits with a patient. Photo: rogerphoto/Adobe Stock

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STATEWIDE — Affordable and high-quality health insurance will be accessible to New Yorkers, thanks to a $10 billion commitment from the federal government, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on Friday, Sept. 6. This funding commitment follows through on the governor’s previous announcement and sustained advocacy for expanded eligibility levels for the Essential Plan, a public health insurance program offered through the NY State of Health. The expanded eligibility ensured that more than 200,000 additional New Yorkers are now covered under the Essential Plan this year, making a total of approximately 1.5 million covered statewide. New enrollees in the Essential Plan are estimated to save over $6,100 each year compared to what they would have paid for commercial coverage. Making this possible was the federal Inflation Reduction Act, which extended the availability of enhanced premium tax credit subsidies. In April of this year, New York State expanded eligibility levels for the Essential Plan, a public health insurance program now available to New Yorkers with incomes up to 250% of the Federal Poverty Level — $37,650 annual income for an individual in 2024 — with no premium and low or no cost-sharing.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries also pushed for the commitment.

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