Last month, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced a new grant that will pay for states to establish new health insurance exchanges.  Called the “Cooperative Agreement to Support Establishment of State-Operated Health Insurance Exchanges,” this grant offers two types of funding:

• Level One: Allows states to apply for just one year of funding.
• Level Two: Allows states to apply for several years of funding – but only if they have passed legislation to establish an Exchange, and meet other milestones.

No limit has been put on the level of funds a state may receive, making it a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for New York to build an Exchange with no additional state spending.  And, we can apply for this money as early as March 30, 2011 – but only if New York passes a bill to create the New York Health Insurance Exchange.

New Yorkers need the state to develop a strong, consumer-friendly Exchange that will connect people to quality, affordable health care.  This grant will provide free money in order to do so!  So spread the word and tell your legislators: New York needs an Exchange bill NOW.

Click here to read HCFANY’s Five Standards for a New York Health Insurance Exchange.

Click here to read HCFANY’s one-page policy brief on New York’s need for Exchange Legislation.