If you live in New York state and do not currently have health insurance, you have multiple options at your disposal. Like other states, the state of New York offers assistance to residents that cannot qualify for or afford health insurance. Of course, if you can afford to pay for your health insurance, you have additional options when searching for an insurer. Rates and qualifications for health insurance vary by insurance carrier and your individual medical history.
Instructions
1. If you are employed, consult with your human-resources department to see if your employer offers health insurance. Typically you can only sign up for health insurance during the company's open-enrollment period each year, except for when you initially become eligible for insurance. Eligibility varies by company, with some offering immediate coverage, others offering coverage after 30 or 90 days and some even later than that. Additionally, if you are not employed but your spouse is, you both may be able to get coverage through his employer.
2. Apply for a state insurance program, such as Family Health Plus, if you make too much money to qualify for Medicaid but not enough to pay for traditional health insurance. The New York State Insurance Department website (see Resources) lists all of the health insurance programs in the state, such as Child Health Plus and HIV Special Needs Plans. Cost and qualification details for each program are listed on the site, as well as application information. Qualifications vary by program. Typically proof of income is required.
3. Use the 2010 Consumer Guide to Health Insurance on the New York State Insurance Department website (see Resources) to review the rankings of the various health-insurance companies in the state. Use these rankings to identify the insurance companies with the best and worst reputations, which lets you know which companies you will want to do business with. You can find contact phone numbers on page 34 of the guide, which you can use to submit an application for health insurance. You can also find a list of provider directories on the Healthy New York page of the New York State Insurance Department website (see Resources). Some of the companies you may consider in New York state include Community Blue, MVP Health Plan and Health Net of NY.
