State Parks Host NY State of Health Awareness Days to Educate Visitors on Affordable Coverage Available through the Marketplace

ALBANY, N.Y. (August 19, 2016) – NY State of Health, the state's official health plan Marketplace and the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and HistoricPreservation are pleased to announce the first "NY State of Health Awareness Day on August 20th in select state parks throughout the state. The NY State of Health Awareness Day will give visitors the opportunity to learn about getting affordable coverage through the Marketplace. Local in-person assistors will be stationed at several parks to provide information, answer questions and make one- on-one appointments to help people apply and enroll in affordable coverage.

"We're excited to partner for the first time with the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation to bring information about affordable health insurance to consumers," said NY State of Health Executive Director Donna Frescatore. "Our beautiful state parks are the perfect summer time setting to share information about how easy and affordable it is to get coverage through the NY State of Health Marketplace".

"Active and healthy lifestyles strengthen mind, muscles, heart and lungs, and state parks provide ample opportunity to run, walk, hike, swim, launch a canoe or kayak, or ride a bike," said State Parks Commissioner Rose Harvey. "There is mounting evidence that access to parks can improve health, and physical activity helps prevent medical problems. A partnership with the Department of Health to offer the opportunity to learn more about the NY State of Health Marketplace is another great example of how visiting State Parks is part of a healthy lifestyle."

Individuals eligible for New York's new Essential Plan, with premiums at $20 or less a month, and individuals eligible for Medicaid or Child Health Plus can enroll in coverage through NY State of Health at any time during the year. Individuals with higher incomes who have a qualifying life event such as becoming pregnant, or losing other insurance coverage may be eligible to enroll in a Qualified Health Plan through a Special Enrollment Period. Open enrollment for Qualified Health Plans begins on November 1, 2016.

Below is a list of State Parks where consumers will be able to meet with a NY State of Health certified expert between 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. on August 20th.

County/City Park Address Inside Park Location
Oneida Delta Lake State Park 8797 State Route 46

Rome, NY 13440

Near beach

outside 4 Seasons Room

Genesee Darien Lake State Park 10475 Harlow Rd, Darien Center, NY 14040 Near beach close to main office
Clinton Point Au Roche State Park 19 Camp Red Cloud Road

Plattsburgh, NY 12901

Near beach
Niagara County Whirlpool State Park Robert Moses State Parkway, Niagara Falls, NY 14303 Inside pavilion
Erie Buffalo Harbor State Park 1111 Fuhrmann Blvd

Buffalo, NY 14203

Near playground
Albany Thompson's Lake Campground – Thacher State Park 68 Thompsons Lake Road

East Berne, NY 12059

On lawn near beach
Saratoga Moreau Lake State Park 605 Old Saratoga Road

Gansevoort, NY 12831

Near beach
Westchester Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park 2957 Crompond Road

Yorktown Heights, NY 10598

Near pool
Rockland Bear Mountain State Park 3006 Seven Lakes Dr. Tomkins Cove, NY 10986 Near zoo and pool
Sullivan Lake Superior State Park 342 Dr Duggan Rd

Bethel, NY 12720

Near beach

A full list of NY State of Health and partner community events can be found at http://info.nystateofhealth.ny.gov/events. Events are continuously added to the calendar.