The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Treasury approved a waiver to expand New York's public health insurance plan.
The state's Essential Plan covers 1 million New York residents and features $0 monthly premiums, low-cost sharing and no deductibles, as well as free dental, preventive and adult vision care, according to a March 4 news release.
The expanded plan will be offered to residents with incomes up to 250% of the federal poverty line, which is an annual income of $37,650 for an individual. Currently, eligibility for the Essential Plan is limited to individuals with incomes above Medicaid levels and up to 200% of the federal poverty line, which is approximately $30,000 in annual income.
The waiver expansion was approved from 2024 through 2028 and is expected to save residents an average of $4,700 per year, compared to qualified health plans.
The expansion in coverage starts April 1, the release said.