Seek Care Without Fear

In 2019, the Trump Administration announced a change to immigration rules known as “public charge”. This change could impact people applying for green cards through a family member or for certain types of visas, making it harder for these immigrants to qualify for a green card or visa if they have used specific types of public benefits. However, the rule does not apply to all New Yorkers who are immigrants or to all public benefits. For example, Federal officials have confirmed that the public charge rule will not be used against anyone for testing, treatment, or prevention of COVID-19.

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Seek Care Without Fear

• IMPORTANT: Litigation seeking to stop application of the public charge rule is ongoing. However, the new rule is in effect for applications filed on or after February 24, 2020. New Yorkers and not all immigrant New Yorkers are impacted by the changes to the public charge rules. It does not penalize people for enrolling in Emergency Medicaid, Medicaid for Pregnant Women, the Essential Plan, State-funded Medicaid, NYC Care, and many other types of coverage. To find out if you might be impacted, read the flyers below and get a free legal consultation from LegalHealth by calling 212-659-6188.
• NYC Health + Hospitals wants you to continue to get the care you need and the health care coverage you are eligible for. Even after the new rule took effect, getting health care is not a risk under the public charge rule, so get care without fear!
• We welcome all patients at NYC Health + Hospitals, no matter what your immigration status is. That is our commitment. It will never change.
• New York City is among the jurisdictions fighting the public charge rule. Please visit this webpage for ongoing updates.

Important Information for Patients on “Public Charge” Rule

Detailed Flyer (Updated September 2019)

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LegalHealth’s flyer for Medical Providers (Updated October 2020)

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Statements Regarding Public Charge

• Jan 27, 2020: Joint Statement on the Supreme Court’s Public Charge Ruling, with Mount Sinai, CHCANYS, and NYLAG LegalHealth
• April 25, 2019: NYC Health + Hospitals Expands Patient Access to On-Site Legal Services for immigration Concerns
• Dec 5, 2018: NYC Health + Hospitals, Immigration and Labor Groups Rally New Yorkers to Fight Public Charge and Continue to Seek Care without Fear
• Dec 5, 2018: Protest the ‘public charge’ plan jeopardizing immigrants’ health care (Op-ed in NY Daily News by Dr. Mitchell Katz, president and chief executive officer of NYC Health + Hospitals, and Henry Garrido, executive director of District Council 37)

Open Letter to Immigrants

In response to heightened rhetoric and tensions concerning immigration laws, NYC Health + Hospitals issued an “Open Letter to Immigrant New Yorkers” to reassure all immigrants that they can get medical care in any public health care setting without fear.

The letter, signed by NYC Health + Hospitals President and CEO Dr. Mitchell Katz and Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs Commissioner Bitta Mostofi, promises all immigrants: “The City of New York has a policy to protect immigration status and other confidential information. NYC Health + Hospitals will honor your right to privacy.”

The letter is available in 14 languages. Click below to read or download your preferred language.

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繁體中文 | اُردُو