NEW YORK — Healthy NY, the state's reduced cost health insurance program for the working uninsured, sole proprietors and small businesses, will soon include high deductible health options to help make the program more affordable.

Beginning January 1, 2007, there will be a consumer-driven high deductible health plan option designed for use with a Health Savings Account.

Under the high deductible plan, insurance companies offering Healthy NY must provide the option to choose a deductible of $1,150 per individual and $2,300 per family, subject to the policy's out-of-pocket maximums. Enrollees can then set up tax advantaged HSAs for up to the amount of the deductible in order to cover that cost.