# Insurance: Medicaid, the Essential Plan and NY State of Health Source: https://www.qaravan.org/resources/health/insurance/ Which public insurance you can get in New York State depending on your status, how to apply for free, and what changes because of the federal law H.R.1 (the "One Big Beautiful Bill", signed July 4, 2025). Information as of November 2026. The rules change in 2026 and 2027: ask an enrollment counselor about your own case. ## Start here - If you have applied for asylum and your income is low, you can get free insurance: Medicaid or the Essential Plan. Apply at [nystateofhealth.ny.gov](https://nystateofhealth.ny.gov). - Before you give up a benefit because of a future green card application, ask an immigration lawyer whether the public charge rule applies to you. - Keep your address and phone number up to date in NY State of Health (NYSOH) and open every letter from it: the rules change again on January 1, 2027. ## The programs Public and private insurance in the state go through one official website, NY State of Health (NYSOH). - Medicaid Any status Free Free insurance for people with a low income: doctors, hospital, medicines, eyes, teeth and mental health. No monthly premium; some services have small copays. You can apply any day of the year. Not every immigrant can get full Medicaid, but pregnant people and people 65 and older qualify whatever their status. Medicaid can also pay bills for care you got before you applied. [info.nystateofhealth.ny.gov](https://info.nystateofhealth.ny.gov/Medicaid) - Essential Plan Asylum applicants With a work permit (EAD) Granted asylum Green card Free A state plan with no monthly premium and no deductible: dental and vision, hospital, medicines, free preventive care. For state residents aged 19–64 who are lawfully in the US, don't qualify for Medicaid or Child Health Plus, and have no other insurance. Yearly income limits in 2026: $31,920 for one person, $43,280 for two, $54,640 for three, $66,000 for four. You can apply any day of the year. [info.nystateofhealth.ny.gov](https://info.nystateofhealth.ny.gov/EssentialPlan) - Child Health Plus Any status Free A state plan for children under 19, with no deductible or copays. The monthly premium depends on income and family size; on a low income there is none. You can apply any day of the year. According to the Community Service Society guide, children can get Child Health Plus whatever their status. [info.nystateofhealth.ny.gov](https://info.nystateofhealth.ny.gov/ChildHealthPlus) - Qualified Health Plans (paid plans on NY State of Health) Any status Paid If your income is above the Essential Plan limit, you can buy an insurance company's plan through NYSOH, sometimes with a discount on the premium (premium tax credit). All these plans cover doctors, hospital, medicines and mental health, accept people with chronic illness and give some preventive care free. Enrollment for 2027: November 1, 2026 to January 31, 2027; for coverage from January 1, sign up by December 15. In 2027, 11 companies offer plans. From January 1, 2027 some lawfully present immigrants lose the discount. [info.nystateofhealth.ny.gov](https://info.nystateofhealth.ny.gov/news/press-release-new-york-state-department-health-announces-open-enrollment-2027-coverage) ## What fits your status Based on the Community Service Society (CSS) guide of October 1, 2026 and NY State of Health notices of October 28, 2026. The state decides; the counselor will tell you which group you fall into. PRUCOL (Permanent Residence Under Color of Law) is a category for benefits, not an immigration status. FPL (federal poverty level): in 2026, 100% FPL is $15,960 a year for one person, 138% is $22,024, 200% is $31,920. What adults aged 19–64 can get by immigration category (November 2026) | | | | | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ## How to apply You can apply for Medicaid, the Essential Plan and Child Health Plus any day of the year, for free, with help in your language. 1. Gather information on every family member Dates of birth, a Social Security number (SSN) or immigration document numbers, and details of work, income and current insurance. For Medicaid also: proof of identity and date of birth (a passport, driver's license or birth certificate), of status and of address (a lease, a utility bill or an ID with your address), and income for the last four weeks (pay stubs, a signed and dated letter from your employer, or benefit letters). At 65 and older or with a disability, bank statements too. 2. Choose how to apply Online at [nystateofhealth.ny.gov](https://nystateofhealth.ny.gov) or with a free trained counselor (assistor); the state has more than 9,000. In New York City, find one through GetCoveredNYC: text CoveredNYC to 55676. 3. At 65 and older or with a disability: through the City's benefits agency People on Medicare (federal insurance from age 65), except parents of minors, people with a disability or blindness, and people under 26 who were in foster care need a different application, through HRA (Human Resources Administration), the City's benefits agency: [347-396-4705](tel:3473964705) or [888-692-6116](tel:8886926116) (say "Russian" and a free interpreter joins). Undocumented people 65 and older: also [347-396-4705](tel:3473964705). 4. State your status as it is and answer the questions about an SSN Give your category from the table and a document number, for example from the receipt notice (I-797 Notice of Action from USCIS). According to the Weill Cornell Center for Human Rights, asylum applicants must at least apply for an SSN; if the SSN is refused, Medicaid cannot be refused because of it. 5. Choose a plan and check your doctor Once approved, you choose a health plan. Before booking, ask the doctor or clinic whether they take that plan. 6. Keep your contact details current and open every notice When rules change, the state sends notices. Update your address, phone and email in your NYSOH account or with your counselor, and open every letter so you don't lose coverage. 7. If you are refused, appeal The NYSOH website explains how to ask for an informal review and file an appeal. Time limits apply, so don't wait. Community Health Advocates help with denials for free: cha@cssny.org or [(888) 614-5400](tel:8886145400), option 3 (say "Russian" and ask for an interpreter). ## What the Essential Plan costs For one person, 2026. Medicaid has no monthly premium either. Essential Plan: what you pay in 2026, by one person's yearly income | | | | | --- | --- | --- | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ## What changes because of H.R.1 H.R.1 cut federal Medicaid funding. The state is trying to keep as many people covered as it can, but some rules still change. Calendar of changes | | | | | --- | --- | --- | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Work, study or volunteering requirement for Medicaid (from January 1, 2027) Any status Some adults aged 19–64 must show earnings of at least $580 a month or at least 80 hours a month of work, study (at least half-time), job training or volunteering. It is checked when you apply and when you renew. Exempt, among others: people under 19 and over 64; pregnant people and those who gave birth in the last 12 months; people with a disability or an illness that keeps them from working; parents and guardians of children under 14 and people caring for someone with a disability; recipients of SNAP food aid who are subject to its work rules. Notices went out August 14 to September 30, 2026; if you didn't get one, the rule may not apply to you. Temporary exceptions: you were in a hospital or nursing facility; you or a dependent traveled for serious medical care not available nearby; your area has a declared emergency or disaster; your area has very high unemployment. Report the first two in your application; the state will tell you about the last two. The Community Service Society cites Politico (October 8, 2026): Bronx residents will be exempt because of high unemployment. - Medicaid and bills from before you applied (from January 1, 2027) Any status Medicaid will pay for care before the application 1 month back for adults aged 19–64 and 2 months back for everyone else (children, people with disabilities, pregnant people, people 65 and older), instead of three. This applies to everyone applying for Medicaid. - Medicare for immigrants aged 65 and over (from February 1, 2027) Any status Many lawfully present immigrants lose eligibility for Medicare. Notices come in January 2027 and coverage ends no later than February 1, 2027. Green card holders with five years of continuous residence in the US keep it, as do some citizens of Compact of Free Association (COFA) countries. ## Free help applying - NY State of Health Customer Service Center Any status Free Applications, renewals and questions about your programs. Say "Russian" and a free interpreter joins. TTY: [1-800-662-1220](tel:18006621220). [1-855-355-5777](tel:18553555777) [info.nystateofhealth.ny.gov](https://info.nystateofhealth.ny.gov/) Mon–Fri 8 am–8 pm, Sat 9 am–1 pm - GetCoveredNYC (NYC Health Department) Any status NYC residents Free Counselors from the City Health Department help you choose a plan or NYC Care and fill in the application, for free, in many languages, whatever your status. Text CoveredNYC to 55676. [nyc.gov](https://www.nyc.gov/site/doh/health/health-topics/health-insurance.page) - Community Health Advocates (CHA) Any status Free Free help with health insurance from the Community Service Society of New York: getting insured, dealing with bills and insurance denials, finding care without insurance. The website has a page in Russian. Write to cha@cssny.org, or enroll@cssny.org for applications. Emails from CHA come only from [cssny.org](https://cssny.org) addresses. [communityhealthadvocates.org](https://communityhealthadvocates.org/contact-us/help-russian/) - Callen-Lorde insurance navigation Any status Free Callen-Lorde counselors help the clinic's patients find out whether they qualify for Medicaid or other public insurance, choose a plan, and file the application for them. You need an address in New York State, your immigration status, estimated yearly income, date of birth, SSN, phone and email. If you are not a patient, apply on the NY State of Health website or find a counselor at [out2enroll.org](https://out2enroll.org). Call and say "Russian": a Russian interpreter is provided on request. [(212) 271-7270](tel:2122717270) [callen-lorde.org](https://callen-lorde.org/insurance-enrollment/) ## Insurance and a green card: the public charge rule For people planning to apply for a green card. Only an immigration lawyer can answer questions about your case. - The public charge rule since September 18, 2026 Any status Public charge is a rule under which a green card application sometimes looks at whether a person can support themselves. The new rule from the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS, which includes USCIS) was published July 20, 2026 and is in force from September 18, 2026 (don't confuse it with the City's NYC Department of Homeless Services, also DHS). It applies to green card applications (Form I-485) and US entry applications filed from September 18, 2026; earlier ones follow the old rules. It matters most for people seeking a green card through a relative, an employer or the Diversity Visa lottery, and for green card holders who were abroad more than 180 days in a row. [govinfo.gov](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-07-20/html/2026-14539.htm) - Who the public charge rule does not apply to Any status Free According to The Legal Aid Society, the rule does not apply to: US citizens and people applying for citizenship; refugees and asylees; green card holders, unless they were abroad more than 180 days or have certain convictions; people on nonimmigrant visas who are not seeking a green card; people seeking cancellation of removal; special immigrant juveniles (people under 21 under family court protection who were abandoned by parents or survived abuse or neglect); Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) holders, including eligible Afghans and Iraqis; VAWA (Violence Against Women Act) self-petitioners who survived abuse by a family member; U visa (for victims of certain crimes) and T visa (for trafficking survivors) applicants and holders; DACA recipients; people with TPS; people getting a green card under special laws for some Cubans, Nicaraguans and other Central Americans, Haitians and Liberians. [legalaidnyc.org](https://legalaidnyc.org/get-help/government-benefits/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-new-public-charge-rule-2026/) - Which benefits may be counted, and what to do first Any status Free If the rule applies to you, USCIS can count any means-tested benefit received from September 18, 2026. There is no full list; according to The Legal Aid Society it includes at least SNAP, WIC (food for pregnant and nursing people and young children), Medicaid, federal housing help, the EITC and Child Tax Credit, Head Start (for preschoolers from low-income families), Early Intervention (early help for children with developmental delays) and Pell Grants for college. Benefits received earlier are judged under the old rule: only cash aid and long-term institutional care paid by Medicaid. Benefits of your dependents may also count, for example a US citizen child's, if they depend on the parent's income. It is unclear whether Emergency Medicaid, state-funded Medicaid and NYC Care count. Don't give up a benefit until you have talked to an immigration lawyer or an accredited representative: receiving benefits does not by itself make someone a public charge. [legalaidnyc.org](https://legalaidnyc.org/get-help/government-benefits/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-new-public-charge-rule-2026/) - The Legal Aid Society guide to the new rule Any status Free A detailed explanation in English: who the rule applies to and which benefits may count. A Russian translation can be downloaded from the same page. [legalaidnyc.org](https://legalaidnyc.org/get-help/government-benefits/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-new-public-charge-rule-2026/) ## Where people from our chats had a good experience The list is on its own page: ["Doctors and clinics: our members' experience"](https://www.qaravan.org/resources/health/community-doctors/). QARAVAN has not checked licenses or the accuracy of these reviews. ## Glossary: definitions of special terms and abbreviations - ****: - ****: - ****: - ****: - ****: - ****: - ****: - ****: - ****: - ****: 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. [All pages: Health care and insurance](https://www.qaravan.org/resources/health/) **Sources, checked November 2026** - [callen-lorde.org/insurance-enrollment](https://callen-lorde.org/insurance-enrollment/) - [info.nystateofhealth.ny.gov/news/press-release-new-york-state-…](https://info.nystateofhealth.ny.gov/news/press-release-new-york-state-department-health-announces-open-enrollment-2027-coverage) - [info.nystateofhealth.ny.gov/EssentialPlan](https://info.nystateofhealth.ny.gov/EssentialPlan) - [info.nystateofhealth.ny.gov/ChildHealthPlus](https://info.nystateofhealth.ny.gov/ChildHealthPlus) - [info.nystateofhealth.ny.gov/Medicaid](https://info.nystateofhealth.ny.gov/Medicaid) - [nyc.gov/site/doh/health/health-topics/health-insurance.page](https://www.nyc.gov/site/doh/health/health-topics/health-insurance.page) - [communityhealthadvocates.org/contact-us/help-russian](https://communityhealthadvocates.org/contact-us/help-russian/) - [govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-07-20/html/2026-14539.htm](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-07-20/html/2026-14539.htm) - [legalaidnyc.org/get-help/government-benefits/what-you-need-to-…](https://legalaidnyc.org/get-help/government-benefits/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-new-public-charge-rule-2026/) - [legalaidnyc.org/get-help/government-benefits](https://legalaidnyc.org/get-help/government-benefits/)