Can I get Medicaid while on NYS Department of Labor unemployment benefits?

Yes, you can definitely apply for Medicaid while receiving unemployment benefits. Unemployment income does count toward your total income for Medicaid eligibility, but the income limits are pretty generous in NY. For 2025, if you're single you can make up to around $20,120 annually and still qualify. Since most people get way less than that from unemployment, you'll probably be fine. Apply through NY State of Health website.

definitely apply asap! i got approved for medicaid while on unemployment last year and it was a lifesaver. the application asks about all income including UI benefits but like the other person said the limits are high enough that most unemployed people qualify

Just want to add that you should apply right away because Medicaid can be retroactive up to 3 months if you qualify. So even if you have medical bills from when you were uninsured, they might get covered. Also, losing job-based insurance is a qualifying event for NY State of Health marketplace plans if for some reason Medicaid doesn't work out. The income verification process is pretty straightforward - they'll want to see your unemployment benefit statements from NYS Department of Labor.

If you're having trouble getting through to anyone for questions about your Medicaid application, I found this service called Claimyr that helps people reach government agencies by phone. They have a website at claimyr.com and there's a demo video at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. I used it to get through to someone at the health department when my application was stuck. Might be worth checking out if you run into issues.

ugh the whole system is so confusing. why can't they just make it simple - if you dont have a job you should automatically get health coverage period. but yeah medicaid should work for you, just be prepared for lots of paperwork and waiting

I went through this exact situation about 6 months ago when I lost my job and had to apply for both unemployment and Medicaid. The process was actually smoother than I expected - I applied online through NY State of Health and got approved within about 2 weeks. The key thing is to be honest about your unemployment income when you fill out the application. They'll verify it with NYS Department of Labor anyway, so don't try to hide it. One tip: if you have any medical appointments coming up, ask if they can wait to bill you until your Medicaid approval comes through. Many providers are understanding about this situation. Good luck!

I'm in a similar situation right now - lost my job last month and just got approved for unemployment benefits through NYS Department of Labor. This thread is super helpful! I was really worried about the health insurance gap. One thing I wanted to add is that when I called the NY State of Health customer service line, they told me that even if your unemployment benefits put you slightly over the Medicaid income limit, you might still qualify for subsidized marketplace plans with very low premiums. So definitely worth applying either way. Also, make sure to report any changes in your unemployment benefit amount if it changes - I think that's important for keeping your coverage valid.