A New York City-based non-profit insurance exchange, one of the few in the nation, is celebrating its 10th anniversary, saying it now provides health insurance to more than 3,500 small businesses and nonprofit organizations in metropolitan New York.

“We are extremely delighted with the tremendous success that HealthPass has enjoyed over the past ten years,” said Vince Ashton, who has served as the executive director of HealthPass since 2004, in a statement. “Our growth and achievements are testament to not only our dedicated employees, but also our business partners and clients who have supported us along the way.”

The success of HealthPass comes as Congress and President Barack Obama continue discussions on whether to include a health exchange in plans for comprehensive health care reform.

HealthPass was formed in 1999 by the New York Business Group on Health, the City of New York and the health insurance industry to provide small business owners with an affordable health insurance option. Through its insurance exchange, employers are allowed to choose a plan that fits their medical and budgetary needs.

HealthPass serves more than 30,000 individuals in New York City, Long Island, Westchester, Rockland, Orange, Dutchess and Putnam counties.
Health Pass has more than 30 different coverage options from five carriers – EmblemHealth, GHI, Health Net, HIP (Health Plan of New York) and Oxford – as well as two dental plans, and a bundled product offered through Guardian.  With more than 200,000 providers, HealthPass affords greater network access than any single plan in the state, officials said.