News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 17, 2014

HHC Hosts Health Insurance Workshops

HHC Sponsors Free Health Insurance Workshops to Help Queens Residents Get the Most From Medicare, the Affordable Care Act, and the Online New York Health Benefit Exchange

Medicare Open Enrollment Starts October 15;
ACA Open Enrollment Starts November 15

Free workshops hosted by HHC and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

Queens, NY— The New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will host a free public workshop at Elmhurst Hospital to help residents understand and get the most out of benefits during the Medicare open enrollment period, which will take place October 15 to December 7, 2014. Health insurance specialists from CMS will conduct a learning session at Elmhurst Hospital on Thursday, November 6, 2014. Senior citizens, caregivers and people who work with seniors are particularly encouraged to attend.

The session will offer information about health care reform, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and how to select and purchase on the online New York State of Health, an exchange set up under the ACA last year to provide subsidized health insurance. Open enrollment for New York State of Health takes place November 15, 2014 through February 15, 2015.

"HHC wants to help people make the most of their health coverage options," said HHC President Dr. Ram Raju. "The Affordable Care Act and the State's health insurance exchange offer many people subsidies to make health coverage affordable. Our partnership with CMS will help City residents understand the ACA and maximize their Medicare benefits."

Workshop participants will learn about:

• The benefits of the Medicare program and how to apply;
• The parts of Medicare – Part A: hospital insurance; Part B: medical insurance – outpatient visits, lab work, preventive services; Part C: health plans; and Part D: prescription drug coverage;
• The Medicare appeals process;
• The Medicare programs in place for people with limited income and resources;
• Medicare information and resources now available online;
• Updates on the New York State of Health;
• Enrollment resources for the uninsured.

CMS is the federal agency that provides health coverage for 100 million people through Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children's Health Insurance Program. Medicare is a health insurance program for people age 65 or older, people younger than 65 with disabilities, and people with end stage renal disease who require dialysis or a transplant.

"Close to a million New Yorkers have signed up for health coverage under the Affordable Care Act and over three million are enrolled in Medicare, yet most are not aware of how to get the most of their health benefits," said Frank M. Winter, Partnership Manager, CMS New York Regional Office. "Many others need help obtaining coverage. Our Health Insurance Workshops at HHC facilities throughout New York City provide us a unique opportunity to provide our partners and community members information they can use to sign up for health insurance and to use their new benefits. Our goal this year is to help our partners connect those who are insured from coverage to care."

The workshop will take place from 8:30 AM to 1:00 PM. Free registration is required. More information, including online registration and a map of each location, is available at the links below. Participants may also register by calling 212-788-3450.

Information for the Queens session is below:

Thursday, November 6, Elmhurst Hospital Center,
79-01 Broadway, Queens (Register here)

 

Contact:

Ian Michaels, 212-788-3339, ian.michaels@nychhc.org
Jennifer Bender, 212-788-3339, Benderj1@nychhc.org

About HHC

The New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC) is a $6.7 billion integrated healthcare delivery system, the largest municipal healthcare organization in the country, and one of the New York area's largest providers of government-sponsored health insurance, MetroPlus Health Plan, the plan of choice for nearly half a million New Yorkers. HHC serves 1.4 million New Yorkers every year and more than 475,000 are uninsured. HHC provides medical, mental health and substance abuse services through its 11 acute care hospitals, five skilled nursing facilities, six large diagnostic and treatment centers and more than 70 community based clinics. HHC Health and Home Care also provides in-home services for New Yorkers. HHC was the 2008 recipient of the National Quality Forum and The Joint Commission's John M. Eisenberg Award for Innovation in Patient Safety and Quality. For more information, visit www.nyc.gov/hhc or find us on facebook.com/nycHHC or twitter.com/HHCnyc.