HEALTH SERVICES
Health Insurance
Health insurance is a way to pay for the costs of getting medical help.
You can find out where to get free, in-person help in many languages, including information
about financial assistance by calling 311, texting “CoveredNYC” or “SeguroNYC” to 877877,
or by clicking here.
Public Health Insurance
There may be low-cost or free public health insurance options for you based on your immigration status and income level.
• If you are an immigrant with permanent or temporary lawful status (including naturalized
citizens, green card holders, refugees, asylees, U and T visa holders, and more) or a recipient
of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), you may be eligible for low-cost or free
public insurance, such as Medicaid or the Essential Plan.
• If you have a pending immigration application or visa petition or have documents from
the government permitting your stay in the US, you may be eligible for low-cost or free
public health insurance.
• If you are pregnant, you may be eligible for Medicaid, regardless of your immigration status.
• In New York State, children under the age of 19 are eligible for public health insurance
coverage through a program called Child Health Plus (CHP), regardless of immigration status.
Private Health Insurance:
• If you are an immigrant with permanent or temporary lawful status, you can sign up
for private health insurance through the NY State of Health Marketplace. Depending on
your income level, you may be eligible for financial help for health insurance costs. Click here for more information.
• If you are ineligible to apply for insurance on the State of Health Marketplace, you may
still buy private health insurance outside the State of Health Marketplace and may still be
eligible for health insurance through your job.
• If you are ineligible to apply for insurance on the State of Health Marketplace, you may
still apply on behalf of your eligible children.
Public Hospitals and Community Healthcare Centers
You can get low-cost medical care, with or without insurance, through NYC Health + Hospitals (H+H).
H+H can provide emergency care, basic health care, check-ups, immunizations, and
more for people of all ages.
Federal law requires that all hospitals provide emergency medical treatment, regardless of
a person’s immigration status or ability to pay.
Emergency Medicaid will provide payment for care and services necessary to treat an
emergency medical condition. It is available to low-income individuals in New York State,
regardless of immigration status. You can sign up at a hospital during an emergency.
The information that individuals share with medical providers about their immigration
status is confidential. Physicians, medical staff, and mental health professionals are legally
prohibited from sharing that information.
Click here to find Public Hospitals and Community Healthcare Centers.
Click here to find Public Child Health Clinics.
Other Healthcare Clinics
Federally Qualified Healthcare Centers (FQHC)
FQHCs receive funding from the federal government to provide medical care to anyone
who needs it. These facilities adjust the amount patients must pay based on their income.
There are many of these facilities across New York City. Click here to find a conveniently located center by entering your address.
More Health Information
Health Information Tool for Empowerment (HITE)
HITE is an online directory of health and social services resources in the Greater
New York City area, including all five boroughs of New York City. The directory is searchable
by type of service, location, and languages spoken.
Immunization
Immunization is required for children to enroll in school. If a child does not have the records
of his or her immunizations, the Department of Education can still enroll the child in a
school and work with the family to get the necessary information.
To learn about immunization for children and adults and details about the location of
immunization clinics please click here.
Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) Clinics
The Health Department’s low-cost or free STD clinics offer the following services:
• STD services: Screening and treatment for syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia; vaccines
for Meningitis, Hepatitis A, and Hepatitis B
• HIV services: Screening, linkage to care, partner services, and HIV PrEP (Pre-Exposure
Prophylaxis)
• Other services: Emergency contraception, cervical cancer screening (Pap test), and
free condoms
Click here for more information, or call 311.
LGBT Health Center
The LGBT Health Center at NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan offers a safe space where
lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) patients can access individual and family-
based care. All of the Center’s staff and physicians have been trained in LGBT cultural
competency, and in the unique health needs of the LGBT community. Services include:
primary care, immunizations, transgender health, specialty referrals, family planning,
HIV/STD screening and treatment, PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis), young adult care,
and social work.
Location:
1901 First Avenue
New York, NY 10029
Tel: (212) 423-7292
Mental Health Services
Mental Health Clinics
There are mental health clinics across New York City. Health + Hospitals (H+H) facilities will
see individuals regardless of their ability to pay. To find mental health services near you, click here.
Mental Health Hotlines
NYC Well provides free, confidential mental health support. Speak to a counselor via
phone, text or chat online and get access to mental health and substance misuse services,
in more than 200 languages, 24 hours per days, 7 days a week. Click here for more information.
Tel: (888) NYC-WELL (692-9355)
Tel: 711 (Service for Deaf/Hard of Hearing)
Text “WELL” to 65173
Mental Health Support for Caregivers
NAMI-NYC Metro provides support, education, and advocacy throughout the New York
metropolitan area on behalf of families affected by mental illness and their loved ones.
NAMI-NYC Metro can refer individuals to other services and also provides support groups
and education courses for family of people with mental illness and people with mental
illness. All services are free of charge to the public and available to people over the age of
18.
Contact the helpline at:
(212) 684-3264, Monday through Friday from 11 AM to 6 PM
Or email: helpline@naminyc.org
More information is available here.