No Sleep 'Til Brooklyn: New York extends Jan. coverage deadline to 12/19

Breaking...

Deadline extended: enroll by Friday, December 19th for coverage beginning January 1, 2016. Apply now: https://t.co/phogDv2qwK #EnrollNY

— NY State of Health (@NYStateofHealth) December 15, 2015

Here's the official press release:

Press Release: NY State of Health Extends Enrollment Deadline for January 1 Coverage • Dec 15, 2015

New Yorkers Now Have Until December 19 to Enroll for Health Insurance Coverage that Begins January 1

ALBANY, N.Y. (December 15, 2015) - NY State of Health (NYSOH), the state’s official health plan Marketplace, today announced the December 15, 2015 deadline for individuals enrolling or renewing health insurance coverage that takes effect January 1, 2016 has been extended through December 19. Due to the high volume of activity, this extension will give consumers an additional 4 days to review their 2016 plan options, learn more about the new Essential Plan, and enroll in coverage that starts January 1. 

“Enrollment in NYSOH has been active since the start of the 2016 period in November. This deadline extension will give New Yorkers the extra time they need to select an affordable coverage plan that’s right for them.” said NYSOH Executive Director Donna Frescatore. “The Marketplace offers quality health plans to choose from, financial help for those who qualify, and personal assistance to make it easier to enroll.”

NY State of Health’s Customer Service Center answered more than 170,000 calls from New Yorkers last week with call volume averaging more than 34,000 calls per day. Additionally, since November 1 the Marketplace’s website has been busy, with more than 43 million page views and 1.8 million anonymous shopping searches through December 10.

(You'll note that for all the impressive-sounding traffic/activity numbers given, the NY exchange still hasn't said a peep about actual enrollment numbers yet, which is rather irritating).

As noted the other day, there are several other states with later deadlines as well:

  • Massachusetts, Rhode Island & Washington State: December 23rd
  • Minnesota: December 28th (recent change)
  • Colorado: December 31st for certain current enrollees only (see link for details)
  • Tennessee: December 31st for Community Health Alliance enrollees

In addition, both HealthCare.Gov and Connect for Health Colorado have announced informal "in line by midnight" extension policies. Expect more of these sorts of announcements throughout the day/week, I'd imagine.

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