Healthfirst

Who Healthfirst serves

• Individuals and families across New York City, the Hudson Valley, Westchester, Long Island, and surrounding counties
• People at different life stages, including children, adults, older adults, and those who need long-term care support

Mission and approach

• Puts members first and works to ensure they can access the quality care they need and deserve
• Works closely with doctors, hospitals, and community partners to improve health outcomes and build healthier, stronger communities
• Uses a hyperlocal approach, with teams that reflect the communities they serve and speak many languages
• Recognizes that health is shaped by daily life and social factors, not only doctor visits

Community focus

• Partners with community organizations across New York to help members find resources such as:
• Health education
• Nutritious food
• Social services and local support programs
• Maintains community offices where people can get in-person assistance with their health coverage needs

Commitment to quality and affordability

• Offers health insurance plans designed to provide affordable, high-quality coverage
• Focuses on helping members stay connected to care close to home

Healthfirst offers Medicare Advantage and related plans for people who are:

• Age 65 or older, or
• Under 65 with qualifying disabilities

Key features mentioned on the Healthfirst website include:

• Monthly premiums as low as $0 on certain plans
• Low or $0 copays on some services
• Access to more than 100,000 provider locations
• Access to many of the top hospitals in the country through the Healthfirst network

Healthfirst also offers Managed Long-Term Care options for people who need ongoing help with activities of daily living.

Dual-eligible plans (Medicare and Medicaid)

For people who have both Medicare and Medicaid, Healthfirst offers a dual-eligible special needs plan (D-SNP) called the Healthfirst Life Improvement Plan. According to the website, this plan can offer:

• Additional benefits
• Lower copays
• An OTC Plus card for certain eligible purchases

Individual and Family plans

Healthfirst offers plans for individuals and families, including options with:

• $0 checkups on certain plans
• 24/7 telemedicine access on some plans
• No monthly premium for some eligible members

Within this category, Healthfirst lists products such as:

• Marketplace health plans (including "Leaf" plans)
• Essential Plans
• Medicaid Managed Care
• Child Health Plus
• Personal Wellness Plan

These product names and options come from the Healthfirst website and may vary by county and eligibility.

Choosing a plan

• Members and prospective members can use the "Find a Plan" tools on healthfirst.org to view plan options available in their area.
• The site also offers ways to speak with a representative, request a call, or schedule an appointment (by phone, video, or in person) for help comparing plans and enrolling.

For exact eligibility, covered benefits, and costs for any specific plan, customers should refer to the official Healthfirst plan documents or speak directly with Healthfirst.

Where Healthfirst operates

Based on the Healthfirst website, Healthfirst serves members across much of downstate New York, including:

• New York City
• Long Island
• The Hudson Valley
• Westchester County
• Orange County
• Sullivan County
• Rockland County

Plan availability and specific products can vary by county and program.

Provider network

Healthfirst highlights a broad provider network that includes:

• More than 100,000 provider locations
• Many of the top hospitals in the country
• A wide range of primary care doctors, specialists, hospitals, and other healthcare facilities

Members and prospective members can use the "Find a Doctor" and pharmacy locator tools on healthfirst.org to search for in-network providers and pharmacies by location, specialty, or name.

Community offices and mobile support

To support its hyperlocal approach, Healthfirst operates community-based resources across its service area, including:

• 20+ community offices in neighborhoods across New York City, Long Island, and nearby counties
• Mobile units that are embedded in local neighborhoods

These locations and mobile units are intended to:

• Help people learn about plan options and enrollment
• Provide in-person support with coverage questions
• Connect members with local resources and community programs

The Healthfirst website provides a community office locator where people can search for an office near them and view current addresses and hours.

Languages and cultural understanding

Healthfirst notes that its teams:

• Reflect the communities they serve
• Speak 16+ languages

This is intended to help members feel comfortable getting help in their preferred language and to support culturally informed care and service.

Lists Mobile, Westchester, Frederick, Mission, Rockland, New York City, Yonkers, and Hudson as a location. Names New York, Westchester, Jersey City, Long Island City, New York City, and Medicine Hat as a service area. Areas beyond these are not published.

According to the Healthfirst community engagement pages, Healthfirst:

• Works with trusted community organizations and leaders across New York City, Long Island, and nearby counties
• Helps connect members to resources related to:
• Health education
• Nutrition and access to nutritious food
• Social services and local support programs
• Recognizes that health includes physical, emotional, and social well‑being

Types of community events

Healthfirst hosts and participates in a variety of community events throughout the year. Examples listed on the website include:

• Cultural and seasonal festivals – such as the Healthfirst Mid‑Autumn Festival supporting the Asian American community and older adults, with performances, health tips, and wellness information.
• Local street fairs and city events – such as Yonkers Riverfest, where Healthfirst may host wellness stations offering health and Medicare information and free wellness giveaways.
• Educational events and symposiums – such as an annual caregiver symposium held during National Caregiving Month, featuring expert speakers, panel discussions, and resources for caregivers.

Specific dates, locations, and details for events change over time. The examples above are drawn from events listed for 2026 on healthfirst.org.

How to find current events

• The Community Engagement and Events section on healthfirst.org lists upcoming events with dates, times, and locations.
• Some events include online registration forms so attendees can sign up in advance.
• After registering, participants may receive confirmation and event details by email.

For the most up‑to‑date schedule and any changes, visitors should always check the current events listings on the Healthfirst website.

Medicare is the U.S. health insurance program for:

• People 65 years and older, and
• Certain people under 65 with qualifying disabilities

Healthfirst provides educational materials, including a free "New to Medicare" guide, to help New Yorkers understand how Medicare works and what their choices are.

Parts of Medicare

According to the Healthfirst Medicare education page:

• Part A – Helps pay for hospital stays, skilled nursing care, and some home healthcare services.
• Part B – Helps pay for doctor visits, outpatient care, and certain medical equipment.
• Part C (Medicare Advantage) – Plans offered by private health insurance companies that provide all benefits of Parts A and B and often include extra benefits such as dental, vision, hearing, and sometimes prescription drug coverage.
• Part D – Helps pay for prescription medications.

Enrollment periods (as described on the site)

• Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) – A 7‑month window that:
• Starts 3 months before your 65th birthday month
• Includes your 65th birthday month
• Ends 3 months after your 65th birthday month
• If you miss your IEP, you may have to pay a higher premium, so enrolling on time is important.
• Some people may delay enrolling if they have qualifying employer coverage and may later qualify for a Special Enrollment Period (SEP).

Medicare Advantage with Healthfirst

Healthfirst offers Medicare Advantage plans in New York that:

• Provide all benefits of Original Medicare (Parts A and B)
• Often include extra benefits such as dental, vision, and hearing coverage
• May include prescription drug coverage (Part D) for all‑in‑one coverage
• On some plans, have premiums and deductibles as low as $0, as stated on the site

Plan availability, covered benefits, and costs vary by county and by individual eligibility.

Getting help from Healthfirst

Healthfirst lists several ways to get support with Medicare questions or enrollment:

Speak with a sales representative

• Phone (Sales): 1‑855‑725‑3341

TTY (English): 1‑888‑542‑3821 TTY (Español): 1‑888‑867‑4132 Hours: Monday to Friday, 8am–8pm (as stated on the site)

Request a call or schedule an appointment

Through healthfirst.org, you can:

• Request a call – Ask for the sales team to call you back, typically within one business day.
• Schedule an appointment – Arrange help by phone, video chat, or in person.

Visit a Community Office

• You can visit a neighborhood Community Office for in‑person help with Medicare questions and enrollment.
• The website offers a Community Office locator where you can search for nearby locations and view current hours.

Important notes

• Coverage is provided by Healthfirst Health Plan, Inc., Healthfirst PHSP, Inc., and/or Healthfirst Insurance Company, Inc., as described on the Medicare education page.
• Healthfirst Medicare plans have contracts with Medicare and, for certain plans, with the New York State Medicaid program. Enrollment in a Healthfirst Medicare plan depends on contract renewal.
• Plans contain exclusions and limitations; exact coverage and eligibility are determined by official plan documents and applicable regulations.

Content in the Newsroom typically includes:

• Press releases – Announcements about new programs, partnerships, quality ratings, and community initiatives. Examples from recent years include:
• Launching a care model that embeds Community Health Workers in pediatric practices to close developmental and behavioral care gaps for children and families.
• Organizing diabetes health education events for New Yorkers.
• Recognizing pharmacies for their collaboration in improving Medicare member health.
• Earning strong Medicare Advantage Star Ratings.
• Media coverage – Summaries and links to articles and segments where Healthfirst is featured in local and regional media outlets.

These examples are drawn from the press releases and media coverage listings on healthfirst.org and are provided to illustrate the types of initiatives Healthfirst reports on.

How to access the latest news

• Visitors can go to the Newsroom on healthfirst.org to view the latest press releases and media coverage.
• Older items can usually be accessed through "See all" links for press releases and media stories.

Media and press contacts

For press inquiries, the Healthfirst website lists the following contact:

• Press email: pressinquiries@healthfirst.org

Journalists and media partners are directed to use this email address for questions, interview requests, and other media‑related inquiries.

Ask anyway — the agent will say plainly that it is not published rather than guess.