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Medicare Help in Suffolk County, Long Island

Suffolk County's Medicaid offices are in Hauppauge and Riverhead. Here's who to call in 2026 for Medicaid, food, heating help, rides and Medicare advice.

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Key points

  • The Suffolk County Department of Social Services (DSS) has Medicaid offices in Hauppauge and Riverhead. For a new Medicaid application, call 631-854-9916.
  • If you're 60 or older, the Suffolk County Office for the Aging takes your Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) application at 631-853-8326, from November 2, 2026.
  • A ride on Suffolk County Accessible Transportation (SCAT) costs $4.00 a trip in 2026. To apply, call 631-853-8333.
  • In 2026, PSEG Long Island's Household Assistance Program takes $45 or more a month off your electric bill. Getting Medicaid, food benefits or HEAP can qualify you.

This page covers Suffolk County. For the statewide rules, start with Medicare help in New York.

In Suffolk County, DSS handles Medicaid, the Medicare Savings Program, HEAP and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), once called food stamps. Its four service centers are in Riverhead, Coram, Hauppauge and Deer Park. The Office for the Aging serves people 60 and older and runs NY Connects. Free Medicare advice comes from the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) of Suffolk. Out east, one lost letter can mean a long drive to Riverhead. If you live near the county line, see Medicare help in Nassau County.

Local offices in Suffolk County

What you need Office Phone Website
Apply for Medicaid or the Medicare Savings Program, 65+ DSS Medicaid, at the Smithtown Center in Hauppauge (west) or the Riverhead Center (east) New applications: 631-854-9916 suffolkcountyny.gov/Departments/Social-Services/Medicaid
Apply for Medicaid online, 65+ and no long-term care needed NY State of Health 1-855-355-5777 nystateofhealth.ny.gov
Questions on a Medicaid case you already have Medicaid West (Hauppauge) or Medicaid East (Riverhead) 631-853-8408 or 631-852-3570 suffolkcountyny.gov
Medicaid help at home, including the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP) With Medicare and Medicaid: New York Medicaid Choice. Not in a Medicaid plan: DSS Home Care Intake Unit 1-888-401-6582; 631-854-9585 suffolkcountyny.gov
SNAP (money for food) DSS service centers: Riverhead, Coram, Smithtown (Hauppauge), South West (Deer Park) 631-852-3500, 631-854-2300, 631-853-8714, 631-854-6600 mybenefits.ny.gov
HEAP, age 60 and older Office for the Aging HEAP line 631-853-8326 suffolkcountyny.gov/aging
HEAP, under 60 DSS HEAP Central 631-853-8820 mybenefits.ny.gov
Meals at home, aging services, NY Connects Suffolk County Office for the Aging, 100 Veterans Memorial Highway, Hauppauge 631-853-8200 (meals: 631-853-8227) suffolkcountyny.gov/aging
Free Medicare counseling: Health Insurance Information, Counseling and Assistance Program (HIICAP) RSVP Suffolk 631-979-9490, ext. 118 rsvpsuffolk.org
Medicaid rides to the doctor Medical Answering Services (MAS) 844-666-6270 medanswering.com
Rides if a disability keeps you off the bus SCAT Apply: 631-853-8333. Book a ride: 631-738-1150 sctbus.org
Free food, help applying for SNAP Long Island Cares; Island Harvest SNAP Hotline 631-582-3663; 516-805-1642 licares.org, islandharvest.org
Electric bill help PSEG Long Island Consumer Advocacy 631-755-3407 psegliny.com
Gas bill help National Grid Long Island Consumer Advocates 1-800-930-5003 nationalgridus.com
Out of heat or shelter after hours DSS Emergency Services (after 4:30 p.m. and on weekends) 631-854-9100 suffolkcountyny.gov/aging

Not sure you qualify? Apply anyway, because the state or 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.

Which town page is mine?

Your town page is the one for the town you live in: Brookhaven, Islip, Babylon or Huntington. Patchogue and Coram are in Brookhaven, and Brentwood and Bay Shore are in Islip. Lindenhurst is in Babylon, and Northport is in Huntington. Smithtown and the East End use this page.

How do I apply for Medicaid in Suffolk County?

At 65 and older, you can 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. If you need care at home or have income over the limit, apply on paper at the Smithtown or Riverhead Center. For new applications, call 631-854-9916, weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Nassau-Suffolk Hospital Council helps you apply for free at 631-656-9783.

In 2026, the limit for one person is $1,856 a month in income and $33,038 in savings, the state says. The same application 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.

How do I get help at home through Medicaid in Suffolk County?

To get help at home through Medicaid in Suffolk County, call the number that fits your coverage. If you have both Medicare and Medicaid, the county says to call New York Medicaid Choice at 1-888-401-6582. If you're not in a Medicaid health plan, call the DSS Home Care Intake Unit at 631-854-9585. It handles personal care aides and CDPAP, where you hire your own aide. Read more about home care and CDPAP in New York.

Where can I get free Medicare counseling in Suffolk County?

You can get free Medicare counseling in Suffolk County from HIICAP volunteers at RSVP Suffolk. Call 631-979-9490, ext. 118, and a counselor calls you back. To meet in person, book a time at one of several Suffolk libraries. HIICAP and Pair Team don't sell plans. Each fall, Open Enrollment runs October 15 to December 7.

How do I get a ride to the doctor in Suffolk County?

To get a ride to the doctor in Suffolk County, pick the program that fits you.

  • Medicaid rides are for people with Medicaid. Call MAS at 844-666-6270 at least three days before a routine visit.
  • SCAT is the county's shared van for people whose disability keeps them off the bus. Call 631-853-8333 to apply, and you'll hear back within 21 days. Each trip costs $4.00, and you book one to five days ahead at 631-738-1150.
  • Town senior rides stay inside your town. In Smithtown, call 631-265-8811.

SCAT doesn't serve Shelter Island or trips inside Huntington, which runs its own van. See Medicaid rides in New York.

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

In Suffolk County, HEAP helps pay your heating bill once each winter, and the 2026-27 season takes applications from November 2, 2026. One person can make up to $3,563 a month and qualify. If you're 60 or older, the Office for the Aging takes your HEAP form at 631-853-8326. Under 60, call HEAP Central at 631-853-8820, or apply at mybenefits.ny.gov. Read more about HEAP in New York.

HEAP also gets you monthly discounts.

  • PSEG Long Island takes $45 or more off every electric bill once you send it your HEAP letter. Medicaid, SNAP or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) can also qualify you (631-755-3407).
  • National Grid adds a monthly credit to your gas bill once a HEAP grant goes to your account. For gas heat, the first level is $63.76 a month, as of December 1, 2025.

Where can I get food help in Suffolk County?

For food help in Suffolk County, apply for SNAP at mybenefits.ny.gov or at a DSS center. 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 for free at 516-805-1642, in English, Spanish or Haitian Creole. Read more about SNAP for seniors in New York.

For food right away, Long Island Cares runs pantries in Huntington Station, Lindenhurst and Hampton Bays (631-582-3663). At 60 and older with income up to $1,995 a month in 2026, ask Island Harvest about its monthly Senior Food Box. For meals at home, call 631-853-8227.

What a Pair Team advocate does

In Suffolk County, a call to us often starts with a Medicaid letter and a PSEG bill on the same table. Here's what we do:

  • Apply for Medicaid with you, online or on paper, and call DSS until there's an answer.
  • Help you apply for SCAT and book your first rides, or set up Medicaid rides through MAS.
  • Get your HEAP form to the Office for the Aging early, then send PSEG your HEAP letter for the credit.
  • Book a HIICAP counselor at your library, and sign you up for the Senior Food Box.

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 on the East End or in Smithtown. Is this my page?

Yes, this page covers Smithtown and the East End towns of Riverhead, Southampton, East Hampton, Southold and Shelter Island. The Riverhead Center at 605 Old Country Road handles Medicaid for the east side.

How long does Suffolk County take to decide on Medicaid?

Suffolk County DSS should decide on Medicaid within 45 days, the county says. It can take 90 days if DSS must decide on a disability. If you haven't heard by then, call your worker.

Can I renew my Medicaid by phone in Suffolk County?

Yes, most people can renew Medicaid by phone in Suffolk County. When the renewal comes in the mail, call 631-853-8755 on a weekday to set up a time. People in nursing homes can't renew this way.

What if I run out of heating oil at night or on a weekend?

If you run out of heating oil at night or on a weekend, call DSS Emergency Services at 631-854-9100. The county says you must be fully out of fuel, and you may have to repay the help.

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. Touro Law Center gives older adults free legal advice at 631-761-7470.

Sources

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