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Fidelis Care Offers Tips for Choosing Health Insurance Coverage
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f you or your loved ones do not have health insurance, you have new options available through New York State of Health: The Official Health Plan Marketplace. Created as part of the federal Affordable Care Act, the goal of the State’s Marketplace is to make sure all New Yorkers have health insurance. With open enrollment underway, Fidelis Care wants you to know that choosing your coverage does not have to be overwhelming. Chief Marketing Officer Pamela Hassen offers these tips: Research Your Options All health plans participating in New York State of Health offer standardized products, making them easy to compare. “The products are organized by metal levels, so when you’re comparing silver products between plans, the biggest difference is the price. At Fidelis Care, we wanted to keep the coverage as affordable as possible. That’s why we are among the lowest-priced plans at each metal level,” she says. Hassen also recommends looking at a plan’s provider directory to see if your doctor participates. If you take medication, you should also check a plan’s formulary to see if the medication is
covered. All health plan options are listed at nystateofhealth.ny.gov. Determine The Cost “The Fidelis Affordable Care Advisor can give you an estimate of the price you will pay, including subsidies and tax credits, and it only takes about two minutes,” says Hassen. Found on Fidelis Care’s website, fideliscare.org, the Affordable Care Advisor only needs the names and birthdates of family members who would be covered, zip code, and yearly income to calculate an estimated monthly cost. It can also let you know if you may be eligible for other government-sponsored health insurance coverage, including Medicaid. Get Help From An Expert All participating health insurance plans and many community health organizations have employees who have been trained by the State to help New Yorkers enroll. Hassen suggests contacting these experts because they understand the process. “Fidelis Care’s experts will meet you in your home, at our office, or in a convenient public place like a library. We will sit down with you and explain the
choices, then help you enroll. It’s a great way to discuss your options and be fully informed as you make this decision,” she says. Have Important Information Ready In order to enroll, you need to provide information about yourself and any family members who need coverage. The State requires you to provide your Social Security number (or document number for legal immigrants), birth date, and employer and income information. If you currently have health insurance, you will also need your policy number. Hassen wants everyone to know that health insurance is important, even for people who are healthy. The government is requiring most Americans to have health insurance in 2014 or pay a tax penalty. Open enrollment for New York State of Health runs through March 31. You must be enrolled by December 15, 2013 for coverage to take effect on January 1, 2014. To make an appointment with a Fidelis Care Representative, call 1-888-FIDELIS (1-888-343-3547) or visit the Contact Us section of fideliscare.org.