In a significant move aimed at improving healthcare access and insurance coverage for the Queens Jewish community – and beyond, the Queens Jewish Community Council (QJCC) has announced a promising partnership with Keep NY Covered, an initiative dedicated to helping New Yorkers secure the healthcare coverage they need as pandemic-era protections for coverage end. Hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers are at risk of losing their insurance in light of the expiration of the Continuous Enrollment Condition authorized by the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). This collaboration, designed to provide vital support for residents navigating the complexities of the healthcare system and recent changes in federal law, is thus a timely imperative to serve the community.
The partnership, which builds upon QJCC’s commitment to serving the diverse needs of the Queens Jewish community, is set to streamline the enrollment and renewal process for medical insurance plans, including Marketplace medical insurance, Medicaid, Child Health Plus, Essential Plan, or any Qualified Health Plan (QHP). Residents looking for assistance can utilize QJCC’s on-staff personnel to navigate the necessary resources and get the appropriate tax credits to pay affordable rates for coverage.
QJCC’s dedicated, well-trained, and experienced health insurance “Navigator,” Marina Litman, is equipped to assist community members with new enrollments and medical insurance renewals, offering critical guidance through the often-complex landscape of healthcare coverage. What sets this Navigator apart is her multilingual proficiency, as she is fluent in English, Russian, and Hebrew. This ensures that a broader segment of the Queens Jewish community can access the support they need without language barriers.
Rabbi Mayer Waxman, Executive Director of the Queens Jewish Community Council, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership, stating, “Our goal at QJCC has always been to provide comprehensive services that cater to the diverse needs of our community. With this collaboration with Keep NY Covered, we are taking a significant step forward in our outreach to ensure that healthcare access is made easier and more accessible to all our residents.”
Keep NY Covered has a strong track record of helping New Yorkers navigate the complexities of healthcare enrollment and renewal. The support is even more critical now as the continuous enrollment condition authorized by the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) and the state requirement to maintain enrollment of nearly all Medicaid enrollees during the Covid-19 Public Health Emergency expired. In an effort to minimize the number of New Yorkers at risk of losing their Medicaid, Child Health Plus, or Essential Plan coverage, New York State is working with partners, local districts, and other stakeholders to inform New Yorkers about renewing their coverage and exploring other available health insurance options if they no longer qualify.
Now that the public health emergency has ended, federal law requires states to restart regular Medicaid renewals. This means that over the next 12 months, those with health care coverage through Medicaid or CHIP will need to renew their coverage or risk having a gap in coverage. Those who are no longer eligible for Medicaid, Essential Plan, or CHIP can transition to another form of health coverage, such as the Affordable Care Act Marketplace or employer-sponsored coverage. Those insured must maintain up-to-date contact information with the NYS Department of Health to ensure they receive information and reminders about their renewal dates and any deadlines to take action. Since Spring 2023, renewal notices have been sent to enrollees in these programs based on their enrollment end dates, ranging from June 30, 2023, through May 31, 2024.
Local community members have already expressed their appreciation for the partnership, noting that it eases the burden of healthcare bureaucracy. Nina Abramov, a resident of Queens, shared her thoughts, saying, “It’s such a relief to know that I can turn to the Queens Jewish Community Council for help with my insurance needs and medical insurance explanations. The fact that they have someone who can speak Russian and Hebrew is incredibly reassuring for many members of our community.”
For further information on the services provided by the Queens Jewish Community Council, please visit www.qjcc.org or call 718-544-9033.
