Due to a COVID-19 provision, Medicaid, Essential Plan, and Child Health Plus health insurance plans have been automatically renewed since 2020. Now, these automatic renewals have ended, and New York State is resuming eligibility reviews for these public health insurance plans. This means that you will have to tell your insurance provider that you wish to re-enroll in your health coverage plan if you want to be insured for 2024.

Over the next year, New Yorkers with Medicaid, the Essential Plan, and Child Health Plus will most likely have to renew their health insurance plans or find a new plan if they no longer qualify. When your turn comes, you'll have to renew or re-enroll to stay insured. Renewal notices, via phone call, email and/or text message, are issued 30 days or more before the individuals' renewal date. This notice will inform you of the steps you need to take to renew your case. However, you may want to reach out to your provider to check on your re-enrollment if you do not receive any notice.

Here's a checklist of what you'll need to reenroll:

• Social Security numbers (or document numbers for legal immigrants who need health insurance)
• Birth dates of everyone on the plan
• Employer income for everyone in your family
• Policy numbers for all current health insurance
• Information about any job related health insurance available for your family

Click here for help recertifying a MetroPlus Health Plan: https://metroplus.org/renew/

Click here for help recertifying an Emblem Health Plan: https://www.emblemhealth.com/plans/state-sponsored-programs/renewing-coverage

Click here for help recertifying a plan through NY State of Health (NYSOH): https://www.nyc.gov/site/mayorspeu/resources/the-great-health-insurance-renewal.page

​​You may find that your healthcare options have changed - maybe your income has changed, you're no longer eligible or you can no longer afford health insurance. Without insurance, your savings and your health are at risk. While we can't fix the American healthcare system, we don't want freelancers to go without any access to health care, and that's why we recommend Galileo Medical plus Rx, Dental, & Vision. Though it's not insurance, this plan tailored to freelancers offers low-cost access to telehealth in addition to discounts on prescriptions, dental care, and vision care. Learn more about Galileo Medical here: https://freelancersunion.org/galileo/