ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The nationwide open enrollment period for Marketplace health insurance runs from November 2022 to January 15.
“The good news is that in New York State, the deadline has actually been extended recently,” said Andy Napierala, vice president of sales for health insurance and personal markets at Excellus BlueCross BlueShield.
New York’s public health emergency, enacted during the pandemic, has been extended through April.
“So if people need to sign up for new coverage, they have the opportunity to do so, and the open enrollment period has been extended through April,” Napierala said.
According to Excellus BlueCross Blushield, New York is one of only a few states in the country to expand Medicaid eligibility and essential health programs in an effort to make coverage accessible and affordable to as many people as possible.
“We would encourage people to always get coverage based on their needs,” Napierala said.
This will increase access to health insurance for those who need it most.
“Anyone who can’t get coverage through their employer, for example, has the opportunity to purchase their own coverage through the New York State Department of Health or sometimes directly with an insurance company,” Napierala said.
Excellus BlueCross BlueShield also encourages individuals to review their coverage annually and update it based on their needs and health insurance expectations.
“We encourage people to do it again every year, and you want to look at your coverage to make sure you’re in the right plan based on your income eligibility, and make sure you’re in the right plan based on your insurance needs,” Napierala said.
