Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Requirements For Medicaid In New Jersey







You may be eligible to receive affordable health care with NJ Medicaid.


Medicaid is a federal and state program that provides health insurance to people who typically cannot afford it. Depending on your income and other factors, you may be able to receive free or low-cost health care through Medicaid. Since the eligibility guidelines vary from state to state, to get benefits in New Jersey, you need to first meet specific requirements according to New Jersey's Medicaid program.


General Qualifications


To get health benefits in New Jersey, you need to satisfy a few basic requirements. This includes being a New Jersey resident and a U.S. citizen or qualified alien (if you're not a citizen, you must be a permanent resident). Your income and resources must fall within the limits set forth by New Jersey's Medicaid program. You must also be able to provide evidence that you meet these basic requirements when applying for Medicaid.


In addition to these general qualifications, you need to fall into one of the following groups: low-income families and children; aged, blind and disabled; or pregnant women.


Families with Dependent Children


Children who are 18 years old or under can get health insurance through Medicaid if their family's income is at or below 350 percent of the Federal Poverty Level. For a family of four people, this means that the total monthly income is $6,432 or less. The parents of these children may receive Medicaid too if their income is at or below 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Level which means that the monthly income for a family of four must be $3,675 or less as of 2010.(see Resources for more on financial eligibility).








Aged, Blind and Disabled


You may be able to receive Medicaid benefits if you are 65 years of age or older, or considered blind or permanently disabled according to the Social Security Administration or the Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services. To qualify for this Medicaid program, you must also fulfill specific financial requirements in addition to being aged, blind or disabled. For a one person household, your maximum monthly income should not go over $903 and maximum resources should amount to $4,000 or less. (see Resources for more information on what's considered "income" and "resources").


Pregnant Women


A pregnant woman whose family income is at or below 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Level can receive Medicaid benefits which covers health care costs before, during, and after 60 days following the birth of the child. For example, to qualify for Medicaid, a pregnant woman and her unborn baby must have a total monthly income of $2,429 or less (see Resources for more information on what counts as income).


The child that the Medicaid-qualified woman gives birth to is guaranteed Medicaid coverage for one year after he or she is born regardless of any changes to the family's financial situation.

Tags: monthly income, below percent, below percent Federal, Federal Poverty, Federal Poverty Level, health care, income below