In this section, we explain the benefits EmblemHealth covers for all members, the ones EmblemHealth covers for some members, the ones that are available from both EmblemHealth and Medicaid, and the ones that are only covered by Medicaid.
What Medicaid Covers
What Does Medicaid Managed Care Cover?
Benefits Covered for All of Our Medicaid Managed Care Members
Learn what the plan offers and how it can benefit you.
Preventive care helps prevent health problems and find them before they get serious. Includes routine to your primary care provider (PCP) and other network health care professionals for:
- Regular checkups.
- Well-baby and well-child care (shots, checkups, and developmental screenings) — annual checkups covered once every calendar year.
- Eye and hearing exams.
- Eyeglasses and other medically needed vision aids.
- Regular gynecological exams.
- Breast exams (including mammography).
- Allergy testing and treatment.
- HIV counseling and testing services.
- Smoking cessation counseling.
- Four fluoride varnish applications (for children under 7 years of age).
When medically needed, your doctor will refer you for:
- Lab work.
- X-rays.
- Specialty care.
Maternity care
- Prenatal care, including a comprehensive prenatal care assessment at the first prenatal care visit to identify any risk factors early in pregnancy. Prenatal Home Visit (when medically needed and ordered by a primary maternal care provider).
- Childbirth classes.
- Doctor/midwife/nurse practitioner maternal care services.
- Hospital delivery.
- Newborn nursery care.
- Doula services – (starting April 1, 2025).
Family planning services
- Birth control.
- Sterilization.
- Medically necessary abortions.
- Screening for anemia, cervical cancer, sexually transmitted infections, hypertension, breast disease, pelvic abnormality, and pregnancy.
You can get these family planning services from EmblemHealth in-network OB/GYN doctors. Or you can use your Medicaid card if you want to go to doctors or clinics out of our network. Either way, no approval is needed to get these services. Just make an appointment.
Having healthy teeth is part of staying healthy. Our goal at EmblemHealth is to help you get high-quality dental care. That is why we have contracted with Healthplex for the dental needs of our Medicaid Managed Care members. Healthplex has a large network of dentists including a clinic operated by an academic dental center.
Medicaid Managed Care members can receive the following covered services under their plan:
- Routine exams.
- X-rays.
- Cleanings, fillings, and tooth pulling.
- Emergency treatment.
- Replacement of missing teeth (full and partial dentures). Covered when conditions meet Medicaid guidelines.
- Implants, root canals, and crowns, when medically necessary.
- Application of silver diamine fluoride medicine for treatment of an active, non-symptomatic carious lesion. Covered when conditions meet Medicaid guidelines.
When you need covered dental specialty services, your Healthplex network dentist will refer you. EmblemHealth covers braces for children up to age 21 who have a severe problem with their teeth, such as the inability to chew food because of severely crooked teeth, cleft palate, or cleft lip.
If you have questions about your dental coverage or would like to change your network dentist, visit healthplex.com/member or call Healthplex at 855-910-2406 (TTY: 711) from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Hospital care includes:
- Inpatient care
- Outpatient care
- Emergency care
- Lab work and other tests
- X-rays
- Nursing services
- Inpatient and outpatient surgery, including dental surgery
- Inpatient detoxification services
Emergency care services are procedures, treatments or services needed to evaluate or stabilize an emergency condition. Also includes care you need after you have received an emergency procedure to make sure you remain in stable condition. Depending on the need, you may be treated in the emergency room, in an inpatient hospital room, or in another setting. These are called Post Stabilization Services.
Specialty care includes but is not limited to medically needed services:
Physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy
Durable medical equipment (DME), including hearing aids, artificial limbs and orthotics
Renal and Hemodialysis
HIV/AIDS treatment services
Midwife services
Cardiac rehabilitation
Outpatient detoxification services.
Other covered services as medically needed
These services are generally provided so that you do not have to stay in a hospital. Your doctor or case manager must agree that your medical needs can be met at home with this help and request prior approval from your plan.
Services also include:
- One initial post-partum home health visit. All primary maternal care providers and/or birthing hospitals must offer and arrange for the initial post-partum home visit 36 to 72 hours after discharge.
- Prenatal/Postpartum home health visits as medically necessary, ordered by a primary maternal care provider.
- At least two visits to high-risk infants (newborns).
- Other home health care visits as needed and ordered by your PCP/specialist.
Personal Care Services (PCS) must be medically needed and arranged by EmblemHealth. These provide some or total assistance with personal hygiene, dressing and feeding and assist in preparing meals and housekeeping.
Home Attendant
Provides some or total assistance with personal hygiene, dressing and feeding and assist in preparing meals and housekeeping when medically needed and arranged by EmblemHealth.
Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP)
CDPAP recipients and caregivers are now required to transition to the selected Statewide Fiscal Intermediary, Public Partnership, LLC (PPL).
For help registering with PPL go to Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP).
Under this program you receive the personal care/home attendant services indicated above, as well as home health-aid and nursing tasks. The difference is that the services are provided by an aide chosen and directed by you. The aide may provide some or total assistance with personal hygiene, dressing and feeding, assistance in preparing meals and housekeeping as well as home health aide and nursing tasks.
CDPAP and Personal Care Services (PCS) are both Medicaid services that provide home care for individuals who need assistance. The goals of these programs are the same, to help people maintain their independence and remain in their home.
However, the types of services that can be provided and who can provide these services are different. Learn more about these services.
For more information about CDPAP, call Customer Service 855-283-2146 (TTY:711) from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Personal Emergency Response System (PERS) Services
PERS is an in-home health emergency alert system available only to members receiving home health and/or personal care services.
Includes:
- Services of an ophthalmic dispenser, ophthalmologist and optometrist.
- Low-vision eye exams and vision aids ordered by a network doctor (every two years, but more often if medically needed).
- Medically needed contact lenses.
- Eyeglasses (a new pair of Medicaid-approved frames every two years, or more often if medically needed). Progressive lenses are not covered.
- Scratch-resistant, break-resistant and polycarbonate eyeglass lenses.
- Artificial eyes (when ordered by an EmblemHealth network doctor).
- Replacement of lost or destroyed glasses, including repairs, when medically needed.
- Specialist referrals for eye diseases and defects.
- Members diagnosed with diabetes may self-refer for a dilated eye (retinal) examination once in any 12-month period.
Your routine vision benefits are administered by EyeMed. If you’d like help finding an eye care provider, visit eyemedvisioncare.com/emblem or call EyeMed at 1-877-324-2791, 7:30 am to 11 pm, Monday through Saturday or 11 am to 8 pm on Sunday.
When a temporary stay is ordered by your network doctor and approved by your health plan, services include:
- Medical supervision
- 24-hour nursing care
- Assistance with activities of daily living
- Physical and occupational therapy and speech language pathology
Long Term Placement
EmblemHealth also covers long term placement in a nursing home for members 21 years of age. Eligible Veterans, Spouses of Eligible Veterans, and Gold Star Parents of Eligible Veterans may choose to stay in a Veterans’ nursing home. Covered nursing home services include:
- Medical supervision;
- 24-hour nursing care;
- Assistance with daily living;
- Physical therapy;
- Occupational therapy;
- Speech-language pathology and other services.
To get these nursing home services they must be ordered by your physician, and authorized by EmblemHealth. You must also be found financially eligible for long term nursing home care by your County Department of Social Services to have Medicaid and/or EmblemHealth pay for these services. When you are eligible for long term placement, you must select one of the nursing homes that are in EmblemHealth’s network.
If you want to live in a nursing home that is not part of EmblemHealth’s network, you may transfer to another plan that works with the nursing home you have chosen to receive your care.
Behavioral health care includes mental health and substance use (alcohol and drugs) treatment and rehabilitation services. All of our members have access to services to help with emotional health, or to help with alcohol or other substance use issues. These services include:
Mental health
- Crisis residence services for children and adults
- Intensive psychiatric rehab treatment
- Day treatment
- Clinic continuing day treatment
- Inpatient and outpatient mental health treatment
- Partial hospital care
- Rehab services if you are in a community home or in family-based treatment
- Continuing day treatment
- Personalized Recovery Oriented Services
- Assertive Community Treatment Services
- Individual and group counseling
- Crisis intervention services
Substance use disorder services
- Inpatient and outpatient substance use disorder (alcohol and drug) treatment
- Inpatient detoxification services
- Opioid, including Methadone maintenance treatment
- Residential substance use disorder treatment
- Outpatient alcohol and drug treatment services detox services
This type of care is covered for all children under 21 years of age and members (regardless of age) with physical conditions that pose a hazard due to the presence of localized illness, injury or symptoms involving the foot, or when performed as a necessary and integral part of otherwise covered services such as the diagnosis and treatment of diabetes, ulcers and infections.
Benefits EmblemHealth Covers Only for Some Members
EmblemHealth covers the following services for some, but not all, members. Check to see if we cover these benefits for you or in the county where you get Medicaid.
EmblemHealth will cover braces for children up to age 21 who have a severe problem with their teeth, such as: can’t chew food due to severely crooked teeth, cleft palette or cleft lip.
A Health Home is a group of health care and service providers working together to make sure you get the care and services you need to stay healthy. Enrolling in the Health Home program comes at no additional cost.* The program offers assistance with transportation, housing, and so much more!
*Learn more about the benefits of the Home Health program and how to qualify.
Benefits You Can Get From EmblemHealth or Through Regular Medicaid with Your Medicaid Card
You can choose where to get the following services —from an EmblemHealth network doctor, or any doctor who will accept your Medicaid card.
You can get these services from EmblemHealth network doctors, or you can get them from any doctor or clinic that will take your Medicaid card. No approval is needed. All members must use EmblemHealth network doctors for hysterectomies, routine gynecological exams, prenatal care, delivery, and postpartum (after-delivery) care.
You can get these services from EmblemHealth network providers, or you can get them from any doctor or clinic that will take your Medicaid card if they are part of a family planning visit.
You can get these services from EmblemHealth network providers, or you can get them from a county public health clinic.
Benefits Using Your Medicaid Card Only
The following services are covered by Medicaid, but not EmblemHealth. You can get these services from any provider who will take your Medicaid card.
Regular Medicaid covers emergency transportation for our Medicaid members. In an emergency, all members just call 911 for emergency transportation.
Nonemergency rides are covered by regular Medicaid and not by EmblemHealth for most Medicaid members. To arrange for transportation, members must call Medical Answering Services (MAS):
- Nassau and Suffolk County members: 844-666-6270.
- Westchester County members: 844-666-6270.
- New York City Members: 844-666-6270.
If possible, you or your doctor should call the above numbers at least three days prior to your appointment and give the representative your:
- Medicaid ID number (for example, AB12345C).
- Appointment date and time.
- Address where your appointment will take place.
- Doctor’s name.
Note: Nonemergency transportation is not covered for Medicaid members age 65 years and over who are undocumented non-citizens.
*Nonemergency medical transportation includes personal vehicle, bus, taxi, ambulette, and public transportation. If you have an emergency and need an ambulance, you must call 911.
- Long-term therapies
- Day treatment
- Housing services
- Medicaid service coordination (MSC) program
- Home and community-based waiver program services
- Medical model (Care-at-Home) waiver services
Beginning April 1, 2023, all Medicaid members enrolled in EmblemHealth Enhanced Care (Medicaid) and Enhanced Care Plus (HARP) will receive their prescription drugs through NYRx, the Medicaid Pharmacy Program.
Information about the transition of the pharmacy benefit from EmblemHealth to NYRx, the Medicaid Pharmacy Program can be found HERE.
General information about NYRx, the Medicaid Pharmacy Program can be found HERE along with information for Members and Providers.
- Long-term therapies
- Day treatment
- Housing services
- Medicaid service coordination (MSC) program
- Home and community-based waiver program services
- Medical model (Care-at-Home) waiver services
Homelessness and Health Care in New York
Life throws everyone a curve ball now and then. Loss of income and other life events can lead to homelessness. If it happens to you, call the customer service number on the back of your member ID card. We know you may be moving often and changing PCPs, so we’ll work with you to meet your needs and help make sure you continue to receive health care.
Signing on to myEmblemHealth is the fastest and easiest way to:
- View or change your PCP
- Order a new ID card and/or print a temporary ID card
- Change your mailing address and other contact information
- Check your enrollment status
- Review your claims and contact customer service
Case Management
Dealing with a health condition can be stressful. Our Case Management Program can help relieve some of that stress by coordinating your care. Learn More.
Disease Management
If you have diabetes, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), congestive heart failure or coronary artery disease (CAD), the EmblemHealth Care Management Program can help you. Learn more.
EmblemHealth Behavioral Services
Call 1-888-447-2526 for information about mental health, alcohol and substance use disorder services.
Urgent Care Facilities
When you need to see a doctor after office hours or on weekends for non-emergency care such as a sore throat or other minor health problems, visit one of our Advantage Care Physicians locations for treatment or go to "Find a Doctor" and choose your plan under State-Sponsored Programs to find other in-network urgent care locations near you. No referrals are needed.
We’re here to help. Call us to discuss your health plan concerns and get additional information about your coverage at 1-800-447-8255.
Other Helpful Resources and Other Community Organizations:
Food
- Food Bank for New York City
- New York City Coalition Against Hunger
- NYC 311 (find food pantries or soup kitchens listed by ZIP code)
- City Harvest
Clothing and Footwear
- Bottomless Closet (for women’s clothing)
- Dress For Success® (for women’s clothing)
- Career Gear (for men’s clothing)
- Room to Grow (for infant clothing and services to age three)
For your information, the following services are not covered by EmblemHealth or regular Medicaid. If you get any of these services, you may have to pay the bill:
- Cosmetic surgery, if not medically needed
- Personal and comfort items
- Infertility treatments for men
- Chiropractic services
You may also have to pay for services that:
- You get from a provider not in our network, unless it is a provider you are allowed to see as described in your handbook, or if your PCP refers you to that provider.
- Require prior health plan approval and you get these services without prior approval.
If you receive a non-covered, or unauthorized service, and you agree to be a “private-pay” or
“self-pay” patient, you will have to pay for the services received. If you have any questions about your Medicaid benefits, call Customer Services at 1-855-283-2146.