If you live in Buffalo 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 rules can differ from what you see in national news. This guide explains the basics for people in Buffalo, Cheektowaga, Amherst, Tonawanda, West Seneca, Lackawanna, Orchard Park, Hamburg, Niagara Falls, and Lockport.
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 We do not quote prices or name plans here.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 starts November 1 and runs through January 31. Enroll by December 15 for coverage that starts January 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 Buffalo ask us most.
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 help from a trained and certified enrollment assistor or broker.
NY State of Health decides which program fits your household based on age, income, and other factors. We do not list income limits here. Use the official tools to see what you may qualify for.
Work and coverage in Western New York
Bureau of Labor Statistics data and regional economic reports put education and health services among the largest groups in Buffalo Niagara employment, with manufacturing, trade and transportation, and leisure and hospitality also large. Niagara Falls tourism and advanced manufacturing still matter for local paychecks. That shows up in coverage questions:
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 work in a plant, shop, or on a 1099. If you fabricate, drive, cater, do construction, 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. Mix of W-2 and 1099? Add both.
Your income changes with the seasons. Hospitality and tourism hours near the Falls, and some manufacturing overtime, can swing. Report changes when they happen, so your coverage and any financial help stay accurate.
You want to keep your doctors. If you see doctors at the medical campus downtown or in the Northtowns or Southtowns, write their names down and check each plan’s network before you choose.
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, at no extra cost to you for our help. We are not NY State of Health, and NY State of Health decides what you qualify for. 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, including seasonal or self-employment work.
- Your doctors and prescriptions.
Turning 65 in Buffalo?
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.
Have a question?
Have your income estimate, your household details, and your doctor list nearby, and we will go through it with you.
Call (321) 315-0054 | agent@inshh.com
You may qualify after tax credits. Eligibility varies.
Featured photo: Buffalo City Hall and McKinley Monument by Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped with text added.