Where New Yorkers Can Find Help with Mental Health Treatment Costs, Insurance, and Rights on the OMH Website

The New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) website, omh.ny.gov, gathers cost, insurance, and rights information for consumers and families in one section of its navigation menu. From the "Consumers & Families" area you can reach a health insurance navigation help line, a "Know Your Rights" page on treatment for mental health and substance use disorders, and a guide to understanding the cost associated with your care. These pages are starting points for understanding coverage and rights; they do not replace advice from your insurer or a benefits counselor.

Cost and insurance help listed on the site

The OMH homepage and navigation menu list several consumer-facing resources. The ones most relevant to cost and coverage are:

The site presents these as links under "Consumers & Families." It does not publish eligibility rules, income limits, or a list of covered services on the homepage excerpt, so treat the pages themselves as the place to check specifics.

How to use the insurance help line

1. Find the number. The OMH site lists "Help Navigating Health Insurance: (888) 614-5400" in the Consumers & Families menu.
2. Call with your situation ready. Before calling, note your insurance type (Medicaid, a commercial plan, or none), the service you need, and any denial or bill you have received.
3. Ask what applies to you. Use the call to clarify which coverage pathway fits your case and what documentation you need.

The site does not state the line's hours, staffing, or whether it handles appeals directly, so confirm those details when you call.

Understanding your rights when getting treatment

The "Know Your Rights" page is listed for people getting treatment for mental health and substance use disorders. Use it to learn what protections apply to your care before you raise a concern with a provider or insurer. The homepage excerpt does not reproduce the rights themselves, so read the page directly rather than relying on secondhand summaries.

Understanding the cost of your care

The "Understanding the Cost Associated with Your Care" page sits alongside the insurance and rights links. It is the site's own entry point for cost questions. Because OMH does not publish prices or reimbursement details for consumers on the homepage, use this page to identify what cost categories apply, then confirm actual amounts with your provider or insurer.

If you are in crisis

Cost and coverage questions can wait; a crisis cannot. The OMH site lists these contacts:

• 911 for immediate medical assistance
• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org/chat
• New York State Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-942-6906
• New York HOPEline: 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369)
• The Trevor Project (24/7 crisis services for LGBTQ+ people): 1-866-488-7386

Finding a program and checking what it costs

The OMH program directory lets you search mental health programs by county, program category, or subcategory, and view details such as program name, address, and phone number; you can also click a county on the map to see all programs there. A practical sequence is: find a program in the directory, call it to ask about accepted insurance and fees, then use the (888) 614-5400 line or your insurer if coverage is unclear. The site does not state that listed programs are free, so confirm cost directly with each program.