What does a New York Medicaid card look like?
New York issues one state card for Medicaid, the Benefit Identification Card, and the state Health Department uses that name in its own instructions for ordering a new one. State guidance also calls it the Client Benefit Identification Card, which is where the short name CBIC comes from. Your Medicaid ID is the Client Identification Number (CIN), which the state also calls your Medicaid number. You need it for other Medicaid services, such as setting up an online account to book Medicaid transportation.
Most New Yorkers on Medicaid also have a second card. Medicaid managed care plans issue their own member card with the plan’s name, your member ID and the plan’s phone numbers. That card is what your doctor’s office, pharmacy and dentist usually ask for.
| Card | Who issues it | What it is for |
|---|---|---|
| State Benefit Identification Card (CBIC) | New York State Medicaid | Your Medicaid ID; used for services your plan does not cover, and for straight Medicaid |
| Plan card (Healthfirst, Fidelis, MetroPlus, etc.) | Your managed care plan | Doctor visits, hospital care, prescriptions and other plan services |
| EBT card | HRA / the state | SNAP and cash assistance. Not a Medicaid card |
| Medicare card | The federal government | Medicare. If you have both programs, keep it with the others |
People with Emergency Medicaid get the state card too. State guidance since 2013 tells local offices to issue the benefit card to people approved for emergency-only coverage, who stay outside managed care. Emergency Medicaid in New York.
Which card do I show at the doctor or pharmacy?
Show the plan card first if you have one, and carry the state card. The Health Department’s own explanation is that managed care covers most of the benefits people use, and that people in managed care plans use their Medicaid benefit card to get the services the plan does not cover.
If a front desk says your card “is not working”, the usual causes are a plan change that the office has not seen, a renewal that lapsed, or a card from the wrong program. Ask the office to check eligibility with your CIN or date of birth while you wait, and call the number on your plan card from the counter. How to verify a provider.
How to replace a lost Medicaid card in NYC
Who replaces the state card depends on which system runs your Medicaid case, not on where you live. The state Health Department spells it out:
| Your situation | Who to call |
|---|---|
| Your Medicaid is run by HRA (for example 65+, disability, Medicare) | HRA Infoline (718) 557-1399 or HRA Medicaid Helpline 1-888-692-6116 |
| Your Medicaid is through NY State of Health (most applicants under 65) | NY State of Health, 1-855-355-5777 |
| You need a new plan card | The member services number on your plan’s materials or website |
| You lost an EBT (SNAP or cash) card | Not a Medicaid card: report it to EBT customer service, not to Medicaid |
| You moved and the card went to your old address | Update your address first, then ask for the replacement |
| You are not sure who runs your case | Call the state Medicaid Helpline, (800) 541-2831 |
The HRA Medicaid Helpline answers Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., according to NYC311.
- Find your CIN if you can: on an old card, a renewal notice or a letter from HRA or NY State of Health.
- Fix your address first. For an HRA case, call 1-888-692-6116 or fax form MAP-751K to 917-639-0837. For a NY State of Health case, update your account. A replacement sent to the old address is a second lost card.
- Call the right line from the table and ask for a replacement Benefit Identification Card.
- Ask your plan for a new plan card at the same time, and whether you can use a digital card until it arrives.
- Keep getting care meanwhile. Tell the office your card is on its way and ask whether it can check your eligibility another way. Bring a photo ID and your CIN if you have it.
What to say on the phone:
“I lost my New York State Medicaid benefit card. My name is [name], date of birth [date], CIN [number if you have it]. Please confirm my mailing address and send a replacement. Can you also confirm my coverage is active today?”
Is a lost Medicaid card a lost Medicaid case?
No. The card is an ID, not your coverage. Your eligibility sits in the state’s system, and coverage ends only through a decision, usually at renewal. That is why the address on file matters more than the card in your wallet: the renewal notice, not the card, is what decides whether you keep Medicaid. Medicaid renewal.
If you think your card was stolen and used, report it. The state runs a Medicaid fraud hotline, (877) 87-FRAUD (877-873-7283).
Changes coming in 2027 that touch your card and notices
Two federal-rule changes reach New York City Medicaid members in 2027. First, if you get Medicaid and Cash Assistance from HRA, the two are becoming separate cases, and HRA says you will receive a notice from New York State of Health about how to renew. Your Medicaid continues unchanged for now. Second, many adults 19 to 64 on Medicaid must show 80 hours a month of work or an exemption, starting with renewals from March 1, 2027. Neither change requires a new card, but both depend on letters reaching you. What changes for HRA clients · Work requirements.
Reading the cards: numbers people ask about
- CIN (Client Identification Number): the state’s ID for your Medicaid case, also called your Medicaid number. It belongs to the state program, not to a plan.
- Member ID: the plan’s ID for you, printed on the plan card. A different plan issues a different card.
- Group number: if your plan card shows one, the office uses it for billing. If the office asks for one and your card has none, give the plan name and member ID and let the office call the plan.
- Phone numbers: the plan card carries the plan’s member services number. Save it in your phone before you need it.
If you have Medicare too, the Medicare card is separate again, and the order in which providers bill each program depends on your situation. Medicare and Medicaid together.
Questions people ask
How do I get a replacement Medicaid card in New York?
If HRA runs your case, call the HRA Infoline at (718) 557-1399 or the HRA Medicaid Helpline at 1-888-692-6116. If NY State of Health runs your case, call 1-855-355-5777. Update your address first.
What does a New York Medicaid card look like?
The state card is the Benefit Identification Card, also called the CBIC. If you are in a managed care plan, you also get a plan card with the plan’s name and your member ID.
Do I need both my Medicaid card and my plan card?
Keep both. Use the plan card for most care. The state says plan members use their Medicaid benefit card for services the plan does not cover.
Can I get a Medicaid card replacement online in NY?
Online options depend on who runs your case. HRA cases can be managed through ACCESS HRA, and NY State of Health cases through your online account, but the state’s published instructions for a new card are by phone. Ask your plan separately about a replacement plan card.
Is my Medicaid card the same as my EBT card?
No. The EBT card is for SNAP and cash assistance. A lost EBT card is reported to EBT customer service, not to the Medicaid lines.
What is the group number on a Medicaid card?
If your plan card shows a group number, offices use it for billing. The state Benefit Identification Card works with your Client Identification Number, your Medicaid number.
Sources
- NYS Department of Health — FAQs about NY Medicaid benefits: how do I order a new benefit card? (checked 2026-10-29)
- NYS Department of Health — information for Medicaid members (Medicaid Helpline, New York Medicaid Choice) (checked 2026-10-29)
- NYS Department of Health — GIS 13 MA/09: Medicaid coverage for the treatment of an emergency medical condition (benefit card issued) (checked 2026-10-29)
- NYC Human Resources Administration — health assistance (address changes, MAP-751K) (checked 2026-10-29)
- NYC311 — Medicaid: HRA Medicaid Helpline hours (checked 2026-10-29)
- NYS Department of Health — Medicaid transportation FAQs (Medicaid Client Identification Number) (checked 2026-10-29)
More in Medicaid in New York: Who Qualifies, How to Apply, How to Keep It
- Assisted Living That Accepts Medicaid in New York: How the Assisted Living Program Works — In New York, Medicaid reaches assisted living through the Assisted Living Program (ALP) in certain adult homes. Who qualifies, what Medicaid pays, and the rent.
- NHTD and TBI Waivers in New York: What They Are, Who Qualifies, and Why NHTD Is Closed to New Referrals — New York's NHTD and TBI Medicaid waivers pay for services that keep people out of nursing homes. Who qualifies, what they cover, and the 2026 NHTD cap.
- Medicaid Work Requirements in New York, 2027: Who Must Report 80 Hours and Who Is Exempt — From 2027, many Medicaid adults 19 to 64 must show 80 hours a month or an exemption. Letters by September 30, checks from March renewals. What to do now.
This page explains how the system works. It is not medical advice. More.