How to sign up for health insurance as a New York nanny
Health insurance - if the last few years have taught us anything, getting complete and affordable coverage is vital for everyone, including young and healthy people, no matter where they live and work. The last two years have been challenging, and as essential workers, nannies in New York powered through to help working families with their childcare needs under unique circumstances. And they continue to provide invaluable help to families across the city today.
But many families cannot offer full health care coverage in a benefits package, or they offer a healthcare stipend toward a health insurance plan the nanny can enroll in on the Marketplace. This means it’s up to the nanny to sign up for health insurance. Thanks to increased efforts by NY State of Health, it’s honestly never been easier.
Here at Smart Sitting, we are always trying to look out for our New York nannies and sitters and make sure they are getting access to the best resources available. We reached out to the NY State of Health—the health insurance Marketplace here in New York—for more information about how nannies can sign up for health insurance to make sure all their health care needs are covered.
They are eager to help and provide lots of resources to help you get what you need.
NY State of Health is here to help nannies and their families get covered with quality, affordable health insurance
NY State of Health, New York’s health insurance Marketplace, served as a critical safety net for over 6.5 million New Yorkers during the COVID-19 pandemic, cutting New York’s uninsured rate in half since the passage of the Affordable Care Act in March 2010. As more and more new nannies enter the workforce, it’s critical to ensure they have access to health insurance to protect themselves, and those they care for.
Nearly 99 percent of NY State of Health enrollees qualify for free or low-cost insurance with a choice of health plan options that covers important benefits like doctor visits, mental health and reproductive services, prescriptions and more. Enrollment for 2022 health coverage is still open for Qualified Health Plans through NY State of Health. Enrollment for Medicaid, Child Health Plus and Essential Plan is open year-round.
Financial help through the American Rescue Plan remains available through 2022 to help lower premium costs for eligible New Yorkers. Significant new federal tax credits are available to current and new enrollees who qualify, including higher-income individuals for the first time. Low and moderate-income individuals who were previously eligible for tax credits are now eligible for higher tax credits.
NY State of Health connects New Yorkers to affordable health coverage. Call the NY State of Health Customer Service Center at 1-855-355-5777 or visit NY State of Health online. Free enrollment assistance is provided in local communities throughout the state.
Sign up to receive SMS/MMS Text alerts from NY State of Health so you don't miss important health insurance updates, including when it's time to renew your coverage. To subscribe, text START to 1-866-988-0327.
Additional health insurance tips from Smart Sitting
As you can see above, NY State of Health is making it easy to enroll, access health insurance, and stay updated on the latest marketplace information.
If you’re a nanny looking for health insurance, here are few additional tips to keep in mind:
It’s common for nannies and sitters to work with various families and have a fluctuating income. If your estimated income changes during the year, update your information with NY State of Health. If you are making less than you expected, your health care costs may go down, so this is definitely worth keeping updated.
If you had health insurance through the Marketplace during the pandemic, you may previously have been automatically re-enrolled as part of the state’s pandemic response. However, these automatic re-enrollments are ending - sign up for text alerts to get notified when it’s time for you to renew so you don’t lose your coverage.
A lot of things changed with the Marketplace insurance during the pandemic. There are higher tax credits available, and the American Rescue Plan means more people can get lower premiums. If you thought health insurance would be too expensive for you, it’s highly worth looking again. You can also get help with free enrollment assistance from someone locally who will walk you through it and answer questions for your specific situation.
As always, we like to keep you in the know with tips and guides for how to make nannying a career in which you can thrive. Sign up for our newsletter for regular advice right in your inbox.