Access to two of the largest downstate New York provider networks has just become more attainable for individuals living in Long Island, New York city, and Westchester County…

Effective January 1st 2015, both United Healthcare & Oxford individual health insurance plans will be available in downstate NY at reduced rates. These are the same individual plans being sold in 2014, just with lower price tags.

United Healthcare

-Available only through the NY State of Health (NYSOH) exchange website
-Utilizes the “Compass” network
-Standard Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze plans will be available. All plans are HMO-based
-Additional tax credit subsidies (lowering premiums for subscribers even further) are available through the NYSOH exchange website for those who qualify
-Ideal for individuals and families who have no access to health insurance through their employers, or who need access to larger provider networks which their employer-sponsored plans do not offer

Oxford

-Only available for purchase outside of the NYSOH website (aka: “off exchange”)
-Utilizes the “Liberty” network (15% larger than the “Compass” network), which includes access to Memorial Sloan Kettering hospital, Stony Brook University hospital, and the Hospital For Special Surgery
-Standard Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze plans available. All plans are HMO-based
-Special “child only” rates are also available
-Since individual Oxford plans are not available through the NYSOH exchange website, no premium tax credit subsidies can be applied towards these products
-Ideal for sole proprietors, freelancers, private clients, and husband/wife two-person businesses who require access to the largest downstate NY provider network in the individual market

2015 Pricing and Availability

-United Healthcare individual plans and prices will be available on the NYSOH exchange website beginning November 15th 2014
-Oxford individual plans and rates can be found below:

Oxford – 2015 NY Individual Rate Sheet

How and When To Enroll

-The individual market open enrollment season begins on November 15, 2014, and ends on February 15, 2015
-New applicants may start their coverage on the 1st of January, February, or March 2015
-Applications must be received by the 15th of the prior month of your desired coverage start date (e.g. for 1/1/15 coverage, applications must be received no later than 12/15/14)
-Existing UHC and Oxford members must renew their 2015 coverage between 11/15/14 and 12/15/14
-Answers to frequently asked questions pertaining to the individual health insurance market can be found here

Contact your New York insurance professional to assist you with either on-exchange UHC enrollments, or off-exchange Oxford enrollments.