How To Find the Best Health Insurance in New York

Shopping around and comparing prices for multiple qualified health plans is crucial in New York since it is one of the most expensive states in the nation when it comes to health insurance. Despite this, New York boasts a highly-rated health care system and has had longer-than-usual Health Insurance Marketplace open enrollment periods in the past.

Continue reading to find out more about New York health insurance including what health insurance carriers are most likely to offer you a good deal on coverage.

On This Page

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  Is Health Insurance Required in New York?

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  New York Health Insurance Rankings

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  How Much Does Health Insurance Cost in New York?

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  What Is the Average Cost of Health Insurance in New York by City?

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  Which Health Insurance Companies Are the Most Affordable in New York?

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  When Is Open Enrollment for Health Insurance in New York?

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  What Types of Health Insurance Are Available in New York?

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  How To Get Health Insurance in New York

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  FAQs

Is Health Insurance Required in New York?

The federal government requires all American taxpayers to have health insurance that covers minimum essential health benefits but it has not penalized those who forgo coverage since 2018.^[1] Some states still impose tax penalties on uninsured residents but New York is not one of them, meaning health insurance is effectively optional throughout the state.

New York Health Insurance Rankings

A 2023 study of the quality of the health systems in each state and Washington, D.C., determined that New York has the ninth-best overall health care system in the United States. New York most notably ranked first in the nation with regard to equitable health outcomes among people with different incomes, although it did perform poorly when it came to the number of preventable medical expenses that its residents incurred.^[2]

To see how New York State fared in various other dimensions, you can view the following table.^[2]

How Much Does Health Insurance Cost in New York?

Marketplace benchmark plans have an average monthly cost of $736 in New York, making it the fifth-most expensive state in the country for health insurance with a significantly higher average monthly premium than the national average of $477. Meanwhile, New Yorkers pay an average of $562 per month for the state’s lowest-cost plan in the bronze tier, $719 for the lowest-cost silver plan and $911 for the lowest-cost gold plan.^[3]

Cheapest Health Insurance Options in New York

If you’re looking to cut costs to account for the high health insurance prices in New York, you should consider switching to a plan in the bronze tier. Bronze health insurance plans have the lowest monthly premiums, though they also come with the highest deductibles, copays and coinsurance, so they might not be best for you if you regularly use health care services.^[4]

Another cost-saving option is enrolling in a health maintenance organization (HMO) plan rather than a preferred provider organization (PPO) plan. In exchange for forfeiting certain benefits such as coverage for out-of-network care and specialist visits without a referral, you’ll get to pay less in both premiums and out-of-pocket costs with an HMO.^[5]

What Is the Average Cost of Health Insurance in New York by City?

You can go over the below table for a rundown of median silver health plan premiums before considering premium tax credits for individuals making $40,000 a year in multiple major cities in New York.^[6]

Which Health Insurance Companies Are the Most Affordable in New York?

Fidelis Care has the lowest starting rate for silver-tier coverage among health insurance companies in New York. Take a look at the following table to see which insurers offer silver health plans to 40-year-olds in New York for less than $1,000 per month.^[7]

When Is Open Enrollment for Health Insurance in New York?

New York’s open enrollment dates have varied in recent years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2023-24 standard open enrollment period lasted from November 16 to January 31, with additional enrollment periods being available up until May 31.^[8] Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, open enrollment took place from November 1 to January 31 in New York.^[9]

Even if open enrollment has passed, you can still sign up for coverage through New York’s state-run Marketplace website, New York State of Health, during a special enrollment period. Special enrollment periods occur when your household income drops below a certain threshold or you experience a major life event like getting married or moving to a new address.^[10]

What Types of Health Insurance Are Available in New York?

New Yorkers have access to several types of health insurance coverage such as these:

• Marketplace health insurance
• Private coverage purchased directly from a health insurance company
• Employer-sponsored group health insurance
• Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) continuation coverage
• Medicare
• Medicaid
• Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP, also known as Child Health Plus in New York)
• Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health benefits
• Student health plans

How To Get Health Insurance in New York

Comparing health insurance quotes from three to five different New York health insurers is invaluable since you can more easily find the lowest possible rate for the coverage you need. However, individually contacting insurance carriers to provide them with information like your age, ZIP code and household income can make the process of comparison shopping incredibly taxing.

Instead, consider shopping through SmartFinancial. All you have to do is fill out one brief questionnaire and then we’ll get you in touch with an agent who can help you parse through your health insurance options. If you’d like to speak to an agent about comparing health insurance quotes at no cost today, you can click here.