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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 Rural Health Grant Applications Now Open to Providers and Organizations Across New York State
9/10/2025 • Posted by Fidelis Care in Corporate News, Provider News

Grants Aimed at Supporting Innovative Preventive Care Programs in Rural Communities

LONG ISLAND CITY, NY (September 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 rural health grant program. The grants are aimed at supporting healthcare providers and community-based organizations that imagine and create innovative solutions to increase preventive care in rural communities across New York State. The application is available at fideliscare.org/rural-grant. The deadline to apply is October 3, 2025.   

“Fidelis Care understands that rural communities face unique challenges in accessing preventive care," said Dr. Vincent Marchello, Fidelis Care Chief Medical Officer. "By supporting innovative, community-based solutions, we are helping to ensure that rural New Yorkers receive the care they need, when and where they need it most. These grants reflect our commitment to advancing health equity and empowering local providers and organizations to make a lasting impact."

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services says more than 60 million Americans living in rural areas face significant health disparities, including limited access to care, higher rates of chronic illness, and fewer healthcare providers. In New York State, rural counties experience similar barriers, with fewer hospitals and medical professionals serving geographically isolated populations. To combat these issues, innovative solutions such as telehealth expansion, mobile health units, and community-based care models are being deployed. These efforts aim to improve health equity and ensure that rural residents receive timely, quality care regardless of location.

Recipients of the Fidelis Care rural health grants will be chosen based upon strength of proposal including impact, sustainability, organizational rating, social media verification, and regional location. Fidelis Care plans to announce the recipients of its 2025 rural health grants in conjunction with National Rural Health Day in November.

For more information or to apply, visit fideliscare.org/rural-grant.


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, and a wholly owned subsidiary of Centene Corporation, a leading healthcare enterprise committed to helping people live healthier lives. 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, on Twitter at @fideliscare, 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.