You can get information about free health insurance for eligible adults and children.

You can also get assistance if you currently receive Medicaid or have applied for benefits.

Medicaid offers health insurance coverage for low-income adults and children who meet income and other eligibility requirements.

Children and teens 21 and under with an active Medicaid case can also get preventive health services, medical care, and dental care. Caregivers who are not foster parents but are financially responsible for children in their care may also be eligible for Medicaid.

If you are in a Medicaid managed care plan and receiving Child and Teen Health Care, contact your Medicaid managed care plan to address any questions about your coverage and services.

Beginning July 1, 2023, you must provide proof of all eligibility factors when you submit a new Medicaid application, including:

  • Identity
  • Residence
  • Income
  • Resources
  • Citizenship

You can get more information online and by phone about Medicaid eligibility, how to apply or renew, and required documents.

Online

Learn more about Medicaid on the Office of Citywide Health Insurance Access website.

By Phone

  • 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.

Beginning August 28, 2023, if you are someone with a disability, aged 65 and older or blind, you can apply for Medicaid online through ACCESS HRA.

Online

Use the ACCESS HRA website or the ACCESS HRA Mobile App.

You can only submit documentation through the ACCESS HRA mobile app. The HRA document upload app will not be available for documentation upload for this application.

You cannot request/submit changes via ACCESS HRA.

Changes to the Renewal Process

Medicaid, Child Health Plus, and Essential Plan are no longer renewing automatically. As of April 2023, the NY State of Health and the NYC Human Resources Administration (HRA) are sending renewal notices to enrollees. The notices include the deadline to take action to renew or risk having a gap in coverage.

When you will get the notices and your deadline to take action are based on your enrollment end date. Deadlines range from June 30, 2023 to May 31, 2024.

Make sure your contact information with NY State of Health or with HRA is up to date. Look out for a renewal notice in the mail or email and renew by the deadline.

Visit nyc.gov/health/healthcoverage for more information.

General Assistance

The NYC Health Department’s Office of Health Insurance Services helps New Yorkers keep their health coverage. You can get help from an enrollment counselor by phone.

Reach out to the Office of Health Insurance Services by using the Health Insurance Enrollment Assistance Inquiry Form.  An enrollment counselor will call you back.

You can also call a counselor for more information.

  • 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

If you receive Medicaid or have applied for benefits, you can get information and assistance by phone, including:

  • Application status
  • Help with updating your information
  • Office locations
  • Eligibility for Managed Long-Term Care

Please note: If you currently receive Medicaid and have an authorization end date of June 30, 2023, or later you must return your renewal packet and supporting documents to continue your Medicaid coverage. If you do not return your renewal packet on time, your case may be closed.

  • 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.

You can get information about public health insurance, including Medicaid and Child Health Plus.

To find out if you are eligible for public health insurance, you can visit a Medicaid Office for assistance.

You can get information by phone if you are unable to visit the Medicaid office in person.

Online

Find a Medicaid office.

By Phone

  • 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.

Doctors and dentists who would like to begin accepting Medicaid, or already accept Medicaid recipients and have questions, can contact provider services. 

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

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