State Data
Last Updated September 28, 2022:
- All New Yorkers 6 months and older should get vaccinated and get their booster dose when eligible.
- If you are experiencing symptoms or were exposed, get tested.
- If you test positive, stay home and talk to your healthcare provider about treatment.
- Masks are still required in healthcare facilities. Masks are optional in correctional facilities, homeless shelters, airports and on public transit.
- All travelers, domestic and international, should continue to follow all CDC travel requirements.
The members of the New York State Conference of Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans (NYSCOP) remain focused on the safety and wellbeing of health plan members during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Coverage and Special Enrollment
If you have recently lost coverage from your employer due to the public health emergency, BCBS health plans have several free and low-cost healthcare options available. Loss of coverage due to job loss is considered a qualifying event allowing people to sign up for coverage without waiting for open enrollment.
Individuals can enroll in other state-sponsored programs such as Medicaid, Essential Plan and Child Health Plus, at any time.
BCBS health plans Implement Changes to Help Consumers including:
- No cost to members for COVID-19 vaccine
- No cost to members for COVID-19 testing
- No cost to members for office, urgent care, or ER visits related to COVID-19.
- Waiver of early refills limits for 30 or 90-day supplies of medications.
- Home delivery available for up to 90-day supply of medication at one time.
- No cost mental and emotional support services.
Telehealth Access
Remote medical care, known as telemedicine or telehealth, is when a patient and a provider communicate by audio, video or text messaging. BCBS health plans have expanded telehealth coverage to all plan members and waived any member cost-share responsibility for telemedicine services, regardless of the medical issue.
If your provider does not offer telehealth services, BCBS plans can help.
For more information:
Excellus BCBS
Empire BCBS
Infographic: Telemedicine – Access to Health Care Anytime, Anywhere
Telehealth in New York: How telemedicine is reaching growing medical deserts in rural NY
Coronavirus way-of-life: Doctors, patients turn to telemedicine like never before
Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University COVID webpage
Daily information on tracking, testing, contract tracing, vaccines and other resources.
Meta-analysis: The impact of lockdowns on COVID-19 mortality
Lockdowns during the first COVID-19 wave in the spring of 2020 only reduced COVID-19 mortality by .2% in the U.S. and Europe.