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MetroPlus Health Plan, the insurance plan of the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC), today reported that as of February 10, 2014 more than 32,000 shoppers on the NY State of Health – the official health insurance marketplace in New York – chose MetroPlus as their preferred health insurance option, making it one of the most popular choices among New York City residents. According to the New York State Department of Health, more than 400,000 New Yorkers have applied for health care coverage through the state Marketplace. HHC’s MetroPlus Health Plan attracted approximately 25 percent of total enrollment in New York City and 8 percent of the statewide enrollment.

“We are particularly pleased to see that over 49 percent of our total Marketplace enrollment is under the age of 35,” said Arnold Saperstein, M.D., MetroPlus President and Chief Executive Officer. “It’s reassuring to know these young invincibles who have traditionally been so difficult to reach are choosing MetroPlus. We are confident that our combination of low rates, high quality, and committed customer service carry weight with New Yorkers looking for affordable health insurance.”

Already the plan of choice for nearly half a million New Yorkers, MetroPlus offers access to a network of over 12,000 primary care physicians and specialist sites across the city and has the most affordable options in three of the four metal level options available on the Marketplace. The plan covers all essential health benefits, including emergency services, maternity and newborn care, mental health and substance use services, prescription drugs, and preventive and wellness services. It also offers a vision and dental rider for an additional low cost; the rate varies per level. Nearly 67 percent of new members shopping on the Marketplace chose this added level of care.

Approximately 42 percent of new MetroPlus members from the Marketplace are age 36 to 59, with nearly two-thirds of this group below the age of 50. People 60 and above (the range just below the age at which people qualify for Medicare), make up 8 percent of the plan’s total Marketplace enrollment. This new membership is distributed throughout the four counties in which MetroPlus is licensed, with 22 percent in Manhattan; 35 percent in Brooklyn; 29 percent in Queens; and 14 percent in the Bronx.

MetroPlus, founded in 1985, has consistently been one of the top-ranked health plans in customer satisfaction in New York City for almost 10 years, rated #1 seven out of eight years consecutively.

“Because we are a subsidiary of HHC, we have a tremendous ability to work together with hundreds of physicians, nurses, specialists, nursing homes and the home health services that are part of the public health care system to manage care for our customers,” added Dr. Saperstein. “Our interests are aligned with a focus on prevention, early detection and coordinated care across any health service. We have a culture of caring for our customers where patient satisfaction and their health outcomes come first.”

Open enrollment for coverage this year through the state Marketplace closes March 31. There are special circumstances, such as job loss, that allow people to enroll past that deadline. To learn more, contact MetroPlus at 1.855.809.4073 or visit metroplus.org and nystateofhealth.org.

Contact: Kathryn Knox Soman, (212) 908 – 8588

About MetroPlus

Over nearly 30 years, MetroPlus Health Plan has built a reputation for providing affordable, quality care to residents of Brooklyn, the Bronx, Manhattan and Queens. A health services plan certified under Section 4403-a of the New York Public Health Law, MetroPlus is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC), the largest municipal healthcare organization in the country, MetroPlus provides managed care to nearly half a million eligible New Yorkers. In addition to Medicaid Managed Care, MetroPlus offers Child Health Plus, several Medicare Advantage Plans, a Special Needs Plan (SNP) for people with HIV and their families, a Long-Term Managed Care Plan, and over 40 NY State of Health Marketplace products. The company’s robust network of primary care doctors and specialists includes many independent community providers. Plan staff is drawn from the communities that MetroPlus serves and speaks more than seventy languages. MetroPlus has consistently been one of the top-ranked health plans in New York City for almost 10 years.

About HHC

The New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC) is a $6.7 billion integrated healthcare delivery system with its own 420,000 member health plan, MetroPlus, and is the largest municipal healthcare organization in the country. HHC serves 1.4 million New Yorkers every year and more than 475,000 are uninsured. HHC provides medical, mental health and substance abuse services through its 11 acute care hospitals, five skilled nursing facilities, six large diagnostic and treatment centers and more than 70 community based clinics. HHC Health and Home Care also provides in-home services for New Yorkers. HHC was the 2008 recipient of the National Quality Forum and The Joint Commission’s John M. Eisenberg Award for Innovation in Patient Safety and Quality. For more information, visit www.nychhc.org/hhc or find us onfacebook.com/NYCHealthSystem or twitter.com/NYCHealthSystem.

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