Health Insurance Plan of New York (HIP) has provided health insurance coverage to New York City workers as well as individuals and employers for more than 55 years. Founded in 1940 as a group practice offering prepaid health plans for middle class workers, HIP grew from a small practice in 1940 to more than half a million members in the 1950s.

During the 1960s, HIP received certification as a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) under New York law and introduced one of the first comprehensive physician peer review programs in the country. Then, in the 1980s, HIP began to provide Point of Sale (POS) products and the company created a Medicare+Choice HMO product. HIP expanded its network in the 1990s to include private practice physicians. In 2002, HIP launched HIP Select, PPO Select, EPO Select, HIP Classic and HMO Select plans.

HIP Plans

Today, HIP has more than 1.4 million members and the company is ranked by Crain's as the largest HMO in New York City. Additionally, HIP was the first U.S. company to launch a website in English, Spanish, Korean, and Chinese. HIP has 57,000 locations and 39,000 physicians throughout a network that includes New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts.

In addition to offering traditional plans, HIP also offers a variety of alternative medicine programs such as acupuncture and yoga, a variety of pastoral care programs and value added programs, including LASIK vision correction, health club discounts, and enhanced dental benefits. Below are just a few HIP Plans offered to individuals, groups, and employers:

• HIP Prime Dental - This stand-alone plan offers additional benefits to HIP Prime and HIP Prime POS members. In- and out-of network benefits are offered as well as access to a wide range of dental services through seven basic plans. Most plans include major and minor restorative services, prevention services, and diagnostic services.
  
  
• HIP Prime - This plan offers 100% coverage for most in-network services with no deductibles or coinsurance and little or no paperwork. HIP Prime also offers low premiums, preventive care, and OB/GYN coverage without referrals. Customized HIP plans are also available, as well as access to value added services at discounted rates such as alternative medicine, preventative services, and laser correction.
  
  
• HIP Classic HMO - This plan features a tiered rate structure with three options, access to discounted services, and access to the new HIP Classic Network of multi-specialty physician groups and health centers. Coverage includes health services ranging from preventive and primary to specialty care.