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NYC Care: Definition, Cost and Who Qualifies

NYC Care is a city health care access program at NYC Health + Hospitals, not insurance. Sliding-scale fees from $0, no premiums, no immigration questions.

  • Reviewed
  • 1 min read
  • 3 official sources

Definition

NYC Care

A city health care access program (not insurance) at NYC Health + Hospitals for residents who can't get or afford insurance; fees from $0.

On this page (6)
  1. The numbers (as of 2026-10-12)
  2. Who it's for
  3. Where you'll see this term
  4. Common mix-ups
  5. FAQ
  6. Sources

NYC Care is a New York City health care access program, run through NYC Health + Hospitals, for residents who can't get or can't afford health insurance. TLC's Driver Resources page describes it as a program that "guarantees low-cost and no-cost services to New Yorkers who do not qualify for or cannot afford health insurance." The NYC Care FAQ is blunt: "NYC Care is not an insurance plan."

The numbers (as of 2026-10-12)

  • $0Lowest fee on the sliding scaleNo premiums or monthly fees

    Source: ACCESS NYC

  • 11NYC Health + Hospitals hospitalsPlus community health centers

    Source: NYC Care FAQ

  • 250+Languages and dialects for interpretation

    Source: NYC Care FAQ

  • 12 monthsHow often members are re-screened for insurance

    Source: NYC Care FAQ

Who it's for

ACCESS NYC lists four conditions: you live in NYC; you don't have insurance from an employer; you don't qualify for any health insurance plan available in New York State; and you can't afford insurance based on government guidelines. NYC Care "doesn't ask about immigration status." You prove identity, NYC residency, household income and household size.

Members get their own primary care doctor, mental health and substance use care, low-cost prescriptions and screenings. ACCESS NYC says the first appointment comes within two weeks.

Where you'll see this term

  • On TLC's Driver Resources page, next to NY State of Health and MetroPlus.
  • In the Attorney General's 2026 guidance for people who lost the Essential Plan and can't afford a marketplace plan.
  • At NYC Health + Hospitals sites, where a financial counselor re-screens NYC Care members for insurance every 12 months and helps them renew if they still don't qualify.

Common mix-ups

  • Not insurance. It doesn't pay outside NYC Health + Hospitals.
  • Not Medicaid or the Essential Plan. Those are insurance programs through NY State of Health. NYC Care is for people who can't get them.
  • Not MetroPlus. MetroPlusHealth is an insurance company; its offices are one place to enroll in NYC Care.
  • Not a Black Car Fund benefit. App drivers' Drivers Benefits are separate and can be used alongside NYC Care.

Related: NYC Care for drivers, health insurance for NYC drivers, ILDBF, SEP IRA, lease cap and the money topic.

Frequently asked questions

What is NYC Care?

A New York City program that gives low-cost and no-cost care through NYC Health + Hospitals to residents who don't qualify for, or can't afford, health insurance. It is not an insurance plan.

What does NYC Care cost?

Fees are based on family size and income and start at $0. There are no membership fees, monthly fees or premiums.

Where can I use it?

Only at NYC Health + Hospitals locations, which NYC Care says include 11 hospitals plus community health centers across the five boroughs.

How do I contact NYC Care?

Call 646-NYC-CARE (646-692-2273), or visit an NYC Health + Hospitals site, a community organization or a MetroPlusHealth office.

Sources

Last reviewed against the official sources on .

  1. ACCESS NYC: NYC Care access.nyc.gov
  2. NYC Care: FAQ nyccare.nyc
  3. TLC: Driver Resources nyc.gov

Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we'll check it against the official source.

TLC Help is not a law firm and is not affiliated with the NYC Taxi & Limousine Commission or OATH. Explanations on this site are general information, not legal advice. Legal representation is provided by independent attorneys and OATH-registered representatives in our network.

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