Medicare Help in Oyster Bay

This page covers the Town of Oyster Bay in Nassau County. For county-wide help, see Medicare help in Nassau County. For nearby towns, see Medicare help in North Hempstead or Medicare help in the Town of Hempstead. For the statewide rules, start with Medicare help in New York.

The Nassau County Department of Social Services (DSS) in Uniondale handles Medicaid and food help. The town adds senior classes, Golden Age co-ops and repair help, and a separate housing authority runs apartments. This page is for Hicksville, Massapequa, Syosset, Plainview, Bethpage, Woodbury, Jericho, Glen Head, Locust Valley, Bayville and Oyster Bay hamlet. The town runs from the North Shore to the South Shore, so your nearest lunch site depends on where you live.

Local offices in Oyster Bay

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.

What does the Town of Oyster Bay offer people 60 and older?

The town offers free classes and groups to residents 60 and older, the town says. They include tai chi, chair yoga, line dancing, bridge, bingo and karaoke. Some classes ask for a small fee for supplies. The town also plans luncheons, day trips, a yearly picnic and summer water exercise at four town pools.

Classes meet at town community centers, not at senior centers. The schedule changes each month, so call 516-797-7916 for it.

Where can I eat lunch with others in Oyster Bay?

You can eat lunch with others at senior centers the county pays for, if you're 60 or older. Call to reserve, and give what you can, the county says. Only four county sites give no rides, and none is in the town. Ask about a ride when you call.

If your hamlet isn't listed, like Syosset or Woodbury, call the county at 516-227-8900.

How do I get a ride in Oyster Bay?

To get a ride in Oyster Bay, start with your lunch site, because the town's senior division doesn't list doctor rides.

• Able-Ride is the county's shared van if a disability keeps you off the bus, at $4.00 each way. It only goes within three quarters of a mile of a bus route. That leaves out Syosset, Bayville, Oyster Bay hamlet, Locust Valley, and parts of Hicksville and Old Bethpage.
• Medicaid rides are for people with Medicaid. Call MAS at 844-666-6270 at least three days before a routine visit.

See Medicaid rides in New York.

How do I apply for Medicaid in Oyster Bay?

At 65 and older, apply online at NY State of Health if you don't need long-term care, the state says. You can also call 1-855-355-5777. For care at home, apply at DSS in Uniondale or call 516-227-8111. Read about home care and the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program in New York, which lets you hire a family member.

In 2026, one person can have up to $1,836 a month in income, or $1,856 with the $20 the state doesn't count. Savings can be up to $33,038, the state says. The same form checks you for the Medicare Savings Program, which can pay the $202.90 a month Medicare costs you. See Medicare and Medicaid together in New York.

Where can I get free Medicare counseling in Oyster Bay?

You can get free Medicare counseling from the Family & Children's Association at 516-485-3754, which runs HIICAP in Nassau County. Counselors help you compare plans, and the state line is 1-800-701-0501. HIICAP and Pair Team don't sell plans.

How do I get senior housing or repair help in Oyster Bay?

The Town of Oyster Bay Housing Authority has 911 affordable apartments. Its 11 sites are in Oyster Bay hamlet, Bethpage, Plainedge, Massapequa, Syosset, Hicksville, Plainview and Old Bethpage. People who live or work in the town go first. The wait is three to five years or longer, the town says, so apply early.

Golden Age co-ops are lower-tax apartments you buy, for people 62 and older who meet income and residency rules. Resale prices run about $180,000 to $390,000, the town says. See housing help in New York.

For repairs, the town's Community Development program helps older and disabled homeowners who meet federal income limits, at 516-797-4191. It pays for windows, doors, roofs, heating, hot water and removing barriers, but not for repairs that only change looks.

The senior tax exemption cuts county and town property taxes by up to 50% for owners 65 and older, based on income.

Where can I get food and help with bills?

For food help, apply for SNAP for seniors in New York at mybenefits.ny.gov, or call DSS at 516-227-3322. From October 1, 2026, people 60 and older who live alone can make up to $2,660 a month and get SNAP. Island Harvest helps you apply at 516-805-1642.

For food this week, Long Island Cares runs a pantry at 386 North Wantagh Avenue in Bethpage, open weekdays. In Hicksville, try St. Ignatius (516-935-8846), and in Syosset, St. Edward (516-921-8030). Call first, or text your ZIP code to 631-450-3775 for more.

HEAP in New York takes applications from November 2, 2026, for one person making up to $3,563 a month. A HEAP grant gets you $45 or more off each PSEG Long Island bill.

What a Pair Team advocate does

In Oyster Bay, a call to us often starts with a DSS letter and no bus near the house. Here's what we do:

• Apply for Medicaid with you and call DSS until there's an answer.
• Find your nearest lunch site, reserve a seat and ask about its ride.
• Check whether Able-Ride reaches your address, or book Medicaid rides through MAS.
• Help you apply to the Housing Authority, the town's repair program and the senior tax exemption.

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 live in Glen Cove. Is this my page?

If you live in Glen Cove, this page isn't yours, because Glen Cove is a city, not part of the town. See Medicare help in Nassau County for its senior center.

I live in Massapequa Park or Farmingdale. Is this my page?

Yes, this page is yours if you live in Massapequa Park, Farmingdale or another village in the town. The Wantagh Senior Center serves both villages for lunch.

Does the Town of Oyster Bay have senior centers?

The Town of Oyster Bay holds its senior classes at community centers, not senior centers. For a weekday lunch, use a county-sponsored site like the Life Enrichment Center, or call 516-797-7916 for the town's schedule.

How do I apply for a Golden Age co-op?

To apply for a Golden Age co-op, ask the town's Department of Community and Youth Services for a form at 516-797-7900. You must be 62 or older, and income limits differ by building.

What if DSS denies my Medicaid?

If DSS denies your Medicaid, you can ask the state for a fair hearing within 60 days at 1-800-342-3334. If it's being cut, ask within 10 days to keep it while you wait. Legal Services of Long Island helps older adults at 516-292-8088.

Sources

• Senior Citizen Services Division, Town of Oyster Bay
• Senior Program, October 2026, Town of Oyster Bay
• Community and Youth Services, Town of Oyster Bay
• Golden Age Housing, Town of Oyster Bay
• Town of Oyster Bay Housing Authority
• Community Development Block Grant Program, Town of Oyster Bay
• Tax Exemptions, Town of Oyster Bay Receiver of Taxes
• Town Addresses and Phone Guide, Town of Oyster Bay
• Nutrition Programs, Nassau County Office for the Aging
• Supportive Services, Nassau County Office for the Aging
• Medicaid, Nassau County Department of Social Services
• How to Apply for NY Medicaid, New York State Department of Health
• Medicare Savings Programs 2026, New York State Department of Health
• HIICAP, New York State Office for the Aging
• How to Ride Able-Ride, NICE
• Able-Ride Ticket Books and Fares, NICE
• Medicaid Transportation, New York State Department of Health
• Contact Us, Long Island Cares
• Find a Food Pantry, Island Harvest
• SNAP Resources, Island Harvest
• Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), OTDA
• Household Assistance Program, PSEG Long Island
• Request a Fair Hearing, OTDA