Where to Apply for Medicaid and Medicaid Home Care in New York City

COVID-19 ALERT - Many Medicaid offices are closed during the emergency.  

• There is one Medicaid office open in each borough where you can file an application - see this list. 
• Or you can now FAX an application to 917-639-0732.
• During the COVID emergency, you do not need to submit as many documents as usual.  See this information on applications.
• If you are applying for Medicaid for home care, this article is still current during the emergency for the different places to file depending on your situation :
  • IMMEDIATE NEED HOME CARE applications should still be filed by E-FAX to 1-917-639-0665. 
  • File here if seeking MLTC : 
  • Those exempt from MLTC file Medicaid applications here  - see new FAX NUMBER here

Changes in how people apply for and receive Medicaid personal care services occurred in September 2012, followed by major changes for how all people under age 65 applied for Medicaid in 2014, when the NY State of Health Exchange was launched to accept Medicaid applications under the Affordable Care Act.  

There are 2 main ways of accessing Medicaid, depending on age, Medicare status, and some other factors.

A.    People age 65+ or younger if they are disabled and have Medicare  -- they apply for Medicaid at offices of New York City's Medicaid program is run by the Human Resources Administration (HRA)  Medical Insurance and Community Services Administration (MICSA). 

B.  People under age 65 who do not have Medicare, and those who have Medicare and live with and take care of a dependent child or other relative apply on the NYS of Health Exchange.   

 * * *

A.   Age 65+, or under 65 with a disability and receive Medicare --

There are two networks of offices to apply for Medicaid in the community, depending on whether you are seeking Medicaid for home care (whether through Managed Long Term Care  or "Immediate Need" or otherwise for those exempt from MLTC)  or NOT seeking home care.  

         (1)   Community Medicaid offices -  process applications for Medicaid with a "spend-down," the Medicaid Buy-In
for People with Disabilities, and the Medicare Savings Program  

• These are for people NOT seeking  Medicaid personal care (home attendant) services or the managed long term care program.  

• Community Medicaid offices do handle and approve  supplemental needs trusts. 

• They do NOT accept applications for nursing home coverage.  

          (2)  Home Care Services Program (CASA) - DO NOT FILE application directly with any CASA office.  Instead 

A.  WHERE TO FILE Medicaid applications for adults age 21+ who have Medicare and who will be seeking Medicaid Managed Long Term Care services:

HRA--HCSP Central Medicaid Unit  - MAIL HERE 

785 Atlantic Avenue, 7th Floor  

Brooklyn, NY 11238                              T: 929-221-0849

DURING COVID EMERGENCY MAIL HERE OR FAX TO 917-639-0732

OUTSIDE COVID EMERGENCY - FILE ion the 1st floor WINDOW 16- Recommended that you file it in PERSON and get your copy STAMPED received. 

Please see NYC Medicaid Alert dated January 3, 2013 explaining the relocation of the Central Medicaid Unit and other home care services programs within HRA.

B.  WHERE TO File Medicaid applications and M11q forms, for those EXCLUDED from Managed Long Term Care and seeking "regular" personal care or housekeeping services -- 

1. those who need only Housekeeping services - maximum 8 hours/week, not full personal care, or
2. in the Nursing Home Transition, OPWDD or TBI Waivers, or
3. do NOT have Medicare and are not in a "mainstream" Medicaid managed care plan, so are not required to enroll in an MLTC plan or
4. under age 21, or
5. in hospice care (and are excluded from enrolling in MLTC)

• Call  1-855-355-5777,visit nystateofhealth.ny.gov or contact NY State of Health Assistor/ navigator  to
  learn more

• The Exchange is for people  in the "MAGI" categories - families and children, singles and couples, generally people under age 65 who do not have Medicare.   People with disabilities may be MAGI if they do not have Medicare, but may also apply at HRA/DSS Medicaid offices using the old budgeting rules if it is more favorable to them.   

• Health Care for All New York coalition - interactive Marketplace eligibility questionnaire

  Click here for an interactive Marketplace eligibility questionnaire, designed to help enrollment assistors and consumers better assess their potential eligibility for Marketplace coverage based on immigration status, age and income. This questionnaire is not an official assessment of eligibility. To receive an official determination of eligibility contact the New York State of Health Marketplace at http://www.nystateofhealth.ny.gov or 1-855-355-5777

  • This tool was created jointly by the Children's Defense Fund - New York, the Empire Justice Center, and the Community Service Society through their work in the Health Care for All New York coalition.

C.    See this list of  Other Medicaid (MICSA) contacts 

D.      Other pathways to Medicaid --

•           Job Centers - People applying for or receiving cash assistance through the state Safety Net program or Temporary Aid to Needy Families Program may also receive Medicaid and Food Stamps by applying at these centers.

•           SSI --  Anyone receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits, even if only $1 in benefits, automatically receives Medicaid without having to separately apply for Medicaid. 

This article was authored by the Evelyn Frank Legal Resources Program of New York Legal Assistance Group.