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Health Equity

At Fidelis Care, we believe everyone should have the opportunity to live a healthy life. It’s our mission to ensure New Yorkers have access to high-quality healthcare, so they can get the care they need when they need it.

But many other factors contribute to an individual’s health and wellness beyond access to healthcare. Socioeconomic conditions can influence health risks and outcomes. Poverty, food insecurity, housing instability, education, employment, access to transportation and other circumstances contribute to health disparities among underserved and vulnerable populations.

Fidelis Care is committed to removing those barriers to health to improve access, quality, and affordability. It is an ongoing process that requires working together with our members, providers, and community-based organizations to support fair and just opportunities to equal access to healthcare.

Learn more about our different approaches to improve health equity:


Key partnerships

Wellness commitment to Buffalo Urban League

To nurture social entrepreneurship, facilitate wellness, and strengthen organizations focused on Black, Indigenous and People of Color in Buffalo’s East Side, Fidelis Care and the Centene Foundation donated $1.1 million to the Buffalo Urban League (BUL) to help establish its new headquarters and develop a Wellness and Entrepreneurial Center.

In addition, Fidelis Care partners with BUL through community programs and at events held in the city focused on health, family support and stabilization services, foster care, adoption, education, job training, employment, scholarships, and more.

Buffalo-Urban-League

Mental health alliance with The Jed Foundation

As part of our behavioral health efforts, Fidelis Care and the Centene Foundation awarded $1.1 million to The Jed Foundation (JED) to protect the mental health of New York State’s youth.

Through the funding, JED will expand its current services, providing at least five youth-serving community-based organizations (CBOs) with consultation or strategic planning services, including expert guidance, educational workshops, and training programs, equipping young people with life skills and connecting them to mental healthcare when they are in distress.

Fidelis-JED-Social


More Health Equity News


Fidelis Care Maternal Health Grant Program - Application Deadline July 8, 2025
7/2/2025 • Posted by Fidelis Care in Corporate News, Member News, Provider News, Provider Quality

LONG ISLAND CITY, NY (June 10, 2025) Fidelis Care, a statewide health plan with more than 2.4 million members in New York State and a Centene Corporation company, has opened the application process for its 2025 maternal health grant program. The grants, open to healthcare providers and community-based organizations in New York, aim to fund programs that support innovative strategies in postpartum care and maternal mental health. The application is available at fideliscare.org/maternal-grant. The deadline to apply is 5 p.m. July 8, 2025.  

Postpartum care and maternal mental health are critical components of long-term health and well-being for new mothers and their families. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) says mental health conditions, including depression and anxiety, are among the most common complications of pregnancy, affecting an estimated one in five individuals annually in the United States. Postpartum care attendance is inconsistent, with mean attendance rates in the U.S. around 72%, and even lower among the most vulnerable populations, such as those served by Federally Qualified Health Centers, where non-attendance can reach 43%. Access to health insurance has been associated with higher postpartum visit attendance, which is essential for screening and addressing both physical and mental health needs after childbirth. 

“As a healthcare community, we must recognize that supporting mothers after childbirth is just as vital as caring for them during pregnancy,” said Fidelis Care Chief Medical Officer Dr. Vincent Marchello. “Ensuring access to postpartum care and mental health services not only improves the well-being of mothers but also strengthens families and communities as a whole.”

Fidelis Care plans to announce the recipients of its 2025 maternal health grants in August.


About Fidelis Care
Fidelis Care is a mission-driven health plan offering quality, affordable coverage for children and adults of all ages and at all stages of life. With more than 2.4 million members statewide, Fidelis Care believes that all New Yorkers should have access to affordable, quality health insurance. Follow us on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/company/fidelis-care, Instagram at @fideliscare,
and on Facebook at facebook.com/fideliscare. For more information, call Fidelis Care at
1-888-FIDELIS (1-888-343-3547) or visit fideliscare.org.