Medicaid and Medical Assistance

Learn how to apply for Medicaid and Medical Assistance through Westchester County DSS or NY State of Health, and review other health insurance options.

Medicaid and Medical Assistance

Learn how to apply for Medicaid and Medical Assistance through Westchester County DSS or NY State of Health, and review other health insurance options.

Important Update

New Medicaid Work Rules Take Effect January 1, 2027. Read full announcement

Overview

Medical Assistance provides health insurance coverage for a wide range of services to people with low incomes. Services are delivered by health care providers accessed directly using a Medicaid card or through a Medicaid Managed Care Plan.

Check If You're Eligible

See which health insurance options may be available to you and whether you may qualify for Medicaid.

Check health insurance eligibility online

How to Apply for Medical Assistance

Where you apply depends on your circumstances. You may need to apply through the Westchester County Department of Social Services (DSS) or NY State of Health.

Apply through Westchester County DSS

Apply through your local district office if you are:

Receiving Temporary Assistance
Receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
Age 65 or older and not a parent or caretaker relative
A person with a disability
A current or former foster youth
A resident of an adult home

How to Apply:

Apply through the District Office serving your area.
For assistance call (914) 995-3333

Find Your District Office

Apply through NY State of Health (Marketplace)

Apply online or by phone if you are:

Age 19–64 and not eligible for Medicare
Applying for a child or infant age 18 or younger
Pregnant
A parent or caretaker relative of any age who may have Medicare

How to Apply:

Online: NY State of Health Marketplace
By Phone: NYS Marketplace Customer Service Center (855) 355-5777

Apply Online

How Medicaid Managed Care Works

Most Medical Assistance in Westchester County is provided through Medicaid Managed Care. With a managed care plan, you generally:

Step 1

Choose a Primary Care Practitioner

Choose a regular doctor, called a primary care practitioner (PCP), who coordinates your health care.
Step 2

Get Referrals for Specialists

Your primary care practitioner refers you to specialists, other health care providers or procedures when necessary.
Step 3

Use In-Network Providers

You are usually required to choose health care providers and hospitals in your managed care plan’s network.

For information or to select or change a plan, visit New York Medicaid Choice. You may also contact Medicaid Managed Care Customer Service: (800) 505-5678.

Other Health Insurance Options

If you are not eligible for Medicaid, you or a family member may qualify for other low-cost health insurance options.

Low-Cost Health Insurance through NY State of Health

Low-cost options may be available through the NY State of Health Marketplace for those above Medicaid income levels

Westchester County Department of Health Navigators can help you apply for health insurance through the marketplace.

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Phone: (914) 995-6350, between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Medicaid Buy-In for Working People with Disabilities

The Medicaid Buy-In Program offers coverage to people with disabilities who who work and earn more than the allowable limits for regular Medicaid.

Applications for the Medicaid Buy-In Program should be filed through the DSS district office serving your area.

Medicaid Excess Income (Spenddown) Program

The Medicaid Excess Income Program allows people to qualify for Medicaid by spending down their income on qualifying medical expenses until they reach Medicaid income limits. It works like a deductible.

If you are eligible for Medicaid except for having excess income and have medical bills equal to your excess income in a particular month, Medicaid will pay additional medical bills beyond that amount for the rest of that month.

Qualifying medical expenses include:

Outpatient care.
Doctor and dental visits.
Laboratory tests.
Prescription drugs.
Long-term care in the community, such as home care and assisted living.

Learn more about the Medicaid Excess Income Program

For questions about Medicaid Spenddown, call (914) 813-6299.

Family Planning Benefit Program

The Family Planning Benefit Program (FPBP) is intended to increase access to confidential family planning services. It enables teens, women and men of childbearing age to prevent or reduce unintentional pregnancies. You may still be eligible for FPBP if you have other health insurance but want to apply only for family planning services coverage.

You may choose to apply only for FPBP and not for comprehensive public health insurance coverage through Medicaid or Child Health Plus.

Learn more about the Family Planning Benefit Program

You may also contact the Family Planning Benefit Program: email us This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call (800) 541-2831.

Medicare

Medicare is a federal health insurance program for adults age 65 or older and younger people with certain disabilities.

Medicare is separate from Medicaid and Medical Assistance. It is not administered by Westchester County or New York State.

For information about Medicare please visit Medicare.gov