Health Insurance Application Assistance

You may be eligible to sign up for health insurance through the New York State of Health.

The NYC Health Department helps connect New Yorkers to health insurance options by enrolling and renewing their coverage. Help is available in your language.

Medicaid, Child Health Plus, and the Essential Plan are available for enrollment year-round. You will need to continue renewing your coverage every 12 months.

For Qualified Health Plans, you may only enroll or renew your coverage during the Open Enrollment Period (beginning November 1). If you miss the open enrollment period, you can still enroll in a Qualified Health Plan if you have a life change or qualifying event like losing job-based health insurance.

Enrollment counselors will:

Explain your health insurance and care options, regardless of your immigration status
Help you and your family enroll in or renew health insurance
Find out if you qualify for financial help to pay for a private health insurance plan

Learn more at nyc.gov/health/healthcoverage.

You can get help from an enrollment counselor:

In Person

Find an enrollment site near you.

By Phone

Contact the Office of Health Insurance to talk with a counselor. You can also request a call from a counselor.

Agency: Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
Division: Office of Health Insurance Services
Phone Number: (347) 665-0214
Business Hours: Monday - Friday: 9 AM - 5 PM

You should have access to the following information when meeting with an in-person assistor:

Name, address, birth date, and social security numbers of all applicants
Immigration document numbers (if applicable)
Employer and income information of all applicants (or any documentation showing unemployed status, if applicable)
Health insurance policy numbers of any applicants that are already insured

The following persons can be included on your application:

You and your spouse
Your partner who lives with you
Children you are caring for, who are living with you
Anyone included on your federal income tax return

If you enroll in a health plan by the 15th of the month, your health insurance coverage will begin on the 1st of the following month. If you enroll after the 15th of the month, your health insurance coverage will begin on the 1st of the month following the next month. For example, if you enroll on January 16th, your coverage will start March 1st.

If you have submitted a health insurance application through an in-person assistor, you should contact the assistor directly to find out status of your application.

If you have submitted a health insurance application on your own (or through an assistor whose name you cannot recall), you can get application status from the New York State of Health hotline.

Agency: Service Organization
Division: New York State of Health
Phone Number: (855) 355-5777
Business Hours: Monday - Friday: 9 AM - 5 PM
Automated Assistance is available in English and Spanish 24 hours, 7 days a week. Staff is available through the automated phone system during business hours, except on City Holidays. Most languages are available through a staff person.

As of 2019, consumers will not be required to pay the financial penalty fee for not having health insurance coverage.

However, if you were uninsured in 2018 and did not pay the penalty fee when filing taxes for the year, you may be advised to pay the penalty.

The penalty for not having health insurance coverage is calculated based on:

Individual income
Family size
Number of months being uninsured

There are exemptions to the penalty. An in-person assistor can help figure out what the penalty may be and if you qualify for an exemption.

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