If you are undocumented or uninsured in New York City, you can still access health care — including primary care, mental health services, dental care, prescriptions, and specialist referrals. Multiple programs exist specifically to serve people regardless of immigration status or ability to pay. This guide explains your options clearly and practically.
NYC Care: The City’s Primary Care Program for the Uninsured
NYC Care is New York City’s health access program for residents who cannot get insurance — including people who are undocumented, recently arrived, or otherwise ineligible for Medicaid or private coverage. It is not insurance — it is a membership program that gives you access to health care services at NYC Health + Hospitals, the city’s network of 11 hospitals, more than 70 community health centers, and dozens of specialty care locations.
What NYC Care provides:
- A dedicated primary care provider who knows your history
- Preventive care and health screenings
- Mental health and substance use services
- Specialist referrals within the NYC Health + Hospitals network
- Prescription assistance
- Chronic disease management
- Reproductive health care
Fees are on a sliding scale based on income — free for people with no income, with small co-pays for others. No documentation of immigration status is required to enroll.
Enroll at nyccare.nyc or call 1-646-NYC-CARE (1-646-692-2273). You can also enroll in person at any NYC Health + Hospitals location.
NYC Health + Hospitals: The City’s Public Hospital System
Even without NYC Care enrollment, NYC Health + Hospitals provides care to all patients regardless of immigration status or ability to pay. It is the largest municipal health care system in the United States, operating hospitals, clinics, and specialty centers in all five boroughs.
Key facts:
- No patient is turned away for inability to pay
- Financial assistance and sliding-scale fees are available
- Interpretation services are available in over 200 languages
- Staff are not authorized to inquire about immigration status as a condition of care
Find your nearest facility at nychealthandhospitals.org or call 1-844-NYC-4NYC (1-844-692-4692).
Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs)
Federally Qualified Health Centers are community health clinics that receive federal funding to provide care regardless of patients’ ability to pay or immigration status. They offer primary care, dental, mental health, and other services on a sliding-scale fee based on income. Many have no-cost care for patients with very low or no income.
Major FQHC networks in NYC include:
- Ryan Health: ryanhealth.org — multiple Manhattan locations
- Charles B. Wang Community Health Center: cbwchc.org — serving Asian-American communities in Manhattan and Queens
- Callen-Lorde Community Health Center: callen-lorde.org — LGBTQ+ affirming care citywide
- Institute for Family Health: institute.org — multiple locations citywide
- Urban Health Plan: urbanhealthplan.org — Bronx-focused
Find all FQHCs near you at the federal HRSA locator: findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov.
Emergency Room Care: Your Right to Be Seen
Under EMTALA (the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act), every hospital emergency room that participates in Medicare or Medicaid — which includes virtually all NYC hospitals — must screen and stabilize any patient with an emergency medical condition, regardless of immigration status, insurance status, or ability to pay. You cannot be turned away from an emergency room because you are undocumented or uninsured.
Additionally, Emergency Medicaid covers the cost of emergency care, labor and delivery, and treatment of emergency medical conditions for people who don’t qualify for full Medicaid due to immigration status. Emergency Medicaid does not require proof of immigration documentation in most cases — apply through HRA or at the hospital.
Mental Health Care
Free and low-cost mental health care is available to all New Yorkers regardless of immigration status:
- NYC Well: Free, confidential mental health support by phone, text, or chat — call 1-888-NYC-WELL (1-888-692-9355), text “WELL” to 65173, or chat at nycwell.cityofnewyork.us. Available 24/7, multilingual, no insurance required.
- NYC Health + Hospitals behavioral health clinics — available through NYC Care or directly
- Community health center mental health programs — most FQHCs offer behavioral health on sliding scale
Dental Care
- NYC Health + Hospitals Dental: Sliding-scale fees, no documentation of status required — call 1-844-NYC-4NYC for locations
- NYU College of Dentistry: Low-cost dental care provided by supervised students — dental.nyu.edu
- Columbia University College of Dental Medicine: Reduced-fee care — dental.columbia.edu
- Community FQHCs listed above all provide dental on sliding scale
Reproductive Health Care
- Planned Parenthood NYC: Sliding-scale fees, confidential, multilingual — plannedparenthood.org
- NYC Health + Hospitals reproductive care — available through NYC Care
- Title X-funded clinics — federally funded family planning services available on sliding scale regardless of status
Prescription Assistance
- NYC Care Rx: Prescription access as part of NYC Care membership
- GoodRx: Free coupon program that reduces prescription costs at most pharmacies — no insurance or documentation required at goodrx.com
- NeedyMeds: Drug manufacturer patient assistance programs for free or low-cost medications — needymeds.org
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the hospital report me to immigration authorities?
NYC Health + Hospitals and most NYC hospitals operate under policies that prohibit sharing patient information with immigration enforcement without a judicial warrant or patient consent. Healthcare providers are also bound by HIPAA privacy rules. Your medical information is confidential.
I am undocumented and pregnant. Where can I get prenatal care?
NYC Care covers prenatal and postpartum care. Emergency Medicaid covers labor and delivery. NYC Health + Hospitals provides prenatal care regardless of status. Contact NYC Care at 1-646-NYC-CARE or go to any NYC Health + Hospitals location to begin prenatal care immediately.
How is NYC Care different from Medicaid?
Medicaid is a federal and state insurance program with immigration documentation requirements. NYC Care is a city-funded health access program with no immigration documentation requirements. NYC Care provides access to care through NYC Health + Hospitals on a sliding-scale fee — it is not insurance, but it ensures you have a primary care provider and can access the full range of services the city’s hospital network provides.
I need mental health care urgently. What should I do?
Call NYC Well at 1-888-NYC-WELL (1-888-692-9355) — available 24/7 in multiple languages, free and confidential, no insurance required. If you are in crisis, call 988 (the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline) or go to the nearest emergency room.
