How to Renew New York Medicaid

New York uses ex parte renewal — a process where the state checks available data sources (tax records, Social Security data, wage files) to verify your income without requiring you to resubmit documents. If the state can confirm you still qualify, your coverage renews automatically. You receive a notice saying your renewal is complete.

If the state cannot confirm eligibility through data matching, you will receive a form asking you to update your information. This is called a "renewal packet" or "renewal form." Return it promptly — the state gives you a set deadline, and failing to respond means termination. Per CMS guidance, states must attempt ex parte renewal for all enrollees before sending paper forms.

The renewal process differs slightly depending on where your coverage is administered.

For MAGI-based Medicaid (the main adult and child coverage), New York follows 12-month continuous eligibility — income changes during the year do not require you to report or trigger a mid-year review. Your coverage continues through the end of your benefit year.

There are exceptions. Certain changes — moving out of state, losing New York residency, gaining employer-sponsored health coverage, or losing citizenship/immigration status — must be reported. Report these to NY State of Health at 1-855-355-5777. For long-term care Medicaid (nursing home or MLTC), income and resource changes must be reported promptly; the 12-month rule applies to MAGI programs, and non-MAGI programs have different rules.

Here is what to expect when it is time to renew.

A denial notice must state the reason and explain your right to a fair hearing. In New York, you have 60 days from the date of the notice to request a fair hearing — shorter than the 90-day window in many states. Filing within 10 days preserves your current benefits during the hearing, per New York Social Services Law.

Request a fair hearing by calling the OTDA hearing line at 1-800-342-3334, writing to your local DSS, or submitting online. Free legal assistance is available through New York Legal Aid and other nonprofit legal services organizations.

If you no longer qualify for Medicaid because your income rose, check whether you qualify for New York's Essential Plan (139%–250% FPL, $0–$20/month). Apply at nystateofhealth.ny.gov — the same portal handles both programs, and you may have continuous coverage without a gap.

From April 2023 through December 2024, New York — like all states — processed Medicaid renewals that had been paused during the COVID-19 public health emergency. This "unwinding" period resulted in many enrollees receiving renewal notices simultaneously. NY DOH launched a sustained outreach campaign and worked with managed care plans and community partners to reach enrollees who might have been disenrolled incorrectly.

If you lost New York Medicaid coverage during 2023 or 2024 and believe your disenrollment was in error, you may still be able to request a fair hearing or reinstatement through your local DSS or HRA. Call NY State of Health at 1-855-355-5777 to start that process.