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Health

Low-cost and free health insurance

Health Insurance Assistance | HRA/ NY State

1. How it Works

Every New Yorker can get health insurance. There are low-cost and free plans for people who qualify, and counselors to help you choose a plan.

  • Open enrollment period for New Yorkers to enroll in private health insurance or change your coverage has been extended through December 31, 2021. You can enroll in Medicaid, Child Health Plus and the Essential Plan all year round.
  • If you are currently enrolled in Medicaid, Child Health Plus or the Essential Plan and your coverage is ending on March 31, 2021, your coverage will be extended for an additional 12-month period.
  • The following programs will be screened for through the NY State of Health Marketplace, they are not screened for on ACCESS NYC:
    • Medicaid
    • Child Health Plus
    • Essential Plan
    • Qualified Health Plan
  • If your income is above the Medicaid income eligibility levels, you could obtain Medicaid through the Medicaid Excess Income Program (for children under 21, parents of children under 21, people over 65 years old, pregnant women, and people living with disabilities)
  • Options are available for all New Yorkers, even if you are not a citizen
  • Obtaining health insurance helps you to pay for planned or unexpected medical care

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2. Determine Your Eligibility

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Everyone Health Immigrants

2. Determine your eligibility

All New Yorkers can get help understanding and enrolling in health insurance. Depending on your age and income, you may also be eligible for public health insurance.

If your income is above the Medicaid income eligibility levels, you could obtain Medicaid through the Medicaid Excess Income Program. To qualify for this program, you must be under age 21, age 65 or older, certified blind or certified disabled, pregnant or a parent of a child under age 21 and meet the other Medicaid eligibility requirements.

Take a short survey to see if you might be eligible for this or 30 other programs.

Am I Eligible?

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3. What You Need to Include

3. What you need to include

Document requirements vary by program:

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4. How to Apply

4. How to apply

Here are your options.

Apply online

GetCoveredNYC helps New Yorkers enroll in health insurance with dedicated specialists who can assist you in your language for free. Contact GetCoveredNYC.

Visit the NY State of Health website to enroll in coverage online if you are under 65 years old.

Enroll online

Apply by mail

Apply by phone

Come back to it later.
We can send you a link to this page to help you get back to it when you’re ready.

More ways to get help with this program

Visit the websites

Find out more about public health insurance on the HRA Health Assistance website.

Learn more about your options on the Citywide Health Insurance Access website.

If not qualified or cannot afford health insurance

NYC Care health care program provides services at NYC Health + Hospitals that is available to all New Yorkers who do not qualify for or cannot afford health insurance.

Call 311

For general questions on health insurance.

Call the hotline

Call the HRA Helpline at 888-692-6116 to learn more.

Call the NY State of Health at 855-355-5777 for information to enroll if you are under 65 years old.

Get help in person

If you are under 65 years old, find help to enroll for a free health insurance through the NY State of Health website with a Certified Application Counselor near you.

If you are 65 and older, living with disabilities or visually impaired, get help to enroll in health insurance at your local Facilitated Enrollers for Medicaid .

Last Updated Wednesday, March 31st, 3:16pm

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