Where to Apply for Medicaid and Medicaid Home Care in New York City

New York City's Medicaid program is run by the Human Resources Administration (HRA)  Medical Insurance and Community Services Administration (MICSA).   

A.   There are two networks of offices to apply for Medicaid in the community:

         (1)   Community Medicaid offices for people who want "Medicaid only," or other public health insurance such as Family Health Plus or Child Health Plus.   Use these offices if you are not also applying for Medicaid personal care (home attendant) services or Medicaid managed long term care services.     Use these offices if you do want Medicaid certified home health agency (CHHA) services or private duty nursing services.   These offices do handle "spend-down," the Medicaid Buy-In for People with Disabilities, and approving supplemental needs trusts.  They do NOT accept applications for nursing home coverage.  

          (2)  CASA offices-- these are for people applying for Medicaid home attendant (personal care) services, or the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program.   If you do not already have Medicaid when you apply for these home care services, the CASA will also accept and process your Medicaid application. 

As of September 2010, HRA has stated that all M11q's in NYC should be filed at a central intake office, rather than with the CASA.  Our experience is that CASAs may still accept them, but the official policy is to send them to:

B.       Alternate ways of applying for Medicaid, Family Health Plus or Child Health Plus -- 

• You can apply through a "Facilitated Enroller," a community organization that has been authorized to accept and file applications.   These offices do NOT handle any Medicaid spend-down cases, supplemental needs trusts, or applications for home attendant/ personal care. 

• Hospitals often apply for Medicaid for people admitted for inpatient care.  They apply directly to the Hospital Eligibility Unit at the main administrative offices at 330 W. 34th Street.  

• Nursing Home Medicaid -- Since 2006 changes in the law, you may only apply for Medicaid nursing home coverage once you have been admitted to a nursing home.   These applications are filed at the Nursing Home Eligiblity Department at the main office at 330 W. 34th Street. 

C.      Other MICSA contacts -- Contacts at the main MICSA administrative offices are in this list.  If you have corrections, please notify us by e-mail.    This  list includes the Nursing Home Eligibility unit, which processes nursing home applications only for people who have been admitted to a nursing home. 

D.      Other pathways to Medicaid --

•           Job Centers - People applying for or receiving cash assistance through the state Safety Net program or Temporary Aid to Needy Families Program may also receive Medicaid and Food Stamps by applying at these centers.

•           SSI --  Anyone receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits, even if only $1 in benefits, automatically receives Medicaid without having to separately apply for Medicaid. 

This article was authored by the Evelyn Frank Legal Resources Program of Selfhelp Community Services, Inc.