Medicaid and low-cost insurance in New York
Find the health plan that fits your life
Medicaid
For low-income adults, pregnant women and children
Child Health Plus
For children under age 19 who are not eligible for Medicaid and don’t have health benefits
Essential Plan
For adults age 19-64 who are not eligible for Medicaid, CHPlus or minimum essential coverage
Managed Long-Term Care (MLTC)
For adults age 18 or older who are eligible for Medicaid and have a chronic illness or disability requiring long-term services and supports
Health and Recovery Plan (HARP)
For adults age 21 or older who have Medicaid and have been diagnosed with a serious mental illness or substance abuse disorder
Medicaid Advantage Plus (MAP)
For adults 18 or older who are eligible for Medicaid and Medicare and have a chronic illness or disability requiring long-term services and supports
Updates and announcements
New name. Same commitment to you.
On January 1, 2024, Empire BlueCross BlueShield HealthPlus is becoming Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield. There will be no change to your coverage. You'll continue to use your current ID card to access your benefits, and we will send you a new one before January 1. Learn more here.
Reminder for Medicaid members
Starting September 1, 2022, you will need to use a prescriber and pharmacy that is enrolled with Medicaid Fee for Service. If your prescriber or pharmacy is not enrolled with Medicaid Fee for Service, the prescriptions and supplies that they prescribe or fill will not be covered. You should have received a letter from us in June 2022 if you filled a prescription by a prescriber or pharmacy who was not enrolled. Please follow the instructions in the letter to find a new provider or pharmacy before September 1, 2022. You can use the Find a Doctor tool here to find a provider or pharmacy enrolled in Medicaid Fee for Service.
Get your free flu shot today!
Give your health the best shot this flu season. Find a plan pharmacy near you.
Local services, close to home
When you need a little extra help, it can be hard to know where to go. Get help finding food, jobs, housing and other things you may need.
The same great plans — in more counties than ever
Great news! As of January 1, 2020, you can receive Essential Plan coverage from Empire BlueCross BlueShield HealthPlus in these eight counties:
- Delaware
- Dutchess
- Orange
- Rockland
- Suffolk
- Sullivan
- Ulster
- Westchester
Live in one of these locations? Enroll with Empire today, or call 1-844-430-1699 (TTY 711) to find out if you qualify!
Why choose Empire?
We’ll help you with your health care needs every step of the way.
- We work with hundreds of doctors and facilities to make getting care easy.
- Our 24/7 NurseLine gives you fast, free medical advice, anytime day or night, in more than 170 languages.
- We’re available to talk in person at any one of our Community Service Centers.
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Sydney Health is Here
Sydney Health is now your mobile app. With Sydney, you can use your existing username and password to log in, save your member ID card, live chat with a representative, find a provider, and more. Don’t have an online account? It’s easy to make one — just register at the login screen.
Thinking about pregnancy?
Flu Shots
Fall is a great time of year, but also the start of flu season. A flu shot can help protect you and your loved ones for months to come. You can get a flu shot at local pharmacies like Rite Aid and CVS. Some pharmacies offer walk-in flu shots, while others ask you to make an appointment. Just bring your health insurance card along with a photo ID when you go. You can also call your doctor’s office to see if flu shots are available there. Empire recommends that children get their flu shot at their doctor’s office.