Undocumented seniors encouraged to enroll in expanded Medicaid plan
In a gathering held at a senior center in lower Manhattan, officials commemorated National Public Health Week by advocating for enrollment.
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City and state agencies have initiated a collaborative effort dubbed a citywide Day of Action aimed at urging undocumented seniors aged 65 and above to enroll in a recently expanded Medicaid plan.
According to officials, this endeavor represents a crucial stride toward enhancing public health access for thousands residing in the city.
"It's a big day; we're really excited,” said Jonathan Jimenez, executive director of NYC Care.
In a gathering held at a senior center in lower Manhattan, officials commemorated National Public Health Week by advocating for enrollment.
“If you are undocumented for example and are 65 and above, now you have access to Medicaid and you didn’t before. That will give you more access to services, pharmacy services, more choice in terms of where you get your care,” said Jimenez.
Effective since Jan. 1, the statewide Medicaid expansion now encompasses all income-eligible undocumented older adults, extending coverage beyond solely medical emergency visits. NYC CARE staffers revealed that 16,000 individuals have already enrolled. However, officials cited disseminating information as the primary obstacle.
“What we’re seeing across the board is that undocumented New Yorkers often don’t know about the services that are available to them,” said Adrienne Lever, executive director of the Mayor’s Office of Public Engagement.
To address this, efforts are underway to distribute information in various languages with ground teams across boroughs.
“We’re passing out flyers at transit locations, knocking on doors, we’ll be sending text messages and making phone calls,” said Lever.
She emphasized the importance of community involvement, urging individuals who know someone in need of these services to share the information.
"For further assistance, individuals can call 311 and ask for the GetCovered NYC team, or visit nyc.gov/expandedmedicaid online," Lever advised.
Importantly, there is no deadline to enroll, and additional information is available on the city's website.
