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US-based Plans

Plans Overview

The UN offers a comprehensive health insurance scheme under its headquarters’ health & life i

nsurance programme that provides eligible staff members, retirees and their eligible dependants

 with medical, dental and life insurance coverage. Eligibility for the UNHQ administered health

 insurance programme is based on location, however, considering the cost of medical services

 in the United States, all staff members, retirees and their eligible dependants may enroll in one 

of the US-based plans. Benefits included in this scheme are preventive care, inpatient and

 outpatient services, pharmacy, optical care and other benefits. Dental benefits include 

diagnostic and preventative, restorative, and orthodontic care.
For UNHQ-administered health insurance plans, the UN and plan participants bear the costs

 collectively through a cost-sharing arrangement approved by the General Assembly. Please

 note that it is recommended for staff members to choose a plan based on benefits most

 applicable to individual/family circumstances rather than initial premiums. Please also 

note that it is not possible to cover staff members or retirees in a different health insurance plan 

than their eligible dependants. It is also not possible to cover dependants only. 
The offered US-based plans for new staff are Aetna PPO, Empire Blue Cross PPO and Cigna 

Dental. Some staff might also be enrolled in the HIP, however, effective 1st July 2013, the HIP 

Health Plan of New York was closed to new subscribers (i.e., staff members or retirees). 

Subscribers who are currently covered may remain in the plan, and any changes related to

 eligible household members will be accepted but please note that a current subscriber who 

transfers to another United States plan during the annual enrollment campaign will not be 

allowed to return to the HIP plan. Plan details for all plans, including the HIP, can be accessed 

on the respective pages as well as the Resource Section below. 

US-based plan benefits comparison: HIP, Aetna and Empire

How to get insurance through the ACA Health Insurance Marketplace

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) gives more people access to health insurance. Use the ACA's Health Insurance Marketplace to find health insurance options.

Find out if you are eligible for a Health Insurance Marketplace plan

See if you are eligible to use the Health Insurance Marketplace. There is no income limit. 

To be eligible to enroll in health coverage through the Marketplace, you:

• Must live in the United States
• Must be a U.S. citizen or national (or be lawfully present). Learn about eligible immigration statuses.
• Cannot be incarcerated in prison or jail

Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), you have special patient protection when you are insured through the Health Insurance Marketplace:

• Insurers cannot refuse coverage based on gender or a pre-existing condition.
• There are no lifetime or annual limits on coverage for essential health benefits.
• Young adults can stay on their family's insurance plan until age 26.

Learn more about your rights under the Affordable Care Act.

How to enroll in a Health Insurance Marketplace plan

There are a wide range of Health Insurance Marketplace plans to choose from. They offer coverage for not only medical care, but also dental and vision. Find out what services all plans cover and what additional coverage is available.

To get started, go to Healthcare.gov to find your state Health Insurance Marketplace. Each state's Marketplace has its own enrollment instructions.

During the Marketplace open enrollment period each year, you can:

• Choose a plan for the first time
• Continue in your current plan
• Make changes to your current insurance plan
• Choose a new plan to replace your current plan

If you experience a life event like moving or having a baby, you may be able to change your coverage during a special enrollment period. You may also qualify for a special enrollment period if your household income is below a certain amount.