You may be eligible to sign up for health insurance through options made possible by the Affordable Care Act.

New York’s official open enrollment period begins on November 16, 2023 for the year 2024. However, you can still enroll in a Qualified Health Plan from February 1, 2023, through the Spring of 2024. If you need health insurance, you are encouraged to enroll today.

The GetCoveredNYC program can help you find out what options are available to you that will fit your budget.

You can enroll in Medicaid, Child Health Plus and the Essential Plan all year round.

A GetCoveredNYC specialist can help you:

  • Understand your eligibility
  • Connect you with free in-person assistance
  • Make an appointment with an enroller

Online

Learn more about GetCoveredNYC.

By Phone

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

Changes to the Renewal Process

The following are no longer renewing automatically:

  • Medicaid
  • Child Health Plus
  • Essential Plan

As of July 2023, renewal notices will be sent to enrollees by mail or email from:

  • The NY State of Health
  • The NYC Human Resources Administration (HRA)

The notices include the deadline to take action to renew. You risk having a gap in coverage if you miss this deadline.

Your enrollment end date determines:

  • When you receive notices
  • Your deadline to take action

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.

Learn more about changes to renewals.

General Help

You can get help from an enrollment counselor by phone.

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

  • 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

You should have access to the following information when meeting with an in-person assistor:

  • Name, address, birth date, and social security numbers of all applicants
  • Immigration document numbers (if applicable)
  • Employer and income information of all applicants (or any documentation showing unemployed status, if applicable)
  • Health insurance policy numbers of any applicants that are already insured

The following persons can be included on your application:

  • You and your spouse
  • Your partner who lives with you
  • Children you are caring for, who are living with you
  • Anyone included on your federal income tax return

If you have enrolled in a health plan by the 15th of the month, your health insurance coverage will begin on the 1st of the following month.

If you have submitted a health insurance application through an in-person assistor, you should contact the assistor directly to find out status of your application.

If you have submitted a health insurance application on your own (or through an assistor whose name you cannot recall), you can get application status from the New York State of Health hotline.

  • Agency: New York State of Health Hotline
  • Phone Number: (855) 355-5777
  • Business Hours: Monday - Friday: 9 AM - 5 PM

As of 2019, consumers will not be required to pay the financial penalty fee for not having health insurance coverage.

However, if you were uninsured in 2018 and did not pay the penalty fee when filing taxes for the year, you may be advised to pay the penalty.

The penalty for not having health insurance coverage is calculated based on:

  • Individual income
  • Family size
  • Number of months being uninsured

There are exemptions to the penalty. An in-person assistor can help figure out what the penalty may be and if you qualify for an exemption.

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