NEW YORK, New York — In a city as vast and diverse as The Big Apple, access to health care remains a critical issue, particularly for those who lack health insurance due to financial constraints or immigration status. NYC Care, a program launched in 2019, aims to bridge this gap by ensuring that every New Yorker — regardless of their ability to pay or their insurance status — has access to essential medical services.
To explain what the access program entails, Dr. Jonathan Jimenez, Executive Director of NYC Care, sat down with Vision Times on Feb. 21 to share the program’s mission, its impact, and how it will continue to expand its services across the city’s five boroughs.
A program for the uninsured
NYC Care is not an insurance program but rather a health care access initiative operated by NYC Health + Hospitals — the largest public health system in the U.S. The organization provides access to primary and specialty care for individuals who do not qualify for other health insurance programs. The program also eliminates financial barriers by offering a sliding-scale fee structure based on income to guarantee that no patient faces unexpected or hefty medical bills.
“NYC Care is a healthcare access program that was started in 2019 with the goal of making sure that everyone who doesn’t have access to health insurance,” said Jimenez, adding, “Whether it’s because of their immigration status or because of their ability to pay, [residents] can still have access to all of the healthcare services available at New York City Health and Hospitals.”
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NYC Care enrollees will also receive a membership card that includes their primary care provider’s name and outlines fees based on a sliding scale tied to household income, said Jimenez. The goal? To alleviate fears surrounding medical costs, as unexpected bills can deter individuals from seeking necessary treatment.
Comprehensive services for members
Once enrolled, NYC Care members will gain access to a broad range of services at the 11 hospitals and 30 community health centers that make up NYC Health + Hospitals, explained Jimenez.
These services include primary and preventive care, women’s health, ophthalmology, nutrition, mental health, specialty care, alcohol, tobacco, and substance abuse, housing support, and more. The program also ensures that new members can secure a primary care appointment within two weeks.
“We’ve won national awards recognizing this effort to raise the health of people that are uninsured,” said Jimenezas he emphasized the importance of providing equitable, high-quality care. “We’ve been able to demonstrate that when we compare our members to people that have insurance, there’s no difference in their blood sugar control for people with diabetes or their blood pressure for folks with hypertension.”
The program also recently expanded its benefits to include coverage for durable medical equipment, such as canes, wheelchairs, and blood sugar monitors, noted Jimenez.
“Previously, you could only get durable medical equipment if you had insurance,” he said, adding, “We just added this benefit to make it even more equitable so that you can tell less and less the difference between the benefits that someone with NYC Care gets compared to someone with insurance.”
Who qualifies and how to enroll
Eligibility for NYC Care is straightforward: applicants must be residents of one of New York City’s five boroughs and must not be eligible for other health insurance programs. Unlike traditional health insurance plans, NYC Care has no income limit — meaning anyone who lacks access to coverage can apply. The program is also open year-round, with no restricted enrollment periods.
To apply, individuals must provide proof of residency, identification (which can include documents from their home country), and proof of income. The application process includes a screening for health insurance eligibility, while ensuring that those who qualify for other coverage options are guided toward them.
Jimenez described the documentation process as easy and flexible. “We accept various different identifications including from people’s home countries if that’s the only identification they have,” he noted, adding, “And there’s also, of course, IDNYC, which is available to every New York City resident.”
In addition, enrollment can be initiated through multiple channels, including through NYC Care’s 24/7 hotline (646-NYC-CARE), community-based organizations, and on-site at participating hospitals and clinics.
Addressing healthcare inequities
For many NYC Care members, the program represents the first time they’ve had access to preventive and routine medical care, said Jimenez as he recalled meeting patients who had gone a decade without seeing a doctor, only to discover they had untreated hypertension.
“Every time I see a patient that didn’t know about us, I think we still have more work to do,” he said. “I meet people even now where they didn’t know about NYC Care, and they hadn’t seen a doctor in 10 years.”
Since its inception, the program has enrolled over 140,000 members, with more than a million primary care appointments completed. Its success is viewed as a potential model for other municipalities aiming to reduce the number of uninsured individuals nationwide.
“We really view NYC Care as a blueprint for other municipalities, other cities, to address health inequities and really reduce the gap of uninsured individuals across the country,” said Alex, another NYC Care representative.
A model for the future
NYC Care is fully funded by the New York City government, meaning that it does not count as a public charge for immigrants — a concern that has previously discouraged some individuals from seeking assistance.
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While the program continues to evolve and improve, its aim is to make health care access as seamless as possible. It also allows individuals who have an established relationship with a primary care doctor outside of NYC Health + Hospitals to enroll and take advantage of specialty services within the system.
“I would just encourage people that even if they have a primary care doctor, they can take advantage of NYC Care and access our specialty services,” said Jimenez.
To learn more or begin the enrollment process, visit NYC Health + Hospitals or call 646-NYC-CARE for more information.
With reporting by Julie Wang.
