AmeriHealth Caritas Pennsylvania: Counties, Benefits and How to Enroll

Reviewed October 5, 2026. AmeriHealth Caritas Pennsylvania is a Medicaid (Medical Assistance) managed care plan in Pennsylvania’s Physical HealthChoices program. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, it serves members in the Lehigh/Capital, Northwest and Southwest zones, and its sister plan AmeriHealth Caritas Northeast serves the Northeast zone. Member Services is 1-888-991-7200 (TTY 1-888-987-5704), available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Quick answer: If you have Pennsylvania Medical Assistance and live in one of those zones, you can choose AmeriHealth Caritas Pennsylvania through PA Enrollment Services at 1-800-440-3989 (TTY 1-800-618-4225). In the five Southeast counties, the AmeriHealth Caritas family plan is Keystone First instead.

Where AmeriHealth Caritas Pennsylvania is available

Pennsylvania divides its Physical HealthChoices program into five zones. Here’s where AmeriHealth Caritas plans are listed, according to PA DHS:

Plan rosters can change when the state re-bids its contracts, so confirm your options with PA Enrollment Services before switching.

Other HealthChoices plans you can compare

What AmeriHealth Caritas Pennsylvania covers

As a HealthChoices plan, AmeriHealth Caritas Pennsylvania covers the physical health benefits of Pennsylvania Medical Assistance. The plan lists these services on its member benefits page:

• Well visits and checkups, sick visits and urgent care
• Hospital care, including emergency services
• OB/GYN, prenatal and postpartum care, plus the Bright Start prenatal program
• Eye exams for the whole family
• Dental exams and cleanings every six months
• Lab work and X-rays
• Home health services, physical therapy and chiropractic visits
• Medical equipment such as wheelchairs
• For children under 21: glasses, braces, hearing exams and immunizations
• A nurse call line, care management and a quit-smoking program

In HealthChoices, behavioral health services are managed separately by county behavioral health plans, not by the physical health plan. Prescriptions are covered through the plan’s formulary.

Who can join

You must first be approved for Pennsylvania Medical Assistance. You can apply through COMPASS online, by phone or at your county assistance office. See how to sign in to your state Medicaid portal. Once you’re approved, you choose a physical health plan in your zone, or the state assigns one if you don’t choose.

Older adults and people with disabilities who have both Medicare and Medicaid, or who need long-term services and supports, are generally served by Community HealthChoices plans instead of Physical HealthChoices. If that’s you, also read about Medicare Savings Programs and dual eligibility in Medicare and Medicaid.

How to enroll or switch to AmeriHealth Caritas Pennsylvania

1. Confirm your zone using the county table above.
2. Check your doctors. Use the plan’s provider directory or call Member Services to see if your doctors, specialists and hospitals are in network.
3. Call PA Enrollment Services at 1-800-440-3989 (TTY 1-800-618-4225) or enroll online through the state’s enrollment website (AmeriHealth Caritas PA enrollment page).
4. Watch for your welcome packet and ID card. Keep both your state ACCESS card and your plan ID card.

AmeriHealth Caritas Pennsylvania contact numbers

Sources: PA DHS Physical HealthChoices MCOs and AmeriHealth Caritas Pennsylvania.

AmeriHealth Caritas Pennsylvania vs. Keystone First

Both are part of the AmeriHealth Caritas family, but they serve different parts of the state. Keystone First is the AmeriHealth Caritas plan for Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties. Keystone First also offers a Medicare plan for people with both Medicare and Medicaid; see our overview of Keystone First benefits.

Keeping your coverage

Pennsylvania reviews Medical Assistance eligibility at least once a year. Federal changes passed in 2025 also add work requirements and six-month renewals for many expansion adults starting around January 1, 2027. Read what the 2025 Medicaid changes mean for you, keep your address current in COMPASS and return renewal paperwork on time.

Frequently asked questions

Is AmeriHealth Caritas Pennsylvania Medicaid?

Yes. It’s a Medical Assistance (Medicaid) managed care plan in Pennsylvania’s Physical HealthChoices program.

What counties does AmeriHealth Caritas Pennsylvania serve?

PA DHS lists it in the Lehigh/Capital, Northwest and Southwest zones. AmeriHealth Caritas Northeast serves the Northeast zone, and Keystone First serves the Southeast.

What is the AmeriHealth Caritas Pennsylvania phone number?

Member Services is 1-888-991-7200 (TTY 1-888-987-5704), 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

How do I switch to AmeriHealth Caritas Pennsylvania?

Call PA Enrollment Services at 1-800-440-3989 (TTY 1-800-618-4225) or enroll online through the state’s enrollment site.

Does AmeriHealth Caritas Pennsylvania cover dental and vision?

Yes. The plan lists eye exams for the whole family and dental exams and cleanings every six months, with glasses and braces for children under 21.

This article is general information. Medicare365 is not affiliated with or endorsed by AmeriHealth Caritas, the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services or any U.S. government agency. Plan details can change; confirm with the plan.

Official sources

• PA DHS: Managed Care Organizations, Physical HealthChoices
• AmeriHealth Caritas Pennsylvania: Member benefits
• AmeriHealth Caritas Pennsylvania: How to enroll