Healthfirst representatives support health insurance enrollment through culturally competent, one-on-one service in seven languages
Event celebrates vibrant neighborhood and includes local elected officials, community leaders, and healthcare providers
Healthfirst, one of New York's highest-quality not-for-profit health insurers, has opened a new and expanded community office to support the needs of the diverse community in Flushing, Queens. Building on Healthfirst's presence in Queens for more than 15 years, this new office represents Healthfirst's ongoing commitment to providing access to high-quality healthcare and helping all New Yorkers thrive.
At the new 3,500 square foot Healthfirst office, located at 39-06 Main Street in the heart of Flushing, community members can get answers to their questions about health insurance and benefits, receive assistance with enrolling in a Healthfirst plan as well as renewing or recertifying their existing coverage, and learn how to understand and maximize the value of their existing coverage. Healthfirst members can receive one-to-one support in seven languages including: Mandarin, Cantonese, Fujianese, Korean, Spanish, Bengali and English. The opening of this new site coincides with the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period currently underway through December 7, and open enrollment for qualified health plans including Healthfirst Essential plans through the New York State of Health beginning November 1 for enrollments and November 16 for renewals through January 31, 2025. More information about Healthfirst Medicare Advantage plans can be found at the company’s Learn Shop and Enroll website.
"At Healthfirst, our mission to provide greater access to high-quality healthcare begins with meeting members where they are, and today one in three members can walk into a Healthfirst community office in their neighborhood and get one-on-one support," said Pat Wang, Healthfirst's President and CEO. "We serve more than 450,000 members in Queens and in Flushing, half of our in-office enrollments are conducted in Chinese. This new office was built to reflect the community's cultural heritage, and we are honored to feature artwork from Flushing residents who are active in TimeBank by Healthfirst Foundation, a free program that facilitates the exchange of time, skills and services among volunteer participants and organizations."
In celebration of the new Flushing community office, Healthfirst hosted an event with city, state and federal elected officials including U.S. Representative Grace Meng, New York State Senator John Liu, New York City Councilmember Sandra Ung and healthcare providers and community partners including MediSys Health Network, Charles B. Wang Community Health Center, and the Coalition of Asian-American IPA (CAIPA).
Healthfirst's new Flushing Community Office is open Monday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. year-round and will be open Sundays from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. through December 29, 2024. In the coming months, Healthfirst will host a series of cultural health and wellness events including:
Healthfirst has 26 community offices located throughout New York City, Long Island and the Hudson Valley, more information can be found at healthfirst.org/CommunityOffices.