Health Coverage Phone Numbers for New Yorkers: Medicaid, Medicare, NY State of Health and Complaint Lines

Most phone trouble with health coverage in New York comes from calling the right agency about the wrong thing. NY State of Health cannot fix a Medicaid case that the city runs; the city cannot change your Medicaid health plan; your insurer is not the place to complain about your insurer. The tables below are sorted by what you need done, not by agency name.

To apply or enroll

Medicaid questions

Medicare and prescriptions

Hours: when each line and office is open

The busiest numbers keep different hours, and calling outside them sends you to a recording. These are the hours each agency publishes.

NY Medicaid CHOICE is the state’s managed care enrollment program. Call it to pick or switch a Medicaid health plan, not to apply for Medicaid; applications go to NY State of Health or HRA. Open enrollment for 2027 marketplace plans runs November 1, 2026 to January 31, 2027, with December 15 the deadline for January 1 coverage; Medicaid, the Essential Plan and Child Health Plus take applications all year.

Medicaid office hours in NYC

The city’s Human Resources Administration lists these Medicaid offices and hours. Each office has its own phone number, which reaches that office rather than the citywide helpline.

HRA also lists a Kings County Hospital office that is closed until further notice. Many tasks do not need a visit: ACCESS HRA lets you apply, renew and update contact details online. What to bring and how to avoid the line: NYC Medicaid offices by borough.

Health plan member services numbers

If your problem is with your plan (a card, a doctor, a denied claim), call the plan first. These are the Medicaid member services numbers the state Health Department lists for the seven plans sold in all five boroughs.

The number on the back of your own card always outranks a list, because some plans use different lines for Medicare, the Essential Plan or marketplace members. Walk-in help from the plans themselves: Health plan community offices in NYC. How the seven compare: NYC Medicaid managed care plans compared.

Bills, denials and complaints

A hospital’s own financial assistance office is often faster than any agency. We publish the numbers each hospital lists for itself on its hospital page.

Free help with a bill or an insurer

Community Health Advocates, 1-888-614-5400, is New York’s designated health insurance consumer assistance program, run by the Community Service Society with partner organizations across the state. It helps with understanding coverage, medical bills and debt, coverage denials, eligibility decisions and hospital and prescription financial assistance. The Community Service Society says the service works in more than 35 languages. It is free.

When the help you need is legal, not administrative (court papers, a judgment, a lien), New York City funds free legal services. Ask by name for help with medical debt.

Before you call