How Much Do I Have to Pay Back Medicaid, HRA or SNAP?

You are likely reading this because you are being investigated by the Fraud Investigation Unit at the Human Resources Administration. That, in turn, makes it likely that you’ll have to pay back at least some of the benefits that you have received from the Department of Social Services (DSS). After receiving Medicaid, SNAP, Child Health Plus, or other means-tested programs, how much would you have to pay back? The answer to that question depends on several factors:

Premiums vs. Services Provided – Medicaid plans are managed by a private insurance company. Medicaid pays the premiums to the private health insurance company, usually an HMO, and the company is responsible for paying for medical claims. Under those circumstances, the NYC HRA Fraud investigator will usually ask for the pay-back of premiums. The situation would be different with older Medicaid, where the Department of Social Services would pay the providers directly. In old cases, the Fraud Investigator would ask for a pay-back for medical services provided.

The HRA Prefers to have the full amount. If there is a way for the HRA to get the full amount, they will make that a priority. This is their goal, and they will do their best to meet it.

Partial qualification – if the client qualified for at least some of the benefits for at least some of the covered time, that qualification may reduce the amount owed to the Fraud Investigation Unit of the HRA. Your best chance of receiving a partial qualification is having a qualified Medicaid Fraud attorney represent you in negotiations with the City of New York.

Client’s ability to pay – The City of New York would prefer to have the full amount. But it is our position as New York Medicaid Fraud attorneys that the investigators should recognize that clients often do not have the ability to pay back the entire amount. The amount can go back to years of coverage, so we insist that the HRA either offer a partial payment plan or an installment plan.

It is not a good idea to negotiate with the DSS/HRA on your own. If you are being investigated for by DSS/HRA, call an attorney immediately.


Albert Goodwin, Esq. is an attorney with a practice in New York City who represents individuals accused of Medicaid fraud. You can reach him at (212) 233-1233.

Attorney Albert Goodwin

About the Author

Albert Goodwin Esq. is a licenced New York attorney with over 15 years of courtroom experience. His extensive knowledge and expertise make him well-qualified to write authoritative articles on a wide range of legal topics. He can be reached at 212-233-1233 or [email protected].

Contact Us









Albert Goodwin gave interviews to and appeared on the following media outlets:

ProPublica Forbes ABC CNBC CBS NBC News Discovery Wall Street Journal NPR

Client Reviews

Verified feedback from our clients

Mr. Goodwin is everything you want in an attorney: professional, honest, thorough, and genuinely caring. He always explains things clearly, so I understood exactly what was happening and what to expect next. His attention to detail and persistence really stood out. Looking back, I feel lucky to have found him. He guided me through the whole process expertly, and I deeply appreciate all his hard work. Would definitely recommend him to anyone needing legal help.

Sarah M

Legal Services

Thanks to Mr. Albert Goodwin's hard work and smart thinking, I finally won my case, which has been a long time coming. He figured out solutions that no one else could see. I'm really impressed by his strong ethics - something that's rare these days. As my lawyer, he went above and beyond what I expected. I'm so grateful I found him and would definitely recommend him to anyone needing legal help.

Lawrence H

Legal Services

From our first meeting, I knew I was in great hands with Albert and his associate Katrina. They handled my case with incredible skill and efficiency, even though they took it over from another firm. What impressed me most was how quickly Albert responded to my questions with honest, clear answers - no sugarcoating, just straight talk. They managed a huge workload under tight deadlines, and their fees were very reasonable for such high-quality work. Beyond his legal expertise, Albert's wit and personality made a difficult process much easier to handle. I'm deeply grateful for their hard work and would absolutely choose them again. If you need legal help in New York, you won't find better representation than Albert's firm.

Adam F

Legal Services

VIEW MORE
New York State Bar Association Member Badge New York City Bar Association Member Badge American Bar Association Member Badge Avvo Rated Attorney Badge