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Look into the Freelancers Union. They've been providing health insurance and other benefits to freelancers and other self-employed people in NY for some years now. They're legit. They only started providing health insurance in NJ pretty recently. They offer BC/BS and Oscar, seemingly as group plans. I went through the signup process and searched for NY-based docs. I didn't find any for Oscar, but I found a bunch through BC/BS. You will want to verify this. Also, you need a qualifying event to be able to buy a plan, since open enrollment is over.
I would have been very interested in forming a group a couple years ago, but luckily I'm set now with an employer-based group plan.
Good luck!
Thanks for the info - I definitely checked out Freelancers Union but again had no luck with my docs/specialists in the city (and I don't think my docs or specialists are the one-off's that only have very few insurance plans they accept - they are from Mt. Sinai, HSS, etc. and I know they accept a lot of insurance plans, just none that seem to be available to individuals in NJ). But thanks for the suggestion.
I reread your OP, and it seems that you could claim loss of existing coverage as a qualifying event.
However, the BC/BS plans (Omnia and Horizon) are really expensive through Freelancers Union, possibly because of the expanded network. The Oscar plans are more reasonable, but that doesn't help if they don't cover NY docs.
Thanks for the info - I definitely checked out Freelancers Union but again had no luck with my docs/specialists in the city (and I don't think my docs or specialists are the one-off's that only have very few insurance plans they accept - they are from Mt. Sinai, HSS, etc. and I know they accept a lot of insurance plans, just none that seem to be available to individuals in NJ). But thanks for the suggestion.
Bummer. I just checked a random specialty and then scrolled through the list looking for NY addresses.
Here's your answer. But first of all, note that Horizon BCBS ended their national network
benefits (PP0) when the exchange/marketplace started up a few years ago, unfortunately.
But there is ONE plan in NJ that provides SOME decent benefits NATIONALLY (i.e., including NYC)...
but the monthly premium is ridiculously high....like around $1000.
This is the plan (which you will see when you go to healthcare.gov......and choose to
look at all NJ plans......and then ....keep looking until you find this one...see below) . I know you're
not using the marketplace, but that's still a good way to see all the plans you can get.
It's still possible that there are non-national-network plans in NJ that cover NYC, but I kind of doubt it.
But I do know the national plan i mentioned does cover NYC.
Also, I meant to say that going to healthcare.gov will show you SOME of the plans available
to you, but maybe/probably not all (but you probably know this).
Have you looked at Health Republic of NJ? It says on their website: "All members also have out-of-state coverage to doctors who participate in Multiplan’s PHCS Healthy Directions Network, including access to 43,000 nearby providers in neighboring counties of New York, Pennsylvania, and Delaware." Provider directory search is here: https://newjersey.healthrepublic.us/providersearch/
When I search for providers in NYC who take my plan, a lot of doctors come up. I haven't actually tried seeing any doctors outside of NJ, but it sounds like you would have the option with them (although you should probably call to confirm). Keep in mind that this company uses the QualCare network of providers, so if you're looking to see if your doctor takes that insurance, it would be listed as QualCare and not Health Republic of NJ.
I wish I had seen your post last year. For 2016, I was able to get Amerihealth NJ, which offered a plan that uses PHCS Multiplan, allowing for NY doctors. However they are dropping this plan for 2017.
So I'm in the same bind for next you that you are, and I'm desperately looking for health insurance for 2017 that allows a NJ resident to use NY doctors.
If anyone has any update for 2017, please let me know. I'm screwed if there is no option.
I am in the same spot (NJ plan through HBCBS and want to see a NYC specialist but can't). Just got off the phone with an insurance broker who told me I have only two options:
1. add a person to the company as a full time employee (they must reside in a different location) and set up a small group plan. Keep in mind, this involved lots of tax implications, etc.
2. set up a residency in NYC and switch to a NY plan to use NY-only doctors.
Gotta thank Obama for this. Few years ago my company's Oxford and Aetna HMO plans allowed me to see any Doctor in the network in NYC or NJ. Today I can't see any of them because they don't accept my policy. Yet I am paying 2x what I used to pay in 2014. Which is why I am contemplating dropping coverage completely and go without.
There's no point having coverage when my doctors don't accept it and local NJ doctors do not take new patients in the same month and they all claim to be booked for 2 months in advance.
Why should I pay $2k a month for a useless health insurance. ACA must be repealed for a better system.
Gotta thank Obama for this. Few years ago my company's Oxford and Aetna HMO plans allowed me to see any Doctor in the network in NYC or NJ. Today I can't see any of them because they don't accept my policy. Yet I am paying 2x what I used to pay in 2014. Which is why I am contemplating dropping coverage completely and go without.
There's no point having coverage when my doctors don't accept it and local NJ doctors do not take new patients in the same month and they all claim to be booked for 2 months in advance.
Why should I pay $2k a month for a useless health insurance. ACA must be repealed for a better system.
Hang in there I am sure Trump will fix it, he knows how to do everything better than anybody.
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there is one plan....
