Guide · Health & Family
How to Apply for Medicaid in NYC
Regular Medicaid and Emergency Medicaid are not the same program, and which one you qualify for depends heavily on immigration status. Here's how to tell the difference and apply for the right one.
Medicaid in New York covers everything from checkups and prescriptions to hospital stays, and it's free or very low-cost if you qualify by income. But a lot of confusion in diaspora households comes from mixing up two different things: full Medicaid, which covers ongoing care, and Emergency Medicaid, which only covers true emergencies and is available no matter your immigration status. Knowing which one applies to you — and to each person in your household — changes where and how you apply.
💰 Who qualifies by income
Most adults under 65 qualify for full Medicaid at up to 138% of the federal poverty level — about $1,836 a month for one person in 2026. The limit goes up with each additional household member, and pregnant women and children qualify at higher income levels than single adults. These numbers are updated regularly and New York has additional programs above the base Medicaid line, so use the official calculator at nystateofhealth.ny.gov to check your household's actual limit rather than assuming a flat number.
🛂 How immigration status actually affects this
This is where most confusion lives. Emergency Medicaid covers a genuine medical emergency — including labor and delivery — for anyone who meets the income rules, regardless of immigration status, including if you're undocumented. Full Medicaid, which covers ongoing and preventive care, is generally limited to green card holders and certain other "qualified" immigrants. Immigrants 65 or older can now qualify for full Medicaid based on income alone, a change that started in 2024. And starting October 1, 2026, a new federal law narrows who's eligible for full Medicaid nationwide to lawful permanent residents, Cuban and Haitian entrants, citizens of Compact of Free Association nations, and lawfully residing children and pregnant people in states — like New York — that choose to cover them. If your status doesn't fit cleanly into one category, don't guess: call NY State of Health or a benefits counselor and describe your exact situation.
📝 How to apply, and what you'll need
If you're under 65, not disabled, and not applying for Emergency Medicaid, apply through the NY State of Health marketplace at nystateofhealth.ny.gov or by calling 1-855-355-5777 — the same system used for other health plans, so it can also tell you if you qualify for something other than Medicaid. If you're 65 or older, have a disability, or need Emergency Medicaid specifically, you apply through NYC's Human Resources Administration (HRA) instead, either online at nyc.gov/hra or at a local Medicaid office. Either way, have proof of identity, NY State residency, household income, and household size ready. Emergency Medicaid applications also need documentation of the emergency itself, usually from the treating hospital or clinic.
Do this first: if you're under 65 and not sure which program fits, start at nystateofhealth.ny.gov — the application will sort you into the right Medicaid category or tell you if HRA is the correct place to apply instead.
Official source: NY State of Health (nystateofhealth.ny.gov) and NYC Human Resources Administration (nyc.gov/hra).
Sources
1. NY State of Health, eligibility and income guidelines, nystateofhealth.ny.gov, accessed August 2026. 2. NYC Human Resources Administration, Medicaid and Emergency Medicaid program pages, nyc.gov/hra, accessed August 2026. 3. New York State Department of Health, Medicaid immigrant eligibility guidance, health.ny.gov, accessed August 2026.
Criollo News guides are practical explainers, not legal or medical advice — every case is different, and program rules change. Confirm your situation with the agency directly or a benefits counselor.