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Essential Plan Cooling Program

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The Essential Plan Cooling Program provides a free air conditioner to eligible New Yorkers to help keep their homes cool as temperatures rise.

This program is intended to help New Yorkers with certain health conditions that are made worse by extreme heat and poor air quality. Air conditioners help keep air cool and clean. Having air conditioning, along with the right medical care and medications, is essential to managing health conditions effectively. The list of qualifying health conditions is below. 

The air conditioner will be delivered and installed by a designated NY State of Health vendor. If your application is approved, you may receive one cooling unit per applicant every five years. If an air conditioner cannot be safely installed, a fan will be provided.

Installation cannot exceed $900 for a window or portable air conditioner or $500 for a standing floor fan. For an existing wall sleeve unit replacement, installation cannot exceed $1,100. Cash benefits are not available.

Applications will be accepted until Monday, July 6, 2026 at 5 PM. 

Learn more about the Essential Plan Cooling Program.

You may qualify if you:

  • Are enrolled in NY State of Health’s Essential Plan
  • Experience one or more of the following conditions:
    • Asthma
    • Cardiovascular Disease
    • Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)
    • Chronic Migraine
    • Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
    • Diabetes
    • Disability
    • End-stage Kidney Disease (ESKD)
    • Epilepsy
    • Hypertension
    • History of Stroke
    • Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
    • Obesity
    • Parkinson’s Disease
    • Pregnancy & Post-Partum
    • Serious Mental Illness
  • Have not received a cooling unit in the past five years through the Essential Plan Cooling Program or the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) Cooling Program
  • Request installation at the permanent residential address on file with NY State of Health
  • Agree to program terms and conditions

If you are unsure whether you are an Essential Plan enrollee, you can contact NY State of Health by phone or download the NYSOH Mobile Upload App from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and log in to your account to confirm you are enrolled in the Essential Plan.

  • Agency: New York State Department of Health
  • Phone Number: (518) 473-8600
  • Business Hours: Monday - Friday: 9 AM - 5 PM

New Yorkers who are enrolled in the Essential Plan must complete the online application.

Applications will be accepted until Monday, July 6, 2026 at 5 PM. 

Once an application is submitted, you will receive an email within two to three weeks letting you know if you’ve been approved. If approved, the email will include information about the vendor you should contact to schedule installation of your device.

You are responsible for maintaining the air conditioner. 

This includes:

  • Removing, covering, and storing the unit
  • Reinstalling the unit or sleeve seasonally

The vendor will help you sign up for the manufacturer’s warranty when they install the unit.

If you have been approved and are having trouble reaching an approved vendor or need help with this program, please email NY State at NYSoHCoolingProgram@health.ny.gov.

You can call NY State of Health Customer Service for:

  • General questions
  • Help as a non-native English speaker
  • Help as a person with a disability

  • Agency: New York State Department of Health
  • Phone Number: (518) 473-8600
  • Business Hours: Monday - Friday: 9 AM - 5 PM

If you have submitted an application, have been approved and are having trouble reaching an approved vendor or need help with this program, please contact NY State at NYSoHCoolingProgram@health.ny.gov.

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