To apply for NJ FamilyCare, submit a single application online at the state’s portal, by mail, or by phone through the helpline — one form determines whether you qualify for Medicaid, CHIP, or Medicaid expansion coverage. Most people approved pay nothing, and the review usually takes 30 to 45 days.1New Jersey Department of Human Services. Cover All Kids
Check Whether You Qualify First
Eligibility depends on your household income compared to the Federal Poverty Level. The 2026 FPL is $15,960 for a single person and $33,000 for a family of four.2HHS ASPE. 2026 Poverty Guidelines NJ FamilyCare uses those figures to set income ceilings:3NJ FamilyCare. Who Is Eligible
- Children under 19: household income up to 355% FPL, roughly $9,763 per month for a family of four. Children qualify regardless of immigration status.
- Adults 19 to 64: up to 138% FPL, about $1,836 per month for a single person or $2,489 per month for a couple.
- Pregnant individuals: up to 205% FPL, about $5,638 per month for a family of four.
Income is measured as modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) — your federal adjusted gross income plus certain non-taxable income. The program is designed for people without employer-sponsored insurance.4NJ FamilyCare. NJ FamilyCare – What Is It
Three Ways to Apply
The fastest route is the online application. From the NJ FamilyCare website, click “Apply Here” to reach the state’s digital portal at dmahs-nj.my.site.com/familycare/quickstart. You can complete and submit it in one sitting.5NJ FamilyCare. NJ FamilyCare – Apply for NJ FamilyCare
If you prefer paper, download the PDF application from the same site or call the NJ FamilyCare helpline at 1-800-701-0710 (TTY: 711) to have one mailed to you. The helpline also takes applications over the phone and operates Monday and Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.6NJ FamilyCare. NJ FamilyCare Assistance is available in more than 20 languages, including Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Korean, Portuguese, Hindi, and Polish.4NJ FamilyCare. NJ FamilyCare – What Is It
What to Have Ready Before You Start
Gather this information for every household member who is applying:7New Jersey Department of Human Services. NJ FamilyCare Application Form
- Social Security numbers for each applicant who has one. You can still apply without an SSN, and household members not seeking coverage do not need to provide theirs.
- Dates of birth for everyone in the household.
- Citizenship or immigration status. For non-citizens, you will need the immigration document type, USCIS or I-94 number, and any card or passport number. Children qualify regardless of immigration status under Cover All Kids.
- Employer name and address, start date, gross income, and pay frequency (weekly, biweekly, twice a month, or monthly). Paystubs, W-2 forms, or wage and tax statements all work.
- Profit and loss statements if anyone is self-employed.
- Other income sources: Social Security benefits, pensions, rental income, alimony.
- Policy details for any health insurance anyone in the household already has.
Having everything organized before you begin prevents the kind of half-finished applications that stall in review.8NJ FamilyCare. NJ FamilyCare Application Check List
Filling Out the Form
Household Size
Define your household the way you define it on your federal taxes. Count yourself, your spouse if filing jointly, and any dependents you claim, even if a dependent lives at a different address. Getting this number right matters because the income limit shifts with every additional member. If you don’t file taxes, the form walks you through an alternative way to identify your household.
Income
For each employed member, enter the employer’s official name and address as it appears on a W-2 or paystub, along with gross income before taxes and how often that person is paid. Self-employed applicants should report net self-employment income and keep profit and loss statements ready in case the state requests verification.8NJ FamilyCare. NJ FamilyCare Application Check List
Existing Coverage
If anyone in the household currently has health insurance through an employer, a marketplace plan, or another source, disclose it. The state uses that information to coordinate benefits. Leaving it blank when coverage exists can delay your application.
Signature
The last page requires a signature certifying that your answers are accurate; the online version accepts a digital signature. Honest mistakes are correctable, but knowingly submitting false information on a Medicaid application is a crime of the third degree under New Jersey law, carrying three to five years in prison and a fine of up to $15,000.9Justia. New Jersey Code 30-4D-17 – Penalty Civil penalties can add repayment of up to three times the excess benefits received.
Submitting Your Application
If you file online, review the summary screen, click Submit, and save the confirmation number the system generates. That number is your proof of the date and time the state received your application and you will need it to check status later.5NJ FamilyCare. NJ FamilyCare – Apply for NJ FamilyCare
Mail paper applications to:
NJ FamilyCare
PO Box 8367
Trenton, NJ 08650-98027New Jersey Department of Human Services. NJ FamilyCare Application Form
Photocopy the full packet before mailing. Send copies of supporting documents like paystubs, not originals. Certified mail or a tracking service gives you a delivery receipt; standard mail works but leaves you with no proof of when it arrived.
What Happens After You Apply
Processing currently runs about 30 to 45 days.1New Jersey Department of Human Services. Cover All Kids During that window, the state cross-references your information against payroll databases and federal records. If something is missing, the agency mails a request for additional documentation. Respond quickly. Ignoring that letter can lead to a denial for failure to cooperate, even if you would otherwise qualify.
NJ FamilyCare can cover unpaid medical bills from up to three months before your application month, as long as you met eligibility during those months.10NJ FamilyCare. Applicant and Beneficiary Rights and Responsibilities This retroactive window applies only to services from Medicaid fee-for-service providers. Keep any bills from the months before you applied. Federal legislation is scheduled to shorten this lookback period beginning in January 2027.
Pregnant applicants who need prenatal care right away may not have to wait the full processing period. Certain HealthStart providers, including independent clinics and hospital outpatient departments, can make a presumptive eligibility determination on the spot using a one-page application, letting ambulatory prenatal services begin immediately while the full application is reviewed.11Cornell Law Institute. N.J. Admin. Code 10-49-2.8 – Presumptive Eligibility
Once review ends, the state mails a determination letter. If approved, it specifies your coverage start date and the program tier. Most enrollees pay nothing; higher-income families with children may have sliding-scale copayments,12NJ FamilyCare. Children and Adults Under Age 65 with total household premiums and copayments capped at 5% of monthly household income under federal rules.13MACPAC. Cost Sharing and Premiums
Picking a Health Plan
After approval, you need to select a managed care organization. The current options are Aetna, Fidelis Care, Horizon, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan, and Wellpoint. Not every plan operates in every county, so your choices depend on where you live.14NJ FamilyCare. Choosing a Health Plan If you don’t choose within the enrollment window, the state assigns one. Compare which doctors and hospitals are in each plan’s network before defaulting into an assignment; switching later is possible but takes more work.
If Your Application Is Denied
A denial letter explains the reason, usually income above the threshold, missing documents, or failure to respond to a verification request. You have the right to a fair hearing. Submit a written request to the Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services, Fair Hearing Unit, within 20 calendar days of the date on the denial notice. The request does not need a specific format; a clear statement that you want to appeal is enough. You can also fax it to 609-588-2435. If you already have benefits and face termination rather than an initial denial, request continuation of benefits within 10 days of the notice date, or coverage stops while the appeal is pending. Keep proof of the request, whether a fax confirmation or a certified mail receipt.
Keeping Your Coverage
NJ FamilyCare eligibility is reviewed periodically, typically once a year. The state sometimes renews coverage automatically by checking data sources like SNAP records; if that works, you get a letter confirming renewal and need to do nothing.15State of New Jersey. Stay Covered NJ – Renewal Data When automatic renewal is not possible, the state mails a renewal packet to complete and return. Miss the deadline and you still have a 90-day grace period to submit the packet and keep coverage. Send it even if you are past due. No response at all means loss of benefits.
Between renewals, report changes within 10 days of when they happen: a new address, a change in household size, a significant income change, or gaining or losing other health insurance. Failing to report a change that affects your eligibility can lead to overpayment recovery or, in serious cases, fraud penalties.