To find a dentist who accepts your New York Medicaid managed care plan, call the dental number or Member Services on your plan card and ask for its list of in-network dentists, then call the office and confirm they take your exact plan and are accepting new patients. If your plan does not cover dental care, the state’s model handbook says you can go to any dentist who accepts Medicaid with your Medicaid Benefit Card.
Does NYC Medicaid cover dental care for adults and seniors?
Yes. The state’s Department of Health says New York Medicaid dental coverage comes through the fee-for-service program or through a Medicaid managed care plan. Where the plan covers dental, its model handbook says benefits include routine care such as checkups, cleanings, x-rays and fillings, and you do not need a referral from your primary care provider to see a dentist.
The handbook is a template, and each plan fills in its own details. Limits on dentures, crowns and other larger work are plan-specific, and I could not verify them from a state source. Ask your plan for its benefit summary rather than trusting a list from a website.
| Your Medicaid coverage | Where to look for a dentist |
|---|---|
| Managed care plan that includes dental | The plan’s dental vendor or Member Services; you may be assigned a primary dentist or may see any network dentist, depending on the plan |
| Managed care plan that excludes dental | Any dentist who accepts Medicaid, using your Benefit Card; the state hotline can send a list |
| Managed long term care (MLTC) plan | The plan; the state says all MLTC plans arrange and pay for dental services when medically necessary, so ask your care manager |
| Fee-for-service (“straight”) Medicaid | Any dentist enrolled and accepting Medicaid; the state hotline can send a list |
The state hotline in the handbook is (800) 541-2831. For a medical emergency such as bleeding that will not stop, go to the emergency room or call 911.
How do I find a dentist who accepts my plan?
Network lists change, so build in one phone call for each step. The order below avoids showing up at an office that turns you away.
- Find the plan name on the card. Note whether there is a separate dental ID card. The handbook says some plans issue one.
- Call the dental vendor or Member Services. Ask for in-network dentists near you, and whether you must choose a primary dentist.
- Call the dental office. Ask if they accept your specific plan, not just “Medicaid,” and whether they are taking new patients.
- Ask about access. Is the office on the ground floor or does it have an elevator? Is an interpreter available?
- Book the visit and the ride. See the section on transportation below.
- Keep a note. Write down the date you called, who you spoke with and what they said, in case the plan disputes it later.
Can I go to a dental school clinic?
Often yes. The handbook says you can self-refer to a dental clinic run by an academic dental center, and that the plan lists centers within 30 miles or gives a toll-free number. NYU College of Dentistry is a New York City example. Its page says the following.
| Question | What NYU Dentistry’s page says |
|---|---|
| Traditional Medicaid | Accepts all patients with traditional Medicaid coverage |
| Managed care | Provides care under New York Medicaid Managed Care through companies it lists: Benecare, DentaQuest, Healthplex, Liberty Dental, Scion and UnitedHealthcare; not every plan from each company is accepted |
| Primary dentist | Certain plans require you to choose NYU Dentistry as your primary dental provider |
| Phone | 212-998-9800 for plan questions; new patients can use the online Appointment Request Form or call; urgent care is (212) 998-9458 |
Call before you go, because this page describes one clinic and plans change. Hospital and community clinics are also an option, and your plan’s list will show them.
What should I ask the dental office?
A short script saves a wasted trip. Ask the office these questions, and write down the answers.
- Do you accept my plan by name, and are you in its current network?
- Are you accepting new patients, and how long is the wait for a first visit?
- What does the plan cover for this treatment, and does it need approval first? This matters most for dentures, crowns and extractions.
- Can a family member or home health aide come into the exam room with me?
- Do you have an elevator, a wheelchair-accessible chair and interpreter services?
- What should I bring? A list of medicines and your plan card are the usual items.
How do I get to the dentist?
The state’s Medicaid transportation program says members can get to and from medical appointments at no cost through the broker Medical Answering Services. In New York City the downstate number is 844-666-6270, and rides must be arranged at least 72 hours ahead. Because the state describes the program as covering medical appointments, ask the broker to confirm a dental visit qualifies when you book. Our NYC transportation guide for seniors covers Access-A-Ride and the reduced fare, and a medical escort can go with a person who needs help once inside.
What if my plan denies dental care?
The handbook says you can file a complaint with the plan by phone or in writing, and the plan responds within 45 days of receiving all the information, and no later than 60 days after the complaint. For a denied or reduced service, the plan sets a deadline for an action appeal, which must be at least 60 business days and no more than 90 calendar days. To keep receiving a service during the appeal, request a fair hearing within ten days of being told it was denied or by the date the change is scheduled.
| Problem | Who to contact, per the state handbook |
|---|---|
| Plan complaint or denial | The plan’s Member Services number on your card |
| Complaint to the state | NYS Department of Health, 1-800-206-8125 |
| Fair hearing | 1-800-342-3334 |
| Billing problem with a plan | NYS Insurance Department, 1-800-342-3736 |
Mouth care at home: what our nurse director tells caregivers
Anna Klyauzova, RN, MSN, MPA, Director of Patient Services at ProLife Home Care, on what she sees in practice:
Oral care is part of daily hygiene. A home health aide or personal care aide can help with brushing, look after removable dentures and set out supplies, as far as their training and the care plan allow. The nurse decides what help each patient needs.
Older adults often struggle with dry mouth, dentures that don’t fit and cleaning their own teeth. With dementia, a person may refuse because they don’t understand what is being asked. Stay calm, explain each step and never use force.
If you have no dental coverage, check your insurance first. In New York, Medicaid covers many dental services, and Medicare Advantage plans may add benefits. Without coverage, look at dental school clinics or community health centers that charge by income. Don’t put off treatment because of the cost.
We are a licensed home care agency in Brooklyn and Queens (New York State Department of Health licence #2572L001). To talk about personal care or in-home care that includes help with daily hygiene, call (718) 232-2777 or use our contact page. Our guide to how Medicaid covers home care explains the wider benefits.
Plans, networks and phone numbers change. Everything above was checked on 9 October 2026 against health.ny.gov, dental.nyu.edu and the Department of Health’s model managed care handbook. The Department’s pages block automated readers, so some were read through its mirror site. The MLTC covered-services page is old (revised in 2005), so confirm dental coverage with your plan before booking.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find out if a dentist accepts my NYC Medicaid managed care plan?
Call the dental vendor or Member Services number on your plan card for the in-network list, then call the office and ask if they accept your plan by name and are taking new patients.
Does Medicaid cover dental care for adults in New York?
Yes, through fee-for-service Medicaid or a managed care plan. The state’s model handbook lists checkups, cleanings, x-rays and fillings among plan benefits, and details vary by plan.
What if my Medicaid plan does not include dental?
The state handbook says you can go to any dentist who accepts Medicaid using your Benefit Card, and you do not need a referral. The state hotline at (800) 541-2831 will send a list of dentists.
Do I need a referral from my primary care doctor to see a dentist?
No. The state’s model handbook says you do not need a referral from your primary care provider to see a dentist.
Does NYU College of Dentistry take Medicaid?
Its page says it accepts all patients with traditional Medicaid and provides care under Medicaid managed care through companies it lists, though not every plan from each company. Call 212-998-9800 to confirm your plan.
Can Medicaid take me to the dentist?
The state’s transportation program provides rides to medical appointments at no cost, booked at least 72 hours ahead at 844-666-6270. Ask the broker to confirm a dental visit qualifies.
Can a home health aide help with brushing and dentures?
Yes, as far as their training and the care plan allow, according to our nurse director. The nurse decides what help each patient needs.
