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Medicaid Enrollment Requirements in New Jersey

Medicaid is a federal and state funded program that is administered by the states and offers comprehensive, quality health care to certain low-income people. Each state has a different enrollment and eligibility process. Residents of New Jersey who want to enroll must meet specific eligibility requirements and must apply through the proper agency.

  1. Must meet residency requirements

    • The State of New Jersey reports that in order to be considered eligible for Medicaid, an applicant must prove that he is a New Jersey resident, and that he is a U.S. citizen or an immigrant who arrived after August 22, 1996.

    Must belong to a particular population

    • Only those who fall into certain population categories are eligible for Medicaid in the state of New Jersey. The categories include families that have dependent children, the elderly (65 years of age and older), people who are blind, people who are disabled and pregnant women.

    Must meet income requirements

    • Medicaid is specially designed to help low-income individuals, so income is a major factor in determining eligibility. Requirements are based on the federal poverty guidelines. Income requirements vary depending on the eligible population category the applicant belongs to.

      The state of New Jersey reports that children with a household income below 350 percent of the federal poverty level and parents and pregnant women with income below 200 percent of the federal poverty level meet eligibility requirements. Kaiser Family Foundation reports that the elderly, the blind and the disabled may make no more than 100 percent of the federal poverty level.

    Must meet resource requirements

    • Resources, or assets, include things such as cars, bank accounts, or bonds. Individuals may not have resources that total more than $4,000, and married couples may not have more than $6,000.

    May be medically needy

    • Those who are over the eligibility guidelines but have extraordinarily high medical bills may still qualify for Medicaid through the medically needy program. Qualified medical expenses are subtracted from the total income until the income that is left meets eligibility requirements. These individuals must also fall into qualifying population categories and must meet the resource requirements.

    Must apply through the county welfare agency

    • Social workers are available to assist applicants. When they apply, they will have to show identification, proof of residency, proof of income and proof of resources. Those who are disabled may have to show proof of disability.

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