Medicaid & Medical Assistance Program

The Medicaid & Medical Assistance Program provides low-income individuals with a broad level of health insurance coverage.

The program may be able to help you cover the cost of many services, including:

  • doctor visits
  • hospital expenses
  • nursing home care
  • home health care
  • long-term care, both in a nursing home and at-home care 

How to Apply

Depending on your circumstances, you should apply through either the NY State of Health Marketplace or Ulster County DSS.

All individuals that come to the Medicaid Office in DSS will be screened to determine if they should apply at the local district or with the NYSOH Marketplace.

Marketplace

Apply

Step 1.Who should apply through NY State of Health?

  • Adults between the ages of 19-64 (not eligible for Medicare)
  • Pregnant women
  • Parent or caretaker relatives applying on behalf of an infant
  • Parent or caretaker relatives applying on behalf of a child ages 1-18

Step 2.Prepare to Apply

Before you begin, gather:

  • Social Security numbers (or document numbers for legal immigrants who need health insurance)
  • Birth dates for everyone in your family
  • Employer and income information for everyone in your family
  • Policy numbers for any current health insurance
  • Information about any job-related health insurance available to your family

Step 3.Ways to Apply

DSS Local Office

Apply at the Department of Social Services if you:

  • Receive Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
  • Receive Supplemental Security Insurance (SSI)
  • Are a current or former Foster Care youth
  • Are age 65 and older, and not parents or caretaker relatives (when age is a condition of eligibility)
  • Are blind or disabled
  • Are requesting coverage for community based long term care (CBLTC) services
  • Want to enroll in a Medicare Savings Program (MSP)
  • Are a Medicaid Buy-In for Working People with Disabilities enrollee (MBI-WPD)
  • Reside in an adult home or nursing home
  • Live in a residential treatment center or community residence operated by The Office of Mental Health (OMH)

Presumptive Eligibility (PE) for Pregnant Women apply with provider, processed by the LDSS.

Programs

Medicaid

Medicaid is health insurance for individuals who qualify financially under Federal guidelines and provides insurance for medical, dental and optical care. Eligibility for this program is based on income and resources.

Our traditional, very comprehensive, programs are fee-for-service Medicaid and Managed Care Medicaid. Both these programs are for individuals and families age 19 and up who meet income guidelines.

Specialized Programs

  • Prenatal Care Assistance Program for pregnant women
  • Family Planning Benefit Program for persons of childbearing age
  • Various Medicare Savings Programs
  • Medicaid Buy-In for Working Persons with Disabilities
  • COBRA Assistance
  • Chronic Care Medicaid for nursing home and long-term home health care
  • Various waivered programs for persons with specific needs such as the Care at Home program for children, and the Traumatic Brain Injury Waivered program. 

Ulster County is a mandatory managed care county. This means most people who are eligible for the program will be required  to join a managed care health plan. Managed care is designed to improve access to quality medical services. Some people are exempt from enrolling due to special circumstances.

Depending on their level of eligibility, clients may receive assistance with doctor's visits, prescription medications, dental services, emergency medical services, in-patient hospital care, medical transportation, assistance paying for other health insurance programs, and many other services necessary to keep individuals and families healthy.

Contact Us

Phone

(845) 334-5175

Location

1001 Development Court
Kingston, NY
12401
View Map

Hours

Monday – Friday
8:00 AM to 5:00 PM

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