Who this helps: Any New Yorker on Medicaid, the Essential Plan, or Child Health Plus — plus uninsured residents who need a primary care doctor, a dentist, or mental health support. If you got a renewal notice in the mail this year and were not sure what to do with it, this is for you.
The Medicaid renewal landscape in 2026 — short version
The federal pandemic-era rule that kept everyone continuously enrolled in Medicaid is over. New York’s Medicaid Unwind formally concluded at the end of 2025, but the renewal system it left behind is now permanent — and it is being enforced strictly. As reported by the New York City Human Resources Administration (HRA), if you do not return your renewal packet by the due date, your Medicaid case will be closed. HRA sends a Notice of Discontinuance 10 days before coverage actually ends, but at that point you are scrambling.
According to the New York State Department of Health and HRA, renewal notices are mailed about three months before your renewal date. If your coverage ends in October, you get the notice in early September and you have until the end of October to act. You can see your exact renewal date on the “Case Details” screen at ACCESS HRA.
How to renew your Medicaid in NYC — three paths
- If you have NYC Medicaid through HRA (most lower-income adults without children, or with disabilities): You can renew online at ACCESS HRA, by mail using the packet they send you, or by phone at 718-557-1399. The HRA Medicaid Helpline is the official line.
- If you have Medicaid, Essential Plan, or Child Health Plus through NY State of Health (most families, pregnant individuals, kids, MAGI populations): Renew at nystateofhealth.ny.gov or call 1-855-355-5777.
- If you need free help renewing: Certified Navigators and assistors will sit with you and walk you through it for free. Find one near you using the NY State of Health “Find Help in Your Area” tool at nystateofhealth.ny.gov, or call the state hotline at 1-855-355-5777.
This is general information, not legal or insurance advice. For your specific case, contact a Certified Navigator or your health plan directly.
What if you already lost coverage? NYC Care is the backstop.
NYC Care is not insurance. It is a healthcare access program run by NYC Health + Hospitals — the city’s public hospital system — that provides primary care, specialty care, mental health services, prescriptions, and 24/7 customer service to New Yorkers who do not qualify for or cannot afford other insurance, including undocumented residents. There is no income limit to apply, but fees are based on a sliding scale. According to NYC Health + Hospitals, fees for those earning under 200% of the Federal Poverty Level are generally $0 for clinic visits.
To enroll in NYC Care, call 1-646-NYC-CARE (1-646-692-2273) or visit nyccare.nyc. Enrollment can also happen in person at any NYC Health + Hospitals facility. The system has more than 70 patient care locations across the five boroughs, including 11 acute care hospitals and dozens of community-based clinics.
Where NYC Care is available
NYC Care is available citywide. The full list of locations is at nyccare.nyc/locations. You will be assigned a primary care provider at one of the NYC Health + Hospitals community health centers — Gotham Health is the brand name for the outpatient network. Examples include Gotham Health Morrisania (Bronx), Gotham Health East New York (Brooklyn), Gotham Health Belvis (Bronx), Gotham Health Sydenham (Manhattan), and Gotham Health Vanderbilt (Staten Island).
Free and low-cost dental clinics — verified locations
Dental care is one of the biggest gaps in Medicaid coverage and one of the most frequent reasons readers contact us. The NYC Department of Health publishes an updated dental clinic directory each year. The current Manhattan list is at nyc.gov/assets/doh/downloads/pdf/oralhealth/dental-ma.pdf and the Queens list is at nyc.gov/assets/doh/downloads/pdf/oralhealth/dental-qu.pdf. Lists for the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Staten Island are linked from the same page on the NYC.gov oral health site.
Several large networks consistently take new patients on a sliding-fee basis:
- Community Healthcare Network — operates federally qualified health centers across the city, with dental at multiple sites. chnnyc.org.
- NYU Langone Family Health Centers Dental Medicine (Brooklyn) — sliding fee for uninsured patients. nyulangone.org/care-services/dental-medicine-family-health-centers-at-nyu-langone.
- Metro Community Health Centers — primary care, dental, behavioral health, and specialty services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and the broader community. Call 855-MCHCNYC (855-624-2692).
- NYC Health + Hospitals dental clinics — accessible through Gotham Health locations. Enroll via NYC Care if you are uninsured.
Mental health and behavioral health — what’s actually covered now
Per the New York State Department of Health, Medicaid Managed Care plans now include expanded Behavioral Health services for adults — meaning more mental health and substance use disorder services are integrated into the same plan that covers your primary care, with no separate carve-out. New enrollees have three months to switch plans for any reason; after that, you are locked in for nine months unless you have a qualifying “good cause” reason.
For immediate, free mental health support that does not require insurance:
- 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988. Available 24/7 in English and Spanish, with translation in over 240 languages.
- NYC 988: The city operates a parallel mental health support line. Call, text, or chat at nyc988.cityofnewyork.us.
- NYC Health + Hospitals Behavioral Health: All Gotham Health sites have integrated behavioral health departments. Walk in or call NYC Care at 1-646-NYC-CARE.
Contact your healthcare provider for medical advice. The above is general information about programs that are publicly available.
How to take action this week
- Check your Medicaid renewal date. Log into ACCESS HRA and look at “Case Details.” Set a calendar reminder one week before the due date.
- If you got a renewal packet in the mail, do not let it sit. Open it. If anything is unclear, call the HRA Medicaid Helpline at 718-557-1399 or NY State of Health at 1-855-355-5777 — both are free.
- If you are uninsured right now, call 1-646-NYC-CARE. You can usually be enrolled in NYC Care and assigned a primary care provider on the same call.
- If you need a dentist, start with the NYC Department of Health’s borough-specific clinic list at nyc.gov/site/doh/health/health-topics/dental.page.
- If you are in crisis, call or text 988. If you want ongoing support but not crisis intervention, NYC 988 (text “WELL” to 65173) connects you to free counseling.
One more thing: keep your address current
The single biggest reason New Yorkers lose Medicaid coverage is that the renewal packet went to an old address. If you have moved in the last two years and have not updated your address with HRA or NY State of Health, do that today. ACCESS HRA lets you update online. NY State of Health has a phone option at 1-855-355-5777. It takes five minutes and it is the difference between continuous coverage and an unexpected discontinuance notice.
Sources: NYC HRA Medicaid Renewal FAQ; NY State of Health — How to Renew; NYC Care; NYC Health + Hospitals; NYS DOH — Behavioral Health and Managed Care FAQ; NYC DOH Dental Clinic Directory — Manhattan; NY Health Access — Medicaid Renewals.
