MANHATTAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE TO PROVIDE ENROLLMENTASSISTANCE TO NEW YORKERS IN MANHATTAN SEEKING HEALTH INSURACE THROUGH NEW YORK HEALTH BENEFIT EXCHANGE
One of 38 local and regional organizations partnering with the Community Service Society, a statewide designated “in-person assistor/navigator”
New York, NY – The Manhattan Chamber of Commerce (MCC) is preparing to help guide individuals, families and businesses in the borough of Manhattan access the New York Health Benefit Exchange (NYHBE), a health insurance marketplace where consumers and businesses can shop for insurance, compare prices and benefits, and enroll into health coverage.
Under requirements of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), states must set up a health insurance “exchange” where individuals and businesses can do “one-stop-shopping” for qualified health plans in the private market. The new federal law gives participating states the ability to enter into agreements with state and local entities to carry out key provisions of the law, including facilitating enrollment of uninsured New Yorkers into the exchange.
MCC will serve as a subcontractor to the nonprofit Community Service Society of New York (CSS), which has been awarded a grant by the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) to provide in-person assistance and navigators at 350 sites in 61 counties statewide. CSS operates Community Health Advocates (CHA), a statewide consumer health assistance program that in the last decade has helped more than 200,000 New Yorkers navigate the health care system.
Nancy Ploeger, President of MCC states, “This is such a critical issue and to all New Yorkers and we are very pleased to be able to help them navigate the new exchange and understand all their options. We are open to working with all organizations and community based associations to try and reach as many individuals and business owners as possible.”
MCC will help individuals and small employers understand coverage options offered through NYHBE, as well as determine their eligibility for financial assistance, tax credits, and Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance. The NYHBE and CHA Web sites will provide a list of locations where individuals and small employers can meet one-on-one with in-person assisters from MCC. MCC will post the sites, send out emails and promote the availability through our social media outlets as well as promote at all the events we host. We will also have a booth at our 3rd Ave. Street Fair, attended by over half a million people attend..
The New York Health Benefit Exchange will begin enrolling consumers and small employers in new coverage options on October 1, 2013, with health coverage starting on January 1, 2014. It is estimated that 1.1 million New Yorkers statewide will gain health coverage through New York’s exchange. Individuals and families that purchase coverage directly through the exchange will see their health insurance cost drop by as much as 50 percent. For small businesses, the cost to their employees for health insurance may drop by as much as 5 percent.
For more information on The Manhattan Chamber of Commerce go to
www.manhattancc.org. and if you are interested in working with us or want us to contact you, please send an email to
info@manhattancc.orgFor more information on the Community Service Society go to
www.cssny.org.
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