LGBT Leaders and Electeds Make Final Push for Healthcare Enrollment

During the week of January 12-16, LGBT leaders and elected officials have teamed up to enroll the community for new health plans under the Affordable Care Act before the open enrollment period ends on February 15.

"Having health insurance and seeing a primary care physician regularly are crucial steps towards reducing health disparities in New York City," said Health Commissioner Dr. Mary Bassett. "If you think health insurance is out of reach, think again. Many New Yorkers qualify for health insurance at no cost. Call 311 or text CoveredNYC to 877877 to find help today."

LGBT people have been disproportionately uninsured. New health plans available under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) are starting to reduce the national LGBT uninsured rate, and are helping here in New York. With open enrollment for 2015 plans ending Feb. 15, LGBT leaders are urging still-uninsured LGBT New Yorkers to apply now for coverage through the NY State of Health marketplace and LGBT-friendly patient navigators.

The ACA prohibits discrimination in health coverage based on sexual orientation or gender identity/expression, and prohibits denials of coverage for pre-existing conditions. Same-sex married couples and any children they may have are also eligible for family coverage. In New York, all private health plans now include coverage of medically-necessary gender transition services.

LGBT Health Insurance Outreach and Enrollment Week in New York will provide opportunities for LGBT people to learn about their coverage options and meet with patient navigators to start the application process.

See below for a list of events in each borough:

Press Conference:? Monday, January 12, 11 a.m.? Callen-Lorde Community Health Center, 356 West 18th St., 6th Floor, Manhattan
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Featured speakers include Councilmember Corey Johnson; Health Committee Chair?Jay Laudato Executive Director, Callen-Lorde; ?Lois Uttley, Co-chair, Health Care for All NY LGBT Task Force?; and Star Morris, Manager of Insurance Navigation, Callen-Lorde.

Press Conference:? Tuesday, January 13, 1 p.m. ?Voces Latinas, 37-63C 83rd Street, Suite 1B, Jackson Heights, Queens
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Featured speakers include ?Councilmember Daniel Dromm; ?Nathaly Rubio-Torio, Executive Director, Voces Latinas; ?Lois Uttley, Co-chair, Health Care for All NY LGBT Task Force;? Guillermo Chacon, President, Latino Commission on AIDS; ?Alexander Cortes, Voces Latinas Patient Navigator

Enrollment Event:? Monday, January 12, 6-8 p.m.? Make the Road New York, 92-10 Roosevelt Ave., Jackson Heights?

Featured speakers include Lois Uttley, Co-chair, Health Care for All NY LGBT Task Force?; Maria Reinoso, Make the Road New York Enrollment Specialist.

Enrollment Event:? Tuesday, January 13, 2-4 p.m. ?Make the Road New York, 161 Port Richmond Ave., Staten Island
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Featured speakers include ?Lois Uttley, Co-chair, Health Care for All NY LGBT Task Force; ?Cristina Clavijo, Make the Road New York Enrollment Specialist.

Enrollment Event:? Wednesday, January 14, 6-9 p.m.? Phillips Ambulatory Care Center, Mount Sinai Beth Israel, 10 Union Sq.?East, Manhattan?

Featured speakers include Comedian Dana Friedman (emcee)?; Lois Uttley, Co-chair, Health Care for All NY LGBT Task Force?; Kellan Baker, Out2Enroll and Center for American Progress?; Dr. Barbara Warren, LGBT Director, Office for Diversity and Inclusion, Mount Sinai Health System; ?Paul Zucker, Chair, Mount Sinai Beth Israel Diversity Council.

Enrollment Event:? Thursday, January 15, 6-8 p.m.? LOFT Center, 252 Bryant Ave, White Plains (For LOFT members only)?

Featured speaker is Liza Lederer, Organizer, Raising Women's Voices-NY

Enrollment Event: ?Friday, January 16, 6-8 p.m.? Make the Road New York, 301 Grove Street, Bushwick, Brooklyn

?Featured speakers include Mark Hannay, Director, Metro New York Health Care for All Campaign?; and Arline Cruz, Make the Road New York Enrollment Specialist.

"LGBT Health Insurance Outreach and Enrollment Week" is being organized by the LGBT Task Force of Health Care for All New York, as part of a national week of activities, endorsed by the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, to reach uninsured LGBT Americans with information about new health insurance coverage options created under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

Organizations involved in planning and coordinating this week of events in New York include the Beth Israel Medical Center/Mount Sinai Health System, Callen-Lorde Community Health Center, Community Service Society of New York, LGBT Community Center, Make the Road New York, Metro New York Health Care for All Campaign, Raising Women's Voices-New York and Voces Latinas.