EmblemHealth expands New York Temperature outreach to 15,000 members
EmblemHealth expanded its new york temperature outreach in April 2026, adding about 15,000 more members to cooling benefits in New York State. The program now proactively calls eligible members and connects them with state help tied to heat risk.
Dr. Daniel Knecht, EmblemHealth’s chief medical officer, said the effort gives members timely information and access to clinical and community-based teams. He said, “This program gives members timely, relevant information and access to clinical and community-based teams that can address even more complicated health conditions.”
April 2026 expansion
The new outreach builds on a response used during New York City’s 2025 heatwaves, when the Environmental Resilience Program contacted 17,000 at-risk members. That effort used direct phone calls, voicemail messages and a bilingual English/Spanish AI agent named Rachel to share personalized guidance, nearby cooling center locations and heat-safety tips for members and their pets.
Members with more complex health or social needs were referred to EmblemHealth care teams for additional support. The program’s April 2026 expansion added cooling benefits through New York State, including the Home Energy Assistance Program and the Essential Plan Cooling Program.
Cooling benefits in New York State
Those state programs help eligible New Yorkers manage cooling costs and reduce risk factors linked to extreme heat as part of the state’s Extreme Heat Action Plan. The release says the program was already reaching about 75,000 members and had moved beyond heat alerts to include poor air quality, extreme cold, blizzard, high pollen conditions and flu vaccine reminders.
EmblemHealth said engaged members experienced approximately 47% fewer inpatient admissions than members who did not engage. Knecht said, “We are reaching members, making a difference, and reducing the likelihood of an emergency visit.”
What affected members see now
For members reached by the program, the practical change is direct contact: calls, voicemail and tailored guidance that can point them toward cooling help before heat becomes a crisis. The expansion also broadens the set of alerts and resources the program can use, which gives members more than one route to support when weather risks rise.
The immediate next step is for the outreach to continue through the larger member pool already covered by the Environmental Resilience Program. For New Yorkers who qualify for the state cooling benefits, the program connects them to assistance rather than leaving them to sort through the options alone.
