How does Essential Plan work?

Covers comprehensive benefits, including dental and vision, inpatient and outpatient hospital care, prescription drugs, and more. Covers free preventive care like routine exams and screenings. No deductible – the plan starts paying for your health care right away. Has continuous open enrollment, meaning you can enroll at any time during the year through NY State of Health.

Am I eligible for Essential Plan?

You may be eligible if you’re: An adult who is 19 – 64 years of age. Not eligible for Medicaid or Child Health Plus Not eligible for employer and other coverage A New York State resident. A U.S. citizen or meet immigration status requirements. Meet these income eligibility requirements based on your household size: Household size Yearly income Monthly income Weekly income 1 $39,125 $3,261 $753 2 $52,875 $4,407 $1,017 3 $66,625 $5,553 $1,281 4 $80,375 $6,698 $1,546 5 $94,125 $7,844 $1,810 6 $107,875 $8,990 $2,075 7 $121,625 $10,136 $2,339 8 $135,375 $11,282 $2,604 Each additional person, add: $13,750 $1,121 $259

What do I need in order to apply to Essential Plan?

You will need this information for each member of your family: Birth dates Social security numbers (for immigrants, numbers if you have them) Employment, income, and health insurance information

How do I Apply to Essential Plan?

You can enroll in the Essential Plan any time of year. Apply online at the NY State of Health . Call 855-355-5777 or 311 to ask about applying to Essential Plan. Find an in-person enroller near you to apply to Essential Plan.

Essential Plan – ACCESS NYC

How it works

The Essential Plan provides comprehensive health insurance benefits with $0 monthly premiums and low cost sharing.

Covers comprehensive benefits, including dental and vision, inpatient and outpatient hospital care, prescription drugs, and more.
Covers free preventive care like routine exams and screenings.
No deductible – the plan starts paying for your health care right away.
Has continuous open enrollment, meaning you can enroll at any time during the year through NY State of Health.

Eligibility requirements

You may be eligible if you’re:

An adult who is 19 – 64 years of age.
Not eligible for Medicaid or Child Health Plus
Not eligible for employer and other coverage
A New York State resident.
A U.S. citizen or meet immigration status requirements.
Meet these income eligibility requirements based on your household size:

Household size	Yearly income	Monthly income	Weekly income
1	$39,125	$3,261	$753
2	$52,875	$4,407	$1,017
3	$66,625	$5,553	$1,281
4	$80,375	$6,698	$1,546
5	$94,125	$7,844	$1,810
6	$107,875	$8,990	$2,075
7	$121,625	$10,136	$2,339
8	$135,375	$11,282	$2,604
Each additional person, add:	$13,750	$1,121	$259

Immigration status requirements

Available to U.S. Citizens, permanent residents (green card holders), refugees and asylees, and DACA recipients.

Required documents

You will need this information for each member of your family:

Birth dates
Social security numbers (for immigrants, numbers if you have them)
Employment, income, and health insurance information

How to apply

You can enroll in the Essential Plan any time of year. Apply online at the NY State of Health .

Apply online

Call 855-355-5777 or 311 to ask about applying to Essential Plan.

Find an in-person enroller near you to apply to Essential Plan.

Get help

Get enrollment help

GetCoveredNYC helps New Yorkers enroll in health insurance. Dedicated specialists can assist you in your language for free.

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Last Updated June 17, 2025

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Essential Plan | NYS Department of Health (NYSDOH)