Need to contact or place a phone call to VNSNY: 1-866-783-1444 (TTY for the hearing impaired: 711)

Contact Line for Current Members: Please first call the number found on the back of your member ID card for accurate and faster service. 

Visiting Nurse Service of New York, or better known as VNSNY, is a health plan that is dedicated to the wellbeing, vibrancy, and diversity of New York residents.  VNSNY was among the pioneers in creating a Medicaid Managed Long Term Care (MLTC) plan in New York and is quite familiar with the ins and outs of New York’s health care system.  Their long-term relationships with different physician groups, hospital centers, private practices, as well as health systems make them well known in providing quality healthcare in the state.

CHOICE is a part of the VNSNY family and is able to access VNSNY’s unmatched extent and depth of clinical expertise.  The plans VNSNY and CHOICE have been created to collaborate closely with both plan members and their healthcare providers to provide customized solutions that will make the members’ health on track at all times.

VNSNY fully understands that the ability of doctors, hospitals, together with other care providers will tailor the services in order to meet the diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds is truly more important.

VNSNY CHOICE Health Plans envelop their members with the services they require to live safely and independently in their own home.  

• VNSNY CHOICE Total (HMO D-SNP)
  • This is a Medicare Advantage plan and a Medicaid Advantage Plus plan that joins together the Medicare and Medicaid benefits in an all-in-one plan for people who need long-term assistance with daily activities.  To become eligible, one must be:
    • At least 18 years old
    • Eligible for Medicare Parts A and B
    • Eligible for Medicaid
    • Requires long-term care for more than 120 days, based on a functional assessment.
    • Able to live safely at home with assistance for Activities of Daily Living like bathing, dressing, walking, or preparing food.
    • Residing in the service area of VNSNY CHOICE Total
• VNSNY CHOICE MLTC
  • This is a Medicaid Managed Long Term Care plan that offers long-term help with daily activities for individuals who are not qualified for Medicare or would want to keep it separate.  To become eligible, one must be:
    • At least 18 years old
    • Eligible for Medicaid
    • Requires need for community-based long-term care (for a continuous period of 120 days) based on a functional assessment
    • Able to live safely at home with assistance for Activities of Daily Living like bathing, dressing, walking, or preparing food.
    • Residing in the service area of VNSNY CHOICE MLTC
• SELECT HEALTH VNSNY CHOICE
  • This is a specialized Medicaid plan for individuals living with HIV, individuals of transgender experience or gender non-conforming, or homeless individuals, regardless of HIV status.

VNSNY CHOICE Total Benefits include the following:

• Acupuncture
• Eye exam / Eyeglasses
• Telehealth service
• Transportation 
• OTC items PLUS groceries
• And many more!

It is a benefit that provides members a FREE allowance that they may enjoy to purchase OTC drugs at no extra cost.  A predetermined dollar amount or allowance is provided to you within this plan.  This benefit will also assist you with the cost of essential health care products that are not within the medical or pharmacy expense under your plan.  To add to this, it can aid you in saving money on a vast array of generic branded health essential products like cold medicines, pain relievers, dental care, first aid supplies, and so much more.  

Advantages of using OTC benefit:

If you will use the credit or pre-determined allowance that is provided within this benefit, all products you wish to get will be given to you at no extra cost.  Your orders will also be delivered to your home without worrying about shipping fee as these will all be covered by the benefit.

VNSNY CHOICE Total presently works with DrugSource, Inc. to enable their members to purchase common everyday medical and personal health care essentials.  Their team of clinicians, researchers, engineers, financial experts, and a great number of direct sales representatives have outstanding expertise and know everything about healthcare business.  

The following are the common medical and personal care items that they offer for their partners:

• Skin and sun care products
• First aid supplies
• Allergy sprays and gels
• Cold and flu products
• Dental and Denture Care
• Antacids and Acid Reducers
• Vitamins and Minerals
• Eye and Ear Care
• And so many more!

These OTC products are all given to members at no extra cost.  A credit or pre-determined allowance is given within the benefit.  Shipping fee will not be charged to the member especially if this is inclusive in your plan.  Find below the easy methods where active members of this program can submit their orders to:

• They may go online and scroll down below on how to set up an account online.  This is considered to be the fastest, most convenient, and easiest way to order 24/7.
• They may call over the phone at 1-866-783-1444 TTY 711.
• They may purchase at another store that is not participating in the network and ask VNSNY CHOICE to reimburse you.

Members must make sure to review the Summary of Benefits of their existing personal plan to verify if their plan has this benefit included in it.  If it does, members must also be aware of the plan’s specified OTC allowance frequency, whether it is provided monthly or quarterly.  The allowance amount may vary depending on the plan.  The number to contact is given at the start of this article if you need further information about your plan benefits.

There are a few plans that are inclusive of an allowance that is provided on a quarterly basis.  These credits may be consumed to purchase some over-the-counter medications and supplies, comprising of digestive health treatments, allergy medication, pain relievers, first aid supplies, and so many more.  Members must review the Evidence of Coverage of their plan to check if it is included in their benefit and to find out the exact amount of the quarterly allowance provided.

IMPORTANT: Go directly to the site to confirm and acquire more information.

• https://www.vnsnychoice.org/for-members-vnsny-choice-total/otc-card/
• https://www.vnsnychoice.org/our-plans/vnsny-choice-total/benefits/ 

NOTE:  The information provided here is not a comprehensive explanation of the benefits available to you.  It is always best to communicate directly with the company to know more information about their available plans.

Easy-to-follow steps are provided below should you feel the need to access the login or registration page.  A brief guide is available for you so you can discover how you can login or activate a new online account and gain access.  Just make sure your personal information is close by.

• Stable internet access
• Email address
• Member information
• Personal information

1. Visit this link in your preferred search engine on your device.
2. Type in your 16- or 19-digit card number in the space provided.
3. Select the blue “Go” button to move forward.
4. Continue to move forward and provide all the necessary information to complete the activation.

1. Visit this link in your preferred search engine on your device.
2. Type in your Member ID in the space provided.
3. Type in your Date of Birth in the space provided in this format: MMDDYYYY.
4. Select the “Sign in” button to proceed forward.
5. You may now begin managing your account online and utilize the online store catalog system.

• Your card may be used at specific participating stores in the network.  The stores include CVS, Walgreens, Duane Reade, Family Dollar along with a number of local pharmacies.
• DELIVERY TIME: Please allow 5-7 business days for your items to arrive.  
• The items you ordered will be delivered to your home address at no cost to you.

NOTE:

If you wish to download the catalog, just visit the link below:

• 2021 VNSNY CHOICE Total Catalog

• If you have further questions about your plan, it is best to directly contact the number at

1-855-AT-CHOICE (1-855-282-4642) TTY:711