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WPCNR QUILL & EYESHADE. From the Business Council of Westchester with reporting by WPCNR. October 12, 2013:
Individuals are jumping into Affordable Health Care and bravely exploring and signing up through the state’s new affordable health care portal: www.nystateofhealth.ny.gov.
Businesses, though are dragging their feet says the Director of the new State Marketplace.
According to Kelly Smith, (ABOVE) Director of Small Business Marketplace of the State Department of Health, more than 40,000 individual New York residents have registered online for Affordable Health Care in the first week alone (it began October 1).
She said they thought the state’s website would get about 3,000 hits per day on the site, but in reality were receiving 3,000 hits per second. She also said about 5,000 insurance brokers have already completed training to be certified by the state for the Exchange. Individuals may also call for a real live person to guide them through at
She told WPCNR small businesses appear to waiting until closer to the deadline (March 31, 2014) to adapt a health plan for their employees. So much so, she expects a siege of business inquiries at that time who have not done their homework on the state health care plan options, reserving decision on plan until the last minute.
Asked by WPCNR afterwards if small businesses across the state are ready to make a smooth transition to the Affordable Health Care System, Smith shook her head no, with no doubt, saying, she expected a rush of business inquiries from businesses who are delaying decision until it is closer to by the deadline to enroll their employees arrives March 31 (five months away).
She expects the rush she sees from businesses at the deadline may create another service crisis similar to last week’s when New York state had to quadrupel their website capacity on Sunday to handle the unexpected volume.
Smith’s presentation took the audience of about 50 persons (by WPCNR count) at the Crown Plaza Hotel in White Plains, through the impressive, overwhelming information available on new health care options on the state website, where individuals and businesses can explore options and sign up for affordable health care options:
Smith said most businesses appear to be waiting until their health care plans they have now renew to examine their options under the Affordable Health Care Act. She feels businesses have to familiarize now with options, and are not doing so. She said accountants who have to implement the nuts and bolts of enrollment and compliance are doing their homework and appear up-to-speed to execute enrollment and compliance.
Calling the first week of the new Exchange “an incredible ride,” John Ravitz, Executive Vice President of the Business Council said the BCW’s Navigator has received over 75 phone calls for appointments.
For businesses to schedule an appointment with the Business Council’s Navigator who can familiarize executives with what is required and when, and options and tax credits available, they may call John Ravitz at (914) 948-2110 ext 311.
In addition to Smith (right, above), the other panelists at the forum included Elisabeth Benjamin, (Center) Senior Vice President of the Community Service Society of New York; and Mike Bodack,(left) President of York International Agency who warned of the extra expenses businesses face from new reporting rules under the Affordable Health Care Act.
Benjamin took businessmen in attendance on a selling tour of the benefits of tax credits they receive under the Affordable Care Act. Above is an example she presented.
Bodack presented surveys showing that premium costs for New York health care plan providers and purchases are predicted to go up 12% next year. New York is the highest column (Above)
Keynote speaker Shannon Pettypiece,(above) national healthcare reporter for Bloomberg News, provided an overview of how New York and other states that are implementing their own health benefit exchanges are faring compared to those states that are letting the federal government set up their exchanges.
She said the states have done a better job of getting their websites up and running than the federal government. She also said the federal website was averaging about 2.8 million unique visits per hour, which ranks it among the nation’s busiest websites.
Among other topics discussed by the panel were: key mandates of importance to employees; timeline of when the mandates will start in 2014 and 2015; tax credits available to employers that offer health insurance to their employees; new programs that employees without health insurance will have to enter in 2014 and the Navigator Program that the Business Council started.
“The implementation of the new Health Benefit Exchange is one of the most important issues facing businesses today. This very timely and important forum featured an outstanding panel of experts who provided the information every business needs to know about the new law,” said Marsha Gordon, President and CEO of the Business Council.
Under requirements of the Affordable Care Act, states must set up a health insurance exchange where individuals and businesses can shop for qualified health plans in the private market.
The Business Council was recently selected by the Community Service Society of New York to serve as a “Navigator” to assist Westchester businesses in complying with the nation’s new healthcare policy. The October 10th Healthcare Forum was sponsored by Simone Healthcare Real Estate, Verizon, York International and Webster Bank.