If you live in Syracuse and need your own health insurance, the place to apply is NY State of Health, not HealthCare.gov, and you can get help doing it. New York runs its own marketplace, so the dates and programs differ from what you see in national news. This guide covers the basics for people in Syracuse, Liverpool, Clay, Cicero, Salina, DeWitt, Camillus, Manlius, Fayetteville, and Baldwinsville, plus nearby Oswego, Madison, and Cayuga counties.
This article is educational. Instant Health Help is a licensed health insurance agency, and our agent, Lobsang Rivas, is licensed in New York and certified as a broker with NY State of Health. We are not NY State of Health, the New York State Department of Health, or an insurance company. NY State of Health decides what you qualify for. We do not quote prices or name plans here. Check the official details at NY State of Health.
The short answer
- New Yorkers apply through NY State of Health. That covers private plans (called Qualified Health Plans) and public programs.
- Open enrollment for Qualified Health Plans runs November 1 to January 31. Enroll by December 15 for coverage that starts January 1. Enroll December 16 to January 15 and coverage starts February 1. Enroll January 16 to 31 and it starts March 1.
- Medicaid, Child Health Plus, and the Essential Plan are open all year for people who qualify.
For the full date table and renewal details, read our New York open enrollment guide. Here we cover what people around Syracuse ask us most.
What changed with the Essential Plan
NY State of Health says federal funding cuts mean New York can no longer offer the expanded Essential Plan to people earning between 200% and 250% of the federal poverty level. Those changes took effect in July. If you had the Essential Plan and got a notice that it is ending, read it closely and look at Qualified Health Plans during open enrollment. Premium tax credits are generally available to households earning between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level, so you may still get help with the cost. See the NY State of Health Essential Plan changes page.
Common situations in Central New York
You lost a job or your hours were cut. Losing job coverage is a life event. NY State of Health may let you enroll outside open enrollment with a Special Enrollment Period, and Medicaid and the Essential Plan are open all year if you qualify.
You are finishing school or turning 26. Syracuse is a college town, and a degree or a birthday can end the coverage you have now. Ask NY State of Health whether losing that coverage gives you a Special Enrollment Period, and plan ahead so you do not have a gap.
You work for yourself or in the trades. If you do construction, drive, clean, cater, or run a small shop, you will be asked about the income you expect next year. Use your recent tax return and this year’s numbers as a starting point. If your income goes up during the year, report it right away. There is no longer a cap on how much extra premium credit you may have to pay back.
You want to keep your doctors. If you see doctors at the hospitals on University Hill or at an office in Liverpool, Camillus, or Fayetteville, write their names down and check each plan’s network before you choose.
Three ways to apply
NY State of Health lists three ways to enroll:
- Online through the NY State of Health website.
- By phone at 1-855-355-5777 (TTY 1-800-662-1220).
- With the free help of a trained and certified enrollment assistor or broker.
How we can help you enroll
Because our agent is a certified NY State of Health broker, we can sit down with you by phone or online, go through the NY State of Health application with you, compare Qualified Health Plans with your doctors and prescriptions in mind, and help you enroll. NY State of Health describes help from a certified broker as free, and there is no extra cost to you for our help. If the application shows you may qualify for Medicaid, Child Health Plus, or the Essential Plan, NY State of Health makes that decision, and we will explain what it means for you.
What to gather before you apply
- Birth dates for everyone in your household.
- Social Security numbers, or document numbers for lawfully present immigrants, if you have them.
- Job, income, and current health insurance information.
- Any notice you got about the Essential Plan.
- Your doctors and prescriptions.
Turning 65 in Syracuse?
Medicare is a federal program, and its annual enrollment runs October 15 to December 7. If you are getting close to 65, plan how your current coverage will end so you avoid a gap or an overlap. We help New Yorkers with Medicare and NY State of Health coverage by phone and online, in English or Spanish. More on our New York health insurance help page.
Ready to apply?
Have your income estimate, your household details, and your doctor list nearby, and we will go through it with you.