Renewal Help at the NYC Health Department

The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYC Health Department) helps connect New Yorkers to health insurance options by enrolling and renewing their coverage. Help is available in your language, and your information will be kept private.

Medicaid, Child Health Plus, and the Essential Plan are available in these programs. You will also need to continue renewing your coverage every 12 months.

For Qualified Health Plans, beginning on June 1, you may only enroll if you experience a qualifying life event that allows you a Special Enrollment Period such as if you recently had a change in your family, income, or health insurance coverage, or during the Open Enrollment Period, which will begin on November 1 for coverage effective January 1.

General Help

You can get help from an enrollment counselor by phone or in person.

You can call the Office of Health Insurance to talk with a counselor. You can also request a call from a counselor.

For more information or to find an enrollment site near you, please visit nyc.gov/health/healthcoverage

  • Agency: Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
  • Division: Office of Health Insurance Services
  • Phone Number: (347) 665-0214
  • Business Hours: Monday - Friday: 9 AM - 5 PM

Medicaid has a Reproductive Health Services Family Planning Benefit Program.  It covers family planning services. The program is confidential and assists males and females of any age.

You can get information on eligibility, how to apply, and required documents.

Get more information about the Family Planning Benefit Program.

  • Agency: Human Resources Administration
  • Division: Medicaid Helpline
  • Phone Number: (888) 692-6116
  • Business Hours: Monday - Friday: 8 AM - 5 PM
  • Automated Assistance is available in English and Spanish 24 hours, 7 days a week. Staff is available through the automated phone system during business hours, except on City Holidays. Most languages are available through a staff person.

Through the NYC Health + Hospitals Options program, low and moderate-income patients receiving care from the public health care system can get affordable health care.

If you are a patient, you may receive assistance applying for government-sponsored health insurance.

If you are not eligible for public insurance, the program may reduce your bill to an affordable amount, based on family size and income.

All HHC patients residing in New York City may qualify for HHC Options regardless of their age or immigration status.

Counselors are available at the following Health + Hospital facilities to assist patients in applying for health insurance:

Bronx

Jacobi Medical Center
(718) 918-3375

Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center
(718) 579-6414

Morrisania Diagnostic and Treatment Center
(718) 960-2636

North Central Bronx Hospital
(718) 918-3375

Segundo Ruiz Belvis Diagnostic and Treatment Center
(718) 579-1763

Brooklyn

Cumberland Diagnostic and Treatment Center
(718) 260-7691

East NY Diagnostic and Treatment Center
(718) 240-0628

Kings County Hospital Center
(718) 245-5458

Ruth Bader Ginsburg Hospital
(718) 616-5024

Woodhull Medical and Mental Health Center
(718) 630-3403

Manhattan

Bellevue Hospital Center
(212) 562-1019

Gouverneur Healthcare Services
(212) 238-7139

Harlem Hospital Center
(212) 939-8086

Metropolitan Hospital Center
(212) 423-6451

Renaissance Health Care Network Diagnostic and Treatment Center
(212) 932-6504

Queens

Elmhurst Hospital Center
(718) 334-2565

Queens Hospital Center
(718) 883-4444

Staten Island

There are no HHC Options counselors available in Staten Island. Staten Island residents may contact counselors in any other borough for assistance with applying for health insurance. The nearest counseling site is Ruth Bader Ginsburg Hospital at (718) 616-5024.

MetroPlus Health Plan is a health maintenance organization that is licensed to operate in the Bronx, Kings, New York, and Queens Counties. You can get Medicaid, Family Health Plus, and Child Health Plus Managed Healthcare services.

Call 311 or 212-NEW-YORK (212-639-9675) for help.

NYC Care is a health care access program through NYC Health + Hospitals. It provides comprehensive health care services to New Yorkers who are not eligible for insurance or who cannot afford insurance.

To learn more, go to the NYC Care page.

Information about the NYC Aetna Medicare Advantage PPO Plan is available online.

You should check the website frequently for additional information and updates.

Learn more about the NYC Medicare Advantage Plus Plan.

You can get help navigating health insurance coverage for mental health or substance use disorders. This is through Community Health Access to Addiction and Mental Healthcare Project (CHAMP), a free and confidential helpline.

You can get help with finding coverage for both treatment and medication.

CHAMP counselors can:

  • Answer questions about health insurance
  • Explain what is covered by your plan
  • Report violations of the law
  • Contest insurance denials and file appeals

By Email

Ombuds@oasas.ny.gov

By Phone

  • Agency: New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports
  • Division: Community Health Access to Addiction and Mental Healthcare Project (CHAMP)
  • Phone Number: (888) 614-5400
  • Business Hours: Monday - Wednesday: 9 AM - 7 PM, Thursday - Friday: 9 AM - 4 PM

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