HHC wants immigrant New Yorkers to know that when they seek healthcare at public hospitals, their immigration status is kept strictly confidential. HHC honors your right to privacy. Your family's health and well-being are our first concerns.

Regardless of what you may hear, the government has not passed any new law about immigrants. Undocumented immigrants can continue to get medical care in New York City without fear.

We know that trust is the foundation of the doctor-patient relationship. For more than a century, new immigrant communities in New York have trusted public hospitals to give them excellent healthcare. Our strict patient confidentiality policy is the bedrock upon which that trust has been built.

Furthermore, we want undocumented immigrants to know that most children and pregnant women in New York City, regardless of immigration status, are eligible for health insurance at little or no cost. HHC staff helps all uninsured patients apply for the insurance programs or reduced fees for service, based on income and family size. While HHC employees must ask patients for information that may include immigration status, proof of income, home address and date of birth, this information is kept completely confidential. HHC does not compile records or lists of undocumented immigrants, nor does it share this information with immigrant authorities. We want immigrant families to know that our number one commitment is to their health.

Together with the Mayor's Office and our partners in the media and the community, HHC will do everything possible to assure immigrant New Yorkers that when they seek healthcare at our facilities, their privacy is safe.