Today the New York State of Health Marketplace announced which health insurance carriers will be offering plans on the Marketplace for 2016. This encompasses Qualified Health Plans for both individuals and small businesses, the new Essential Plan, and stand-alone dental plans.

The 200,000 individuals who hold policies with Health Republic will have to go shopping for new plans when Open Enrollment begins on November 1^st. The CO-OP is winding down operations and no longer issuing renewals. The good news is that sixteen carriers will offer individual QHPs in 2016, and eight for the Small Business Marketplace (SHOP). The definition of a small business is new for 2016: firms with 100 or fewer full time equivalent employees can use SHOP – up from 50 employees in 2015.

While insurers and consumers alike are new to the Essential Plan, there is a strong show of support with 13 carriers offering plans for 2016. Consumers can use this interactive map to see which plans are offered in their county. Some counties, like the Bronx, have eight plans on offer, while New Yorkers in other counties, like Putnam and Schoharie, will only have one plan option if they qualify for the Essential Plan.

The stand-alone dental market is largely the same as 2015, with 11 carriers offering plans, 3 of which offer plans in every county in the state. The maps for dental, individual, and small business plans are available here.