Health care and insurance
Doctors, medicines and insurance in New York if you have little money or no status.
This is general information, not legal advice: QARAVAN has no lawyers. QARAVAN does not help anyone enter the US and cannot arrange visas, invitations, sponsorship or evacuation. For your own case, talk to a licensed immigration attorney or a representative accredited by the U.S. Department of Justice.
Information as of November 2026. Insurance rules change in 2026 and 2027.
QARAVAN does not provide medical or legal services. Decisions about your case are made by doctors, clinics and government agencies.
Start here
- If your life is in danger, call 911 or go to an emergency room (ER): the hospital must treat you whatever your insurance or status.
- Thoughts of suicide: call or text 988. Possible HIV exposure: PEP must start within 72 hours; call 844-373-7692 or go to an ER.
- No insurance: NYC Care gives you a regular doctor at city hospitals and clinics, you pay by income, from $0, and your status is not recorded. You can sign up at any NYC Health + Hospitals hospital or clinic.
- 1Urgent medical care
- 2A doctor without insurance
- 3Insurance: Medicaid, the Essential Plan and NY State of Health
- 4Doctors and clinics: our members' experience
- 5Sexual health: testing for STIs and HIV
- 6PrEP and PEP: medicine that protects against HIV
- 7Living with HIV: treatment and help
- 8Health care for trans people
- 9Medical bills
- 10Medicines, dental and eye care
- 11Dentists and eye doctors: our members' experience
- 12A doctor's report for an asylum case
- 13The green card medical exam (Form I-693)
Sources, checked November 2026
- cms.gov/medicare/regulations-guidance/legislation/emergency-me…
- regs.health.ny.gov/node/46866
- nyc.gov/html/hhc/downloads/pdf/hhc-patient-bill-of-rights.pdf
- expresscare.nyc
- nyc.gov/site/doh/health/health-topics/988.page
- nyc.gov/site/doh/health/health-topics/poison-control.page
- nyccare.nyc
- nyccare.nyc/faq
- nyccare.nyc/enroll
- access.nyc.gov/programs/nyc-care
- portal.311.nyc.gov/article/?kanumber=KA-03254
- callen-lorde.org/faq
- callen-lorde.org/register
- callen-lorde.org/contact
- callen-lorde.org/quick-care
- callen-lorde.org/coin
- callen-lorde.org/hott
- callen-lorde.org/trans-health
- callen-lorde.org/insurance-enrollment
- callen-lorde.org/sexual-health-clinic/pep
- callen-lorde.org/sexual-health-clinic/prep
- callen-lorde.org/sexual-health-clinic/doxypep
- callen-lorde.org/mpox
- callen-lorde.org/pharmacy
- callen-lorde.org/dental
- vagelos.columbia.edu/education/student-resources/office-studen…
- vagelos.columbia.edu/education/student-resources/office-studen…
- vagelos.columbia.edu/education/student-resources/office-studen…
- plannedparenthood.org/planned-parenthood-greater-new-york/get-…
- plannedparenthood.org/planned-parenthood-greater-new-york/get-…
- plannedparenthood.org/planned-parenthood-greater-new-york/get-…
- brooklynplaza.org/paying-for-care
- brooklynplaza.org/contact
- chnnyc.org/centers
- chnnyc.org/service/dental-care
- settlementhealth.org
- nyc.gov/site/doh/services/immunization-clinics.page
- nyc.gov/site/doh/services/tuberculosis-chest-centers.page
- healthweb-back.health.ny.gov/health_care/medicaid/emergency_me…
- nyc.gov/assets/ochia/downloads/pdf/fly-957-emergency-medicaid-…
- info.nystateofhealth.ny.gov/stay-covered
- info.nystateofhealth.ny.gov/news/press-release-new-york-state-…
- info.nystateofhealth.ny.gov/EssentialPlan
- info.nystateofhealth.ny.gov/news/information-essential-plan-en…
- info.nystateofhealth.ny.gov/ChildHealthPlus
- info.nystateofhealth.ny.gov/Medicaid
- access.nyc.gov/programs/medicaid
- access.nyc.gov/programs/essential-plan
- smhttp-ssl-58547.nexcesscdn.net/nycss/NYS_Immigrant_Health_Cov…
- cssny.org/pages/hr1-federal-laws-policy-affecting-new-yorkers-…
- humanrights.weill.cornell.edu/resources/medicaid-resources
- nyc.gov/site/doh/health/health-topics/health-insurance.page
- communityhealthadvocates.org/who-we-are/what-we-do
- communityhealthadvocates.org/contact-us/help-russian
- communityhealthadvocates.org/healthcareqa/resolving-medical-bi…
- communityhealthadvocates.org/healthcareqa/resolving-medical-bi…
- communityhealthadvocates.org/healthcareqa/resolving-medical-bi…
- communityhealthadvocates.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Findin…
- healthweb-back.health.ny.gov/facilities/hospital/financial_ass…
- healthweb-back.health.ny.gov/facilities/hospital/financial_ass…
- healthweb-back.health.ny.gov/forms/doh-5841_ru.pdf
- uscis.gov/policy-manual/volume-8-part-g-chapter-3
- govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-07-20/html/2026-14539.htm
- legalaidnyc.org/get-help/government-benefits/what-you-need-to-…
- legalaidnyc.org/get-help/government-benefits
- legalaidnyc.org/get-help/government-benefits/what-you-need-to-…
- nyc.gov/site/doh/services/sexual-health-clinics.page
- nyc.gov/site/doh/health/health-topics/post-exposure-prophylaxi…
- nyc.gov/site/doh/health/health-topics/pre-exposure-prophylaxis…
- healthweb-back.health.ny.gov/diseases/aids/general/prep/docs/p…
- healthweb-back.health.ny.gov/diseases/aids/general/resources/a…
- healthweb-back.health.ny.gov/diseases/aids/general/resources/a…
- nyc.gov/site/hra/help/hiv-aids-services.page
- bplc.cssny.org/pbm/cash-benefits/hivaids-services-administrati…
- uscis.gov/policy-manual/volume-8-part-b-chapter-6
- hhinternet.blob.core.windows.net/uploads/2026/06/Web-2026-Prid…
- dental.columbia.edu/patient-care/teaching-clinics/emergency-care
- dental.columbia.edu/patient-care/patient-resources
- dental.columbia.edu/teaching-clinics/general-and-specialty-den…
- dental.nyu.edu/patientcare.html
- universityeyecenter.org
- universityeyecenter.org/my-account-information/patient-financi…
- humanrights.weill.cornell.edu/request-evaluation
- humanrights.weill.cornell.edu/resources/asylum-examinations
- uscis.gov/i-693
- uscis.gov/green-card/green-card-processes-and-procedures/findi…
- uscis.gov/tools/designated-civil-surgeons
- uscis.gov/tools/designated-civil-surgeons/vaccination-requirem…
- uscis.gov/policy-manual/volume-8-part-b-chapter-4
- nychealthandhospitals.org/financial-assistance
- nyc.gov/site/idnyc/index.page
- expresscare.nyc/faq
- uscis.gov/about-us
- nyc.gov/site/dhs/index.page
- justice.gov/eoir/recognition-and-accreditation-program
- nyccare.nyc/manage-your-care
- callen-lorde.org/text2refill
- patientaccess.dental.nyu.edu/Request
- nychealthandhospitals.org/services/language-assistance
- cssny.org/programs/entry/community-health-advocates
- info.nystateofhealth.ny.gov/questions-about-language-access
- nyc.gov/html/hra/html/services/language_services_en.shtml
- nyc.gov/assets/home/downloads/pdf/311/Local-Law-30.pdf
- legalservicesnyc.org/get-help-with-a-legal-issue
- gileadadvancingaccess.com
- chnnyc.org/appointments
- npr.org/transcripts/nx-s1-5665009
- 988lifeline.org/faq/calling-the-988-lifeline/faq-is-the-988-li…
- nyc.gov/assets/nypd/downloads/pdf/public_information/nypd-lang…
- stateline.org/2026/01/20/ice-is-using-medicaid-data-to-find-ou…
- floridaphoenix.com/2026/03/31/repub/states-say-ice-pulled-medi…