ROCHESTER, NY (WXXI) - New York’s health insurance marketplace opens Friday, allowing people to choose from what the state health department called a “robust” array of plans.
The marketplace is open to people who do not receive insurance through an employer or Medicare.
The state health department said prices for most of its insurance policies are not increasing from 2019 to 2020 -- and in some cases, they’re dropping.
Previously, under federal and state law that started with the passage of the Affordable Care Act in 2010, people who did not buy health insurance could face tax penalties. That’s no longer the case.
Nonetheless, the state said, enrollment in insurance plans has been increasing. The number of people without health insurance in New York has fallen by almost a million in the last five years, according to health department figures.
“New York is proud to be a national leader in providing access to health care to state residents through a robust and vibrant marketplace,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in a statement.
“We believe health care is a right, not a luxury, and we will continue our efforts to provide New Yorkers with quality, affordable health coverage.”