Low-cost and free health insurance
Health Insurance Assistance | NYC Human Resources Administration (HRA), NYS Department of Health (NYSDOH)
1. How it Works
Health insurance helps pay for planned or unexpected medical care. Health insurance options are available to all New Yorkers, even if you are not a citizen. Counselors can help you choose a health insurance plan.
Private health insurance plans are plans where you pay a certain amount for coverage. These are also known as Qualified Health Plans.
New Yorkers can enroll or change their private health insurance coverage for 2024 starting from November 16, 2023 – January 31, 2024. Enroll through NY State of Health.
You might be able to get financial help when you enroll through NY State of Health.
You can also buy private insurance directly from an insurance company but you won’t be eligible for financial help.
Public health insurance plans are free or low-cost. These include Medicaid, Child Health Plus, and the Essential Plan. You can enroll in these plans anytime in the year.
You must renew your public health insurance every year. Do the following to renew your coverage and stay covered:
Update your email address, mailing address, and phone number.
Look for your renewal notice in your mail or email.
Respond by your renewal deadline.
2. Determine your eligibility
You may qualify for free or low-cost public health insurance based on your age and income.
See the eligibility criteria for Medicaid, Child Health Plus, or the Essential Plan.
If your income is too high for Medicaid, you could still get Medicaid through the Medicaid Excess Income Program.
If you do not qualify for public health insurance or cannot afford to buy a plan:
NYC Care is a health care program that provides low- and no-cost health care services.
Call 646-NYC-CARE (646-692-2273) to enroll in NYC Care.
Visit the NYC Care website to find NYC Health + Hospitals patient care sites near you.
3. What you need to include
To enroll in public health insurance plans, you will need:
Citizenship/immigration documents indicating your lawful immigration status
Social Security Numbers (SSN)
Date of birth for everyone applying in household
Current employment information
Household income
4. How to apply
Here are your options.
Apply online
Enroll in health insurance through NY State of Health for:
adults under 65
low-income pregnant women
children
Apply by mail
Apply to Medicaid by mail if you are:
65 years old or older
certified blind
certified disabled
institutionalized and applying for nursing home care coverage
Complete the application and the Supplement A form. Mail your application to:
MAP Initial Eligibility Unit
PO Box 24390,
Brooklyn, NY 11202
Apply by phone
Adults under 65, low-income pregnant women, and children must enroll in health insurance through NY State of Health. Call 855-355-5777 or TTY: 800-662-1220.
Call the HRA Helpline at 888-692-6116 to enroll in Medicaid if you are:
65 or older
receive Medicare and are not a parent/caretaker relative of minor children
living with a disability and/or blindness
a young adult under age 26 who was under foster care in the past
Apply in person
Health insurance assistors can help these groups enroll in health insurance:
adults under 65
low-income pregnant women
children
HRA has Facilitated Enrollers to help you enroll in Medicaid and other programs if you are:
65 or older
receiving Medicare and are not a parent/caretaker relative of minor children
living with a disability and/or blindness
a young adult under age 26 who was formerly under foster care