Pregnant New Yorkers can enroll in exchange at any time under new law

Pregnant New Yorkers can enroll in their state’s health insurance exchange at any time during their pregnancy under legislation signed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo Dec. 23, making the state the first in the nation to have that provision.

The legislation describes pregnancy as a qualifying life event allowing people to enroll in health coverage outside of enrollment periods of October through December in that state. Other qualifying life events include a change in residence, birth or adoption of a child, marriage, divorce or a spouse’s death, according to a press release from Cuomo’s office. Insurance coverage would be effective as of the first of the month when the woman is certified as pregnant.

Open enrollment in Arkansas lasts from Nov. 1 to Jan. 31. Qualifying events in Arkansas allowing Arkansans to enroll at other times are birth, adoption, marriage, divorce, death of a spouse, and a change of address that results in the loss of health insurance, according to Ryan James, Arkansas Insurance Department communications director and legislative liaison.

Pregnancy is not one of those events. However, pregnant Arkansans with incomes up to 200% of the federal poverty level qualify for Medicaid coverage at any time.

Ray Hanley, president and CEO of the nonprofit Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care, said in an email that New York’s move is “a good thing as (it) gets pregnant woman into prenatal care quicker. Women certainly get pregnant outside enrollment windows. … Avoiding a single bad birth outcome potentially saves big $$ when a NICU stay can cost thousands per day and can go for weeks and months.”

David Wroten, executive vice president of the Arkansas Medical Society, said, “I’m sure AMS would support this. Prenatal care is so important in helping deliver full-term, healthy babies.”