Finding Care in New York

OB/GYNs That Take Medicaid in NYC: How to Find One and What to Ask

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

To find an OB/GYN that takes Medicaid in New York City, look up your Medicaid managed care plan's provider directory (or call member services), pick a few OB/GYNs or midwives near you, then call each office to confirm they take your exact plan and are accepting new patients. Most NYC Medicaid members are in a managed care plan, and an office can take one Medicaid plan but not another.

That last point trips up almost everyone. "Do you take Medicaid?" gets a yes, you show up, and the front desk says they don't take your Medicaid. Here's how to avoid that.

First, know which "Medicaid" you have

When people say "I have Medicaid," they usually mean they're enrolled in a private health plan that runs Medicaid benefits for the state. The plan's name is on your member ID card.

In the New York State Department of Health's 2024 Managed Care Consumer Guide, these plans reported Medicaid and Child Health Plus results for the New York City region:

  • Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield HP (formerly Empire)
  • Fidelis Care
  • Healthfirst
  • HIP (EmblemHealth)
  • MetroPlus Health
  • Molina Healthcare
  • UnitedHealthcare Community Plan

Each plan has its own network. A practice that takes Healthfirst might not take Fidelis Care.

Some people have fee-for-service ("straight") Medicaid instead, which often applies early in pregnancy coverage, before a plan is chosen. In that case, ask the office whether they bill New York State Medicaid directly.

You can also browse our listings by plan, like Healthfirst, MetroPlus or Medicaid, as a starting point. Always confirm by phone.

The phone call, word for word

Here's a script that gets you a real answer in under five minutes:

"Hi, I'm looking for a new OB/GYN. I have [plan name] Medicaid, and my member ID starts with [first few characters]. Does [doctor's name] take that plan at this location, and are they accepting new patients? I'm [X weeks] pregnant." (Or: "I need a gynecology visit for…")

Then ask:

  • Which hospital does the doctor deliver at, and does that hospital take my plan too?
  • Do you have midwives, and can I see one?
  • Do you have staff who speak my language, or interpreters?
  • Can some follow-up visits be by telehealth?

Write down the date, the time and the name of the person you spoke to. If a bill shows up later, that note matters.

Step by step

  1. Find your plan name on your card or your Medicaid approval letter.
  2. Search the plan's online directory for "Obstetrics & Gynecology" or "Midwife" plus your ZIP code. Pick two or three.
  3. Cross-check in our directory. Browse by borough, for example Brooklyn, the Bronx or Queens, for addresses, phone numbers and specialties.
  4. Call each office with the script above.
  5. If you're pregnant, say so first. Offices often book pregnancy appointments faster.
  6. Stuck? Call your plan's member services line. Plans are required to help you get an appointment.

How fast you should be seen if you're pregnant

New York's Medicaid perinatal care standards, effective February 1, 2026, set maximum waits for the first prenatal visit after you ask for care:

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

These are minimums; providers are encouraged to see you sooner. If an office offers something later, tell them how far along you are, and if that doesn't work, call your plan and say, "I can't get a first prenatal visit within the state's time standards."

Where Medicaid OB/GYN care is often easiest to get

NYC Health + Hospitals. The city's public system runs women's health clinics and labor and delivery units at hospitals including Bellevue, Harlem and Metropolitan in Manhattan; Jacobi, Lincoln and North Central Bronx in the Bronx; Kings County, Woodhull and South Brooklyn Health in Brooklyn; and Elmhurst and Queens Hospital Center in Queens. Several have large midwifery services. Their own plan, MetroPlus Health, is one of the Medicaid plans above.

Community health centers. Federally qualified health centers across the five boroughs offer gynecology and prenatal care and take Medicaid. Many offer care in Spanish, Chinese, Bengali, Haitian Creole, Russian and other languages.

Hospital clinics. Many private hospitals run resident and faculty clinics that take Medicaid plans. Call the hospital's women's health department and ask which plans they accept.

Midwives. Certified nurse midwives handle prenatal care, birth and gynecology, and many take Medicaid. Browse certified nurse midwives, or read OB/GYN vs midwife vs family doctor.

Pregnant and not on Medicaid yet?

New York covers pregnancy under Medicaid for households with income up to 223% of the federal poverty level, and immigration status isn't a barrier during pregnancy. Coverage continues for 12 months after the pregnancy ends. Many prenatal clinics can start the application with you on the spot (New York calls them Prenatal Care Assistance Program, or PCAP, providers), so you don't have to wait for approval to start care. Our guide to NY Medicaid, the Essential Plan and Child Health Plus for pregnancy has the details.

Common mix-ups

  • Asking "Do you take Medicaid?" Always name your plan.
  • Trusting an old listing. Doctors change plans and locations. Call.
  • Forgetting the hospital. Your OB may be in network while the delivery hospital isn't, or the reverse.
  • Letting coverage lapse. Open mail from NY State of Health or your local Medicaid office, and answer renewal notices quickly. A lapse in your third trimester is a headache nobody needs.

What Medicaid covers

New York Medicaid plans cover a broad set of OB/GYN services with in-network providers, including:

  • Prenatal visits, recommended blood tests and ultrasounds
  • Labor and delivery, and postpartum visits
  • Birth control, including IUDs and implants
  • Cervical cancer screening and follow-up, such as colposcopy
  • Gynecology visits for heavy bleeding, pelvic pain and similar problems
  • Doula services for pregnant and postpartum members (see doula Medicaid coverage in NY)

If an office says something isn't covered, call your plan before paying out of pocket. Medicaid can also help with rides to medical appointments in many cases; ask member services how to set one up, ideally a few days ahead.

When to call your provider

If you're pregnant, call your OB/GYN or midwife, or go to the nearest emergency room, for heavy bleeding, severe belly pain, a severe headache or vision changes, leaking fluid, fewer baby movements later in pregnancy, or thoughts of harming yourself. You never need insurance approval to go to an emergency room in an emergency.

If you're not pregnant, book a visit for bleeding between periods, bleeding after menopause, pelvic pain, a new lump, or signs of an infection. Or search the directory for a provider near you.

Frequently asked questions

How do I find an OB/GYN that takes Medicaid in NYC?

Most NYC Medicaid members are in a Medicaid managed care plan, so search that plan's online provider directory or call the member services number on your card. Then call the office to confirm they take your specific plan and are accepting new patients.

Do I need a referral to see an OB/GYN on Medicaid in New York?

Medicaid managed care plans in New York generally let members see an in-network OB/GYN for routine gynecology and pregnancy care without a referral from a primary care doctor. Check your member handbook, because rules for other specialists can differ.

How fast must a Medicaid OB/GYN see me if I am pregnant?

New York's 2026 Medicaid perinatal care standards say a first prenatal visit should happen within 3 weeks of your request in the first trimester, 2 weeks in the second trimester and 1 week in the third trimester. If you can't get an appointment, call your plan.

Do NYC public hospitals take Medicaid for prenatal care?

Yes. NYC Health + Hospitals runs prenatal clinics and labor and delivery units in four boroughs, and they accept Medicaid and the Medicaid managed care plans they contract with. They also help uninsured pregnant patients apply for coverage.

Can I switch Medicaid plans to keep my OB/GYN?

Often, yes. New York Medicaid managed care members can usually change plans, and a pregnant member may have special continuity-of-care rights. Call New York Medicaid Choice or your plan before switching so you don't lose access to your current provider.

Sources

  • NY State Department of Health — Medicaid Perinatal Care Standards (2026)
  • NY State Department of Health — Managed Care Regional Consumer Guide (health.data.ny.gov)
  • NY State Department of Health — Medicaid Prenatal Care (PCAP)
  • NY State of Health — Medicaid and Essential Plan information
  • NYC Health + Hospitals — Women's Health and Labor and Delivery services

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.