If you’re like many New Yorkers, you probably take an employer’s affordable group health insurance benefits into consideration before you decide whether or not to begin a new job. Sure, it’s most likely not the deciding factor, but it in all probability it plays some role in your decision-making process. After all, New York employer-sponsored group health insurance plans are generally the most affordable way to get health care, and we all know how expensive health care and individual health insurance plans can be these days.
Even though it’s a great way to keep employees healthy and happy, not all employers offer New York group health insurance benefits to their employees; more so, they’re not required to. What should you do if you really want or need the job in front of you, even though it doesn’t offer employee medical benefits?
You should look into Healthy NY. Healthy NY is a health insurance program for working individuals, self-employed folks, and small business owners in New York. Of course, like many health coverage plans, each group of eligible persons has a set of requirements to meet.
For example, working individuals and self-employed people are eligible for affordable health insurance for New Yorkers as long as they are currently employed or were within the last 12 months and have no access to employer-sponsored group health insurance benefits. Changes in employment and COBRA benefits qualify New Yorkers for Healthy NY, as do separation or divorce and family deaths.
New York small business owners can enroll in Healthy NY, too, as long as there are less than 50 employees and 30 percent of them make less than $35,000 a year. Small business owners who take advantage of this New York affordable health insurance can reap tax deductions, too.
For more information about Healthy NY, or about any other kind of affordable health insurance for New Yorkers, contact the New York State Department of Insurance.