The Medicaid Income Limit is the most important criteria for deciding whether you qualify for Medicaid in your state. In this post, we are going to explain in detail the New Jersey Medicaid Income Limits for 2021. In the state of New Jersey, the Medicaid program is also called New Jersey FamilyCare.
Based on this information, you will be able to determine whether your income qualifies you for New Jersey Medicaid or not.
However, before we get into details about the income limit, we will first explain the Medicaid program in New Jersey and how it works.
Next, we will discuss who is eligible for Medicaid, including how eligibility works for various categories, including Children, Pregnant Women, and Adults.
What is Medicaid?
Medicaid is a federal and state health insurance program for people with a low income.
It provides free or low-cost health coverage to millions of Americans, including families and children, pregnant women, the elderly, and people with disabilities.
The Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) offers health coverage to children in families with incomes too high to qualify for Medicaid, but who can’t afford private coverage.
How Many People are on Medicaid?
According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, as of November 2020, here are the number of people enrolled in Medicaid and Chip in the entire United States:
- 78,521,263 individuals were enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP
- 72,204,587 individuals were enrolled in Medicaid
- 6,695,834 individuals were enrolled in CHIP
New Jersey Medicaid
The New Jersey Medicaid program provides medical coverage to low-income individuals and families.
As of 2020, the program, along with the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) covered 1.8 million people.
This includes 870,000 children as shown by the image below.
The New Jersey Department of Human Services, Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services administers the Medicaid program.
Who Can Get Medicaid in New Jersey?
You should apply for Medicaid if your income is low and you match one of the descriptions below:
- You think you are pregnant
- The parent or caretaker of a child and/or teenager under the age of 19.
- You are a child or teenager age 18 or under.
- An adult age 65 or older.
- You are legally blind.
- Living with a disability or disabled.
- You are in need of nursing home care.
New Jersey Medicaid Income Limit
The New Jersey Medicaid Income Limit is calculated as a percentage of the Federal Poverty Line.
To qualify, you must meet the New Jersey Medicaid Income limits listed below.
Here is the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) for 2021.
| 2021 Federal Poverty Levels for the 48 Contiguous States & D.C. | |||
| Household Size | Poverty Guideline for 48 states & DC | Alaska | Hawaii |
| 1 | $12,880 | $16,090 | $14,820 |
| 2 | $17,420 | $21,770 | $20,040 |
| 3 | $21,960 | $27,450 | $25,260 |
| 4 | $26,500 | $33,130 | $30,480 |
| 5 | $31,040 | $38,810 | $35,700 |
| 6 | $35,580 | $44,490 | $40,920 |
| 7 | $40,120 | $50,170 | $46,140 |
| 8 | $44,660 | $55,850 | $51,360 |
| Over 8 people | add $4,540 for each additional person | $5,680 | $5,220 |
Additionally, to be eligible for Medicaid, you cannot make more than the income guidelines outlined below:
- Children up to age 1 with family income up to 194 percent of FPL
- Any child age 1-5 with a family income up to 142 percent of FPL
- Children ages 6- 18 with family income up to 142 percent of FPL
- CHIP for children with family income up to 350 percent of FPL
- Pregnant women with family income up to 194 percent of FPL
- Parents of minor children with family income up to 29 percent of FPL
- Individuals who are elderly, blind, and disabled with family income up to 100% of the FPL
- Adults without dependents under Medicaid expansion with income up to 133% of the FPL
New Jersey Medicaid Income Limit Charts
The New Jersey Medicaid eligibility income limit charts are divided by groups.
For example, the first chart is focused on income limits for children who qualify for Medicaid.
Similarly, the second chart below focuses on the Medicaid income limits for adults in New Jersey who qualify for Medicaid.
New Jersey Medicaid Income Limit for Children
Below is the income limit for children by age category. Find the age category your child falls into and you will see the income limit by household size.
| New Jersey Medicaid Income Limit – Children | ||||||
| Children Medicaid Ages 0-1 | Children Medicaid Ages 1-5 | Children Medicaid Ages 6-18 | Children Separate CHIP | |||
| % FPL | 100% | 194% | 142% | 142% | 350% | |
|
Household Size
|
1 | $12,880 | $24,987 | $18,290 | $18,290 | $45,080 |
| 2 | $17,420 | $33,795 | $24,736 | $24,736 | $60,970 | |
| 3 | $21,960 | $42,602 | $31,183 | $31,183 | $76,860 | |
| 4 | $26,500 | $51,410 | $37,630 | $37,630 | $92,750 | |
| 5 | $31,040 | $60,218 | $44,077 | $44,077 | $108,640 | |
| 6 | $35,580 | $69,025 | $50,524 | $50,524 | $124,530 | |
| 7 | $40,120 | $77,833 | $56,970 | $56,970 | $140,420 | |
| 8 | $44,660 | $86,640 | $63,417 | $63,417 | $156,310 | |
Next is the income limit for adults by category. Find the category you fall into and you will see the income limit by household size.
New Jersey has expanded Medicaid to include adults without dependents.
Therefore, adults without dependents can apply for Medicaid in New Jersey.
For an update on the Medicaid expansion debate and timeline in New Jersey, see our New Jersey Expansion update below.
New Jersey Medicaid Income Limit for Adults
| New Jersey Medicaid Income Limit – Adults | ||||||
| Pregnant Women Medicaid | Adults (Medicaid) Parent/ Caretaker | Seniors & People w/ Disabilities (Medicaid) | Adults (Medicaid) Expansion to Adults | |||
| % FPL | 100% | 194% | 29% | 100% | 133% | |
|
Household Size
|
1 | $12,880 | $24,987 | $3,735 | $12,880 | $17,130 |
| 2 | $17,420 | $33,795 | $5,052 | $17,420 | $23,169 | |
| 3 | $21,960 | $42,602 | $6,368 | $21,960 | $29,207 | |
| 4 | $26,500 | $51,410 | $7,685 | $26,500 | $35,245 | |
| 5 | $31,040 | $60,218 | $9,002 | $31,040 | $41,283 | |
| 6 | $35,580 | $69,025 | $10,318 | $35,580 | $47,321 | |
| 7 | $40,120 | $77,833 | $11,635 | $40,120 | $53,360 | |
| 8 | $44,660 | $86,640 | $12,951 | $44,660 | $59,398 | |
How to Read the New Jersey Medicaid Income Limits Charts Above
You cannot have an income higher than the Federal Poverty Level percentage described for your group to be eligible for Medicaid.
Similarly, when you identify the income group that applies to you, the income limit you see refers to the maximum level of income you can earn to qualify for benefits.
For example, if you are pregnant, to qualify for Medicaid, you cannot have an income higher than 194% of the Federal Poverty Level – which for a family of two is $33,795 as shown in the chart above.
How to Apply for New Jersey Medicaid
There are 3 ways you can apply for Medicaid in New Jersey.
Option 1 – Apply online
You can apply online through the NJFamilyCare Portal – as shown in the image below.
If you have an account, you can log in or create your NJFamilyCare account. Click here to be taken to the website.
Option 2 – Apply at County Board of Social Services Near You
You can apply in person at the County Board of Social Services office near you. Click here to locate an office.
Option 3 – Download New Jersey Food Stamps Application
You can download an application for NJ FamilyCare/Medicaid from www.njfamilycare.org or call 1-800-701-0710 to request that an application be mailed to you.
Complete it and mail it to a County Board of Social Services office near you.
New Jersey Medicaid Phone Number
Here’s how to contact the New Jersey Medicaid Agency:
To apply for NJ FamilyCare, or select a Medicaid health plan, call 1-800-701-0710 (TTY 1-800-701-0720).
Medicaid Health Benefits Identification (HBID) Card Requests: 1-877-414-9251
Medicaid Dental Services: Providers only, call 609-588-7136; all others, call 1-800-356-1561
REVS – Recipient Eligibility Verification System: Providers can call to verify Medicaid Eligibility 1-800-676-6562
New Jersey Medicaid Expansion Update
New Jersey expanded Medicaid to adults without dependents under the ACA for coverage starting in 2014.
As a result, total Medicaid enrollment in New Jersey’ increased by 36 percent between the fall of 2013 and November 2017
As of August 2020, more than 699,000 New Jersey residents were enrolled in Medicaid due to expansion coverage.
Additionally, due in large part to the expansion of Medicaid, the uninsured rate in New Jersey dropped from 13.2 percent in 2013 to 8 percent in 2016.
New Jersey Medicaid Income Limits Summary
We hope this post on New Jersey Medicaid Income Limits was helpful to you.
If you have any questions about Medicaid in the state of New Jersey, you can ask us in the comments section below.
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Be sure to check out our other articles about Medicaid.
Income limits for Florida Medicaid
Alabama Medicaid Income Limits and How to Apply
Alaska Medicaid Income Limits and Chart
New Mexico Medicaid Income Limits Chart