New Yorkers have cost concerns ahead of this year’s Affordable Care Act open enrollment period.
Plan prices only increased after Congress failed to renew Affordable Care Act subsidies last year. Data from the healthcare research organization KFF show Empire State plans are far higher than the national average and the trend is continuing. In July, 400,000 New Yorkers lost Essential Plan coverage.
Elisabeth Benjamin, vice president of health initiatives for the Community Service Society of New York, said more people are choosing Bronze plans with high deductibles.
“Those plans have really high deductibles, and that means they’re worst-case-scenario plans, if you will. I think it means more and more people are delaying or deferring care they otherwise would really need to get to keep them healthy,” Benjamin explained.
She added working with a navigator can help a person determine if they’re eligible for more financial assistance. Other plan details Benjamin suggested people keep top of mind are whether their doctor, hospital and medications are included in the plan they purchase. Experts note forgoing medical care can be more expensive in the long run, given costs are going up across the board.
Open enrollment for Affordable Care Act plans starts Nov. 1 and goes until Jan. 31, 2027. To get coverage starting Jan. 1, enroll by Dec. 15.
Dr. Rhonda Randall, chief medical officer for UnitedHealthcare Employer and Individual, said starting early is the first step when choosing a health insurance plan.
“The most common thing we see is people wait too late and then they feel like they’re cramming for a big test to make this very important decision, and it can be really tempting to just renew what you already have. But the coverage you currently have might not be the best coverage for you next year,” Randall pointed out.
Randall noted people should ask the right questions in determining what their coverage needs are. Beyond monthly premiums, she recommended checking out-of-pocket costs like co-pays, deductibles and coinsurance.
Edwin is a reporter and producer in North Tonawanda, New York. He’s previously reported for the Niagara Gazette and the Ithaca Times. Edwin got an early start in radio interning for WBFO-88.7FM, NPR’s Buffalo affiliate. In 2018, he graduated from SUNY Buffalo State College with a B.A. in Journalism, and in 2022, graduated from Syracuse University with an M.S. in Communications.