The “Essential Plan Cooling Program,” is a initiative that provides free air conditioners to people enrolled in the state’s Essential Plan, and who also have persistent asthma.
According to the New York State of Health website, the plan covers comprehensive benefits for New Yorkers who are not eligible for things such as Medicaid, Child Health Plus, or for employer and other coverage.
In order to qualify, people must meet the following requirements:
- Be enrolled in New York’s Essential Plan.
- Have persistent asthma, which means a person experiences asthma symptoms most of the time and needs to take medication for their symptoms.
- Have not gotten a cooling unit in the past five years through the Home Energy Assistance Program Cooling Program.
Applications can be submitted until Aug. 31, 2025. People can apply online and expect to hear whether they have been approved or denied within about two to three weeks.
The state of health website states that applications will only be approved for people currently enrolled in the Essential Plan and meet the above requirements.
This program is apart of the “Extreme Heat Action Plan,” which is a multi-agency initiative to reduce heat vulnerability across the state. To learn more about the program, click here.