Finding Care in New York

OB/GYNs That Take Healthfirst: How to Find One in NYC and Long Island

By the Find Her Doctor editorial team · Updated November 1, 2026 · 5 min read

To find an OB/GYN that takes Healthfirst, search the Healthfirst provider directory (or call member services) for your exact plan type, filter for Obstetrics & Gynecology or midwives near your ZIP code, then call the office to confirm they take that plan and are seeing new patients. Healthfirst sells several kinds of plans, and an office can take one and not another.

That last part trips people up constantly. "We take Healthfirst" from the front desk might mean their Medicaid plan but not your Leaf plan. A five-minute call with the right questions saves you a surprise bill or a wasted trip.

Which Healthfirst do you have?

Healthfirst describes itself as a not-for-profit health insurer founded by New York hospital systems, serving New York City, Long Island, Westchester and the Hudson Valley. Its plan types include:

  • Medicaid managed care
  • Essential Plan
  • Child Health Plus
  • Leaf plans (marketplace plans sold through NY State of Health)
  • Medicare Advantage and dual-eligible plans
  • Long-term care plans

Your card names the plan. Take a photo of the front and back before you start calling.

In the New York State Department of Health's 2024 Managed Care Consumer Guide, Healthfirst reported Medicaid and Essential Plan results for the New York City, Long Island and Hudson Valley regions.

Finding an OB/GYN, step by step

  1. Check your card for the plan name (a Medicaid plan, an Essential Plan, a Leaf plan, and so on).
  2. Search the Healthfirst directory for "Obstetrics & Gynecology," "Midwife" or "Maternal-Fetal Medicine," plus your ZIP code.
  3. Check the address. The in-network location needs to be the one you'll actually go to.
  4. Compare in our directory. Our Healthfirst page lists practices reported in Healthfirst networks through the NYS Department of Health's provider look-up, or browse by area, like Brooklyn, Queens or the Bronx, for specialties, other locations and phone numbers.
  5. Call the office. Say: "I have Healthfirst [plan name from card]. Do you take it at this location, and is Dr. ___ accepting new patients?"
  6. If you're pregnant, ask which hospital they deliver at, then confirm that hospital is in your Healthfirst network.

Pregnancy care with Healthfirst

All Healthfirst plans cover prenatal visits, ultrasounds and lab tests your provider orders, plus delivery and postpartum care, because they're required benefits. What differs is what you pay:

  • Medicaid and the Essential Plan generally have no premiums and little or no cost-sharing for in-network prenatal care.
  • Leaf (marketplace) plans have deductibles and copays based on the metal level you picked.

How fast should you be seen?

If your Healthfirst coverage is Medicaid, New York's 2026 perinatal standards set the longest acceptable wait for a first prenatal visit:

When you ask for care First visit within
First trimester 3 weeks
Second trimester 2 weeks
Third trimester 1 week

If an office offers you something two months out, don't just accept it. Call Healthfirst member services and say, "I'm pregnant and I can't get a first prenatal visit within the state's timeframe. I need help getting an appointment."

Midwives and high-risk care

Midwives. Certified nurse midwives handle prenatal care, labor and birth, and routine gynecology. Many hospital-based and community midwifery practices in the city take Medicaid plans. Browse certified nurse midwives and check each one with Healthfirst.

High-risk pregnancy. With diabetes, high blood pressure, twins, a prior preterm birth or an ultrasound concern, your OB/GYN may refer you to maternal-fetal medicine. Ask whether the MFM practice and its ultrasound unit are in your Healthfirst network. If Healthfirst doesn't have an in-network specialist with the right expertise, New York law requires managed care plans to refer you to an appropriate provider.

If your coverage changed in 2026

On July 1, 2026, New York lowered the Essential Plan income limit back to 200% of the federal poverty level, following federal funding cuts. Pregnant people with income up to 223% of the poverty level qualify for Medicaid, which Healthfirst also offers, with coverage for 12 months after the pregnancy ends.

If you got a notice about your Essential Plan and you're pregnant, call NY State of Health at 1-855-355-5777 right away so your prenatal care isn't interrupted. Have your due date and your notice in front of you. More in getting health insurance while pregnant in New York.

Questions to ask the office

  • Do you accept my specific Healthfirst plan at this location?
  • Are you accepting new patients, and how soon can I be seen?
  • Which hospital do you deliver at?
  • Do you have midwives on the team?
  • Are your lab and ultrasound site in network?
  • Do you have interpreters or staff who speak my language? (Many city practices have Spanish-, Chinese-, Russian- or Bengali-speaking staff. It's fine to ask.)

When things go wrong

  • The directory said yes, the office says no. Call Healthfirst, explain, and ask for help finding an available provider. Keep a screenshot of the directory listing with the date.
  • Your OB/GYN left the network mid-pregnancy. Ask Healthfirst about transitional care. New York law gives pregnant patients continuity-of-care protections.
  • You moved. Plan availability depends on county. Update your address with NY State of Health or your local Medicaid office.

Gynecology and birth control

Not every visit is about pregnancy. With an in-network provider, Healthfirst plans cover routine gynecology like:

  • A yearly well-woman visit
  • Cervical cancer screening (Pap and HPV tests) on the schedule your provider recommends
  • Birth control counseling and methods, including IUDs and implants
  • Testing and treatment for infections
  • Evaluation of heavy bleeding, pelvic pain or abnormal Pap results

For procedures like a colposcopy, endometrial biopsy or surgery, ask whether the practice needs prior authorization from Healthfirst and where the procedure will happen.

When to see a doctor

Book a gynecology visit for bleeding between periods, bleeding after menopause, pelvic pain, an abnormal Pap result, or a breast lump. If you're pregnant, go to labor and delivery or an emergency room right away for heavy bleeding, severe belly pain, a severe headache or vision changes, leaking fluid, or fewer baby movements. You don't need Healthfirst's approval for emergency care.

For network checks with any insurer, see how to check if an OB/GYN is in-network.

Frequently asked questions

How do I find an OB/GYN that accepts Healthfirst?

Use the Healthfirst online provider directory or call the member services number on your card, search for Obstetrics & Gynecology near your ZIP code, then call the office to confirm they take your specific Healthfirst plan and are accepting new patients.

Does every doctor who takes Healthfirst take all Healthfirst plans?

Not necessarily. Healthfirst offers several plan types, including Medicaid managed care, the Essential Plan, Child Health Plus, marketplace Leaf plans and Medicare plans. Ask the office about your exact plan.

Do I need a referral to see an OB/GYN with Healthfirst?

New York law gives managed care members direct access to an in-network OB/GYN for routine gynecologic and pregnancy care. Check your Healthfirst member handbook for the rules on other specialists and procedures.

Where does Healthfirst offer coverage?

Healthfirst says it serves New York City, Long Island, Westchester and the Hudson Valley. Which plan types you can get depends on your county.

What should I do if I can't get a prenatal appointment with a Healthfirst OB/GYN?

Call Healthfirst member services. If you have Medicaid through Healthfirst, New York's perinatal standards say your first prenatal visit should be within 3 weeks of your request in the first trimester, and sooner later in pregnancy.

Sources

  • Healthfirst — About Us (plan types and service area)
  • NY State Department of Health — Managed Care Regional Consumer Guide (health.data.ny.gov)
  • NY State Department of Health — Medicaid Perinatal Care Standards (2026)
  • New York Insurance Law and Public Health Law — direct access to obstetric and gynecologic care
  • NY State of Health — Essential Plan eligibility changes effective July 1, 2026

This article is for general education and is not medical advice. It does not replace an evaluation by a licensed clinician who knows your history. If you think you have a medical emergency, call 911.