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Immigrant Health Care

Health of Immigrants in NYC

NYC is home to more than three million immigrants – over one-third of our population. Immigrants to NYC come from all over the world, with the largest numbers from the Caribbean and Asia-Pacific regions. Immigrant New Yorkers are workers and entrepreneurs. Immigrants work in essential social and health services and make up nearly half of NYC’s workforce of health care practitioners and technical occupations.

The Health Department’s latest report provides a broad picture of the health of this large and diverse group. The report discusses who NYC’s immigrants are, where they are born, and the social, environmental, and behavioral factors that affect their health. It also overviews health care access and outcomes among immigrants in NYC. Learn more:


Every New Yorker, regardless of their immigration status or ability to pay, has the right to quality health care. This includes emergency care at any hospital in NYC.

You can find information on low- and no-cost City services available for all immigrants on this page, or by calling the NYC Immigrant Affairs Hotline at 212-788-7654, Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Many low-cost health care services are available at NYC Health + Hospitals facilities and community health centers near you. You can also get care for mental health issues, including substance use disorders, through 988.

Immigrants Have a Right to Health Care

Every New Yorker, without exception, has a right to quality health care and City services. You have these rights regardless of your immigration status, ability to pay, employment status, and ability to speak English.

NYC Health+Hospitals locations and NYC Health Department public health clinics are here to serve you in your language. You do not need to share any information about your immigration status to receive care.

NYC also offers a range of services including food, education, legal services, and public safety. Learn more about our commitment to all New Yorkers and the services available to you:

View, print, and display these resources stating the rights of all New Yorkers, regardless of immigration status:

Health Insurance and Access to Care

For immigrants who do not qualify for or cannot afford health insurance, you can get low- and no-cost services through NYC Care. Some immigrants, such as pregnant people and children, are eligible for free or low-cost health coverage regardless of their immigration status.

If you have never talked to someone about whether you are eligible for insurance, your first step is to get free help to review your options. The City’s enrollment counselors can discuss what type of insurance is best for you and how you can enroll.

Federal Government Sharing Limited Personal Information on Some Health Insurance Enrollees with ICE

The NYC Health Department protects the personal information people use to enroll in health insurance to the fullest extent of the law. However, as of March 2026, the federal Medicaid agency is sharing limited information, including some Medicaid enrollees’ names and addresses, with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to help in immigration enforcement. Such data-sharing has begun even though New York and other states have objected and brought legal challenges to try to stop this from happening.

Whom Does This Apply To?

Right now this applies only to people who do not have lawful immigration status and are eligible only for Emergency Medicaid and some people enrolled in Medicaid.

Whom Does This Not Apply To?

Right now this does not apply to certain Medicaid enrollees, including:

  • People who are enrolled through Medicaid for pregnant and postpartum women
  • People who are enrolled through Medicaid for noncitizens age 65 and older
  • Children and teenagers enrolled in Child Health Plus
  • People enrolled in other New York public health insurance programs such as the Essential Plan

In addition, right now this federal data-sharing does not apply to people with lawful immigration status, including but not limited to:

  • Lawful permanent residents (green card holders)
  • People with currently valid visas
  • Refugees
  • Asylees

These lists are not comprehensive. You can speak to a health insurance enrollment counselor for more information.

What You Can Do

An NYC Health Department health insurance enrollment counselor can talk to you about the risks and benefits of signing up for or renewing your health insurance. If you do not want to sign up for or renew your health insurance, an enrollment counselor can give you other options for getting affordable health care services in NYC. We will work to ensure that every New Yorker can safely access the care they need for themselves and their family members, regardless of insurance status.

This is a changing situation. Check back for new information and resources as they become available.

Language Access

Federal, state, and local laws guarantee your right to get care and written materials in your preferred language. You can request a qualified interpreter in any hospital or health care setting. You are entitled to translations of any written materials from your health care provider or insurer. Many written materials from the NYC government are made available in at least the top 10 most common non-English languages in NYC.

For more information on language access, visit the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs: Language Access.

If you think your language access rights have been violated, you can file a report with the Office of the State Attorney General, Civil Rights Bureau by calling (212) 416-8250 or emailing Civil.Rights@ag.ny.gov. To report a complaint to the NYC Commission on Human Rights, call 311 and say “language access.”

English language learning is available through We Speak NYC.

Additional Resources

More Information