As a member of NYC Care, you have access to many health care services. Your primary care provider will help coordinate them, including medication. If you need specialty services like heart care or foot care, you will need a referral from your primary care provider. If you need women’s health services, no referral is needed. Some of the health care services available to you are:

Primary and Preventive Care

Your primary care provider treats routine physical conditions, such as high blood pressure and pain. They can give routine vaccinations and screenings, like mammograms and colonoscopies. They also test for and help you manage chronic disease like diabetes.

Your primary care provider leads your health care team, which may include nurses, medical assistants, social workers, pharmacists, nutritionists and assistants. They can all help you ask for referrals or make appointments.

Generally, if you are healthy, you only need to visit your primary care provider once a year. Patients with chronic diseases like diabetes, congestive heart failure and HIV need to see their primary care team more often.

However, you can visit your primary care provider whenever you have a health concern. For urgent services, the NYC Care Contact Center can make same-day appointments or direct you to an NYC Health + Hospitals ExpressCare center near you.

Specialty Care

Your primary care provider works closely with specialists and can help decide if you need their services. Examples of specialty care services available to NYC Care members include:

• Heart care (Cardiology)
• Arthritis and joint care (Rheumatology)
• Bone care (Orthopedics)
• Foot care (Podiatry)
• Weight Loss (Bariatrics)
• Stomach Pain (Gastroenterology)
• Surgery
• Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT)
• Psychiatry

Behavioral Health and Substance Use

With NYC Care, you will also have access to high-quality mental health and substance abuse services. Your primary care provider can support you if you are experiencing long periods of sadness, stress, nightmares or anxiety, or if you are using tobacco, alcohol or other drugs that affect your health. Your provider can refer you to the right mental and behavioral health specialist, like a social worker, therapist or psychiatrist.

Women’s Health

NYC Care members have access to all women’s health services like obstetrics and gynecology, family planning, sexually transmitted infection testing and treatment, and more. You don’t need a referral from your primary care doctor to receive women’s health services.

Affordable Medications

NYC Care members get low-cost prescription medication and pharmacy access day and night. Remember to read the information on your medication to learn when and how to take it.

You can get refills for some medication. There are three ways to ask for refills:

• Go to the pharmacy at any NYC Health + Hospitals facility and ask them to call your primary care provider.
• Sign up for MyChart, your personal health record online – where you can log on and ask for a refill.
• Call the NYC Care Contact Center at 1-646-NYC-CARE (1-646-692-2273)

Eye Care

Our ophthalmologists (eye doctors) can examine your eyes and give you eyeglass prescriptions. You will need a referral from your primary care provider.

Support Services

Where and how you live may affect your physical and mental health. With NYC Care, you will have access to expert social workers and other care coordinators at NYC Health + Hospitals who offer support services. They can connect you with housing services, legal, financial, food and nutrition help. Speak with your primary care provider about the social support that NYC Care offers.

Dental Care

Dental care is available to NYC Care members and other uninsured patients through a sliding fee basis.

Emergency Services

Emergency care and hospital stays are available to NYC Care members and other uninsured patients through a sliding fee basis.

Health Care Services Not Covered

NYC Care does not cover these services, but you may be able to get them at NYC Health + Hospitals:

• Cosmetic surgeries – unless you need them for a medical reason

For more information, please download the new member handbook.