Medicaid in New Jersey: what you may be able to apply for
🔎 Will this affect your green card?
Regular Medicaid does NOT count in the public charge test — receiving it does not affect your green card or immigration application. See details →
What it is
Public health insurance for low-income people, jointly funded by the federal and state governments. It covers doctor visits, hospital care, prescriptions, pregnancy, and children's care. States run it under federal rules, and each state has its own name and details (California calls it Medi-Cal).
NJ FamilyCare
Who may qualify
Income limit
- Adults 19-64 (incl. childless adults, ACA expansion)≤ 138% FPL
- Children 0-18 (under 19)≤ 355% FPLCovered up to 355% FPL (2026 chart: capped at $9,763/month for a family of four). Small tiered copays ($5-$35) begin above roughly 150-200% FPL; no monthly premium. Under 19 eligible regardless of immigration status (Cover All Kids).
- Pregnancy (any age)≤ 205% FPL0-205% FPL (2026 chart: $5,638/month for a family of four). Full coverage requires being lawfully present; undocumented pregnant women do not qualify but can get prenatal and family-planning care via NJSPCP (also 0-205% FPL) and emergency services such as delivery via the Medical Emergency Payment Program.
Immigration-status rules in this state
NJ FamilyCare's immigrant scope: (1) Children — since Jan 1, 2023 (Cover All Kids), income-eligible children under 19 can apply for full coverage regardless of immigration status (this remains after the federal change below). (2) Pregnant people — must be lawfully present for full coverage, regardless of entry date; undocumented pregnant women do NOT qualify for NJ FamilyCare but can get prenatal and family-planning care through NJSPCP (NJ Supplemental Prenatal and Contraceptive Program) and emergency services (including labor and delivery) through the Medical Emergency Payment Program. (3) Adults — generally must be lawful permanent residents for 5+ years, or in an exempt lawfully-present group (e.g., refugees, asylees); undocumented adults do NOT qualify (only NJSPCP for those 19+ and emergency care). 🔴 Major change: effective October 1, 2026, under the federal OBBBA (H.R.1), some non-citizens lose eligibility — refugees/asylees/trafficking victims not adjusted to LPR, temporary humanitarian parolees, VAWA applicants not yet LPR (or LPR under 5 years), Ukrainian Humanitarian Parole (UHP) parolees, people with withheld deportation, and Iraqi/Afghani parolees. LPRs of 5+ years, Cuban/Haitian entrants, COFA migrants (Micronesia/Marshall Islands/Palau), and children under 19 regardless of status all remain eligible. This is a changing area — always check the latest official guidance.
How to apply
What you'll need
Proof of identity; income and household size (based on the latest federal tax return, verified via pay stubs, etc.); New Jersey residency; immigration documents as applicable. Children under 19 are not denied for lack of satisfactory immigration status. See the official NJ FamilyCare application for the exact document list.
Timeline
Under federal Medicaid rules, an eligibility decision is generally made within 45 days (up to 90 days for disability-based cases); retroactive coverage for up to 3 months before the application month. Confirm NJ-specific timing with the official program.
Go to the official application →NJ FamilyCare (official online application) · also 1-800-701-0710 or your County Board of Social Services
Will it affect your green card? (Public charge)
✅ Regular Medicaid does NOT count in the public charge test — receiving it does not affect your green card or immigration application.
⚠️ The one exception: Medicaid that pays for long-term institutional care (a long-term stay in a nursing facility or mental-health institution at government expense) DOES count. Everyday doctor visits, hospital care, prescriptions, and home- and community-based care are not this exception.
➕ Because the current rule excludes all non-institutional Medicaid, Medicaid for children, pregnancy, and emergencies also does not count. In mixed-status families, eligible citizen or qualified children can safely get the care they qualify for.
Public charge is assessed only for people applying for an immigrant visa abroad, or applying for adjustment of status (a green card) inside the United States.
Many categories are exempt by law: refugees, asylees, VAWA self-petitioners, T and U visa applicants, Temporary Protected Status (TPS), Special Immigrant Juveniles (SIJ), Cuban/Haitian entrants, and others.
Public charge is generally not assessed when a green-card holder renews their card or naturalizes; a returning green-card holder is assessed only in limited cases (for example, an absence of more than 180 days).
This is information only, not immigration, legal, or tax advice. Public charge and your personal status are complex — consult a licensed immigration attorney. We never tell you whether you "will" or "won't" be affected.
USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 8, Part G, Chapter 7 (benefits considered) and Chapter 3 (who it applies to) — 8 USCIS-PM G.7 / G.3; regulation 8 CFR 212.21–212.23; 2022 final rule 87 FR 55472. · 2022-12-23
Last checked: 2026-07-16
Policies can change — always check the latest official information.
This site is informational only and is not immigration, legal, or tax advice. For public charge and your personal status questions, consult a licensed immigration attorney.
Medicaid in other states
See what your household may be able to apply for (New Jersey pre-filled · about 1 minute · runs locally, nothing uploaded)
Household Benefit Matcher
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