Medicare Help in Orange County, New York

This page covers Orange County in New York's Hudson Valley, not Orange County, California. For the statewide rules, start with Medicare help in New York.

In Orange County, DSS handles Medicaid and the Medicare Savings Program. It also runs the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), once called food stamps, and the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP). The Office for the Aging serves people 60 and older and runs NY Connects. Transit Orange, part of the county planning department, lists the town vans. This page covers Newburgh, Middletown, Port Jervis, Monroe, Warwick, Goshen and the rest of the county. If you don't drive, Goshen can feel far from Port Jervis or Warwick, so check the town vans below. Next door, see Medicare help in Rockland County.

Local offices in Orange County

Not sure you qualify? Apply anyway, because DSS makes the call, and New York doesn't count your savings for the Medicare Savings Program. If you would rather not do it alone, a Pair Team advocate can help you in one call.

How do I apply for Medicaid in Orange County, New York?

At 65 and older, you apply for Medicaid through Orange County DSS. The main office is at 11 Quarry Road in Goshen, open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. To ask if the Middletown or Newburgh office can take your form, call 845-291-4000.

In 2026, one person can have $1,836 a month in income, or $1,856 with the $20 the state doesn't count. The savings limit is $33,038, the state says. The same form checks you for the Medicare Savings Program. It can pay the $202.90 a month Medicare costs you, usually taken out of your Social Security check. See Medicare and Medicaid together in New York.

For Medicaid help at home, including the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP), start with NY Connects at 845-615-3710. See home care and CDPAP in New York.

Where can I get free Medicare counseling in Orange County?

You can get free Medicare counseling from HIICAP at the Orange County Office for the Aging, at 845-615-3700. The state line, 1-800-701-0501, also sends you to a counselor nearby. Counselors check you for the Medicare Savings Program and Extra Help with drug costs. Open Enrollment runs October 15 to December 7 each year. HIICAP and Pair Team don't sell plans.

How do I get a ride in Orange County, New York?

To get a ride in Orange County, start with your town's Dial-A-Bus. These vans are open to everyone and go curb to curb, but you must call at least 24 hours ahead. Most serve only their own town, Transit Orange says.

If a disability keeps you off the local bus in Newburgh, Middletown or the Monroe area, apply for ADA Paratransit at 845-615-3850. Each ride costs 75 cents. Both ends of the trip must be within three quarters of a mile of a bus line. With Medicaid, call MAS at 866-932-7740 at least three days before a routine visit. See Medicaid rides in New York.

How do I get help with heating and electric bills in Orange County?

In Orange County, HEAP helps pay your heating bill once each winter, and regular HEAP takes applications from November 2, 2026. One person can make up to $3,563 a month and qualify. Apply at mybenefits.ny.gov or at a DSS office, or call 845-291-2002. At 60 and older, the Office for the Aging also takes HEAP forms at 845-615-3700, the state says. See utility bill help in New York.

• Orange and Rockland takes $76.81 or more a month off electric if you get HEAP, Medicaid or SNAP (since January 13, 2026).
• Central Hudson credits $67.99 a month on electric for 18 months after a HEAP grant of up to $400.
• The Orange County Fuel Fund can pay up to $585 once, straight to your fuel company, if you don't qualify for HEAP.
• With a shut-off notice, call the Salvation Army in Middletown or Port Jervis about a Neighbor Fund grant. It has no age or income rules.

Where can I get food and meals in Orange County?

For food money, apply for SNAP at mybenefits.ny.gov or at a DSS office. From October 1, 2026, one person 60 or older can make up to $2,660 a month and get SNAP. See SNAP for seniors in New York.

At 60 and older, you can get lunch at Office for the Aging sites around the county. In Middletown, it's St. Paul's Methodist Church at 58 W. Main Street (845-343-6911). Other sites are in Cornwall, Montgomery, Blooming Grove, Chester and Greenwood Lake. Call the site a day ahead to reserve, the county health department says. If you can't get out, ask NY Connects about meals delivered once a week.

For groceries, the county health department keeps a food directory in Spanish, Yiddish and Haitian Creole, updated September 22, 2026. Call ahead, because hours change.

Can I get help with rent in Orange County?

You can get help with rent, but waiting lists are long or closed. In October 2026, the Newburgh Housing Authority's Section 8 and public housing lists were closed. Call 845-561-2066 to ask when they reopen. If you're about to lose your home, call DSS at 845-291-4000. At night, call 311.

What a Pair Team advocate does

In Orange County, a call to us often starts with getting from Port Jervis or Warwick to a DSS office. Here's what we do:

• Apply for Medicaid with you at the DSS office closest to you, and call until there's an answer.
• Book your town's Dial-A-Bus, or help you apply for ADA Paratransit.
• Send in your HEAP form, then the Fuel Fund form if HEAP says no.
• Book a HIICAP counselor and a seat at a senior lunch site.

An advocate is covered by Medicare if you qualify. It takes two minutes to find out.

Check if you qualify for a Pair Team advocate

Frequently asked questions

I'm looking for Orange County, California. Is this my page?

No, this page is for Orange County, New York, in the Hudson Valley. For Orange County, California, see Medicare help in Anaheim, which lists that county's offices and programs.

I live in Newburgh, Middletown or Port Jervis. Is this my page?

Yes, this page covers Newburgh, Middletown, Port Jervis and the rest of Orange County. Newburgh and Middletown have DSS offices, and Port Jervis has an Orange and Rockland walk-in center. Across the county line, see Medicare help in Rockland County or Medicare help in Dutchess County.

Can I get help in Spanish?

Yes, you can get some help in Spanish. The ADA Paratransit form and the county food directory come in Spanish, and so does the state's fair hearing form.

Does the Dial-A-Bus go between towns?

Most Dial-A-Bus vans stay inside their own town, so a trip to another town may need a second ride. Warwick's van is one that goes farther, to Goshen, Monroe and the Middletown area.

What if DSS denies my Medicaid?

If DSS denies your Medicaid, you can ask the state for a fair hearing within 60 days of the notice at 1-800-342-3334. If your Medicaid is being cut, ask within 10 days to keep it while you wait.

Sources

• Social Services, Orange County, New York
• Orange County Food Assistance Directory, Orange County Department of Health
• HEAP Contacts: Orange County, New York State OTDA
• Orange County Office for the Aging, New York State Office for the Aging
• Medicare and Health Insurance, New York State Office for the Aging
• Dial-A-Ride, Transit Orange
• ADA Paratransit, Transit Orange
• Local DSS: Orange, New York State Office of Children and Family Services
• Local Departments of Social Services, New York State Department of Health
• Medicaid Transportation, New York State Department of Health
• Medicare Savings Programs 2026, New York State Department of Health
• Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), OTDA
• Request a Fair Hearing, OTDA
• Energy Affordability Program, Orange and Rockland Utilities
• Orange County Fuel Fund, Orange and Rockland Utilities
• Neighbor Fund, Orange and Rockland Utilities
• Contact Us, Orange and Rockland Utilities
• Energy Affordability Program, Central Hudson
• Our Service Territory, Central Hudson
• Housing Programs, Newburgh Housing Authority