New York Attorney General Letitia James says her office helped thousands of residents resolve health care issues last year, recovering more than $1.5 million through its Health Care Helpline.
According to the Attorney General’s 2025 Health Care Bureau Annual Report, the helpline handled 4,890 complaints statewide, assisting consumers with medical billing disputes, insurance denials, and access-to-care issues. The office says those efforts resulted in $1.53 million in restitution and savings by correcting billing errors, reversing denied claims, and addressing unlawful practices.
The Health Care Helpline is a direct resource for New Yorkers facing medical bills, insurance coverage, and related issues. In 2025, advocates directly intervened in more than 3,200 cases, while also providing guidance or referrals in thousands of others.
The report found the most common complaints involved provider billing issues, which made up 42 percent of cases. Other frequent concerns included improper collections or refund problems, claim-processing errors, and denials of coverage by health plans.
State officials say some cases had significant financial and medical impacts. In one instance, the Attorney General’s office helped secure approval for a double-lung transplant after an insurance company initially denied coverage. In another, the office reduced a disabled patient’s medical debt from more than $262,000 to just over $1,200.
Additional cases included negotiating a five-figure ambulance bill down to $100, recovering thousands of dollars paid for a fraudulent health plan, and restoring insurance access so a cancer patient could receive a needed MRI.
Officials say the complaints also help identify broader issues in the health care system and can lead to further investigations.
New Yorkers seeking assistance can file a complaint online or call the Health Care Helpline at 1-800-428-9071.
