The nationwide Medicaid program provides low-income Americans with essential health care services. The jointly funded program operates according to federal guidelines and is administered by individual states.
The NJ FamilyCare Medicaid program is overseen by the Department of Human Services. It attends to over 1.5 million state residents, including pregnant women, parents with dependent children and the aged, blind or disabled. Those who qualify for the program receive a wide range of health benefits, such as:
- Doctor and specialist visits
- Inpatient and outpatient hospital services
- Home health care
- Immunizations, screenings and other preventive care
- X-rays and lab tests
- Prescription drug coverage
- Nursing home care
To qualify for NJ FamilyCare coverage, Passaic County residents must be U.S. citizens or qualified aliens and meet specific
income and asset limits based on age and functional ability. Seniors aged 65 and over and disabled adults aged 21 and over can qualify if they:
- Have $2,313 or less in monthly income if single or $4,626 if married and both spouses are applying
- Own $2,000 or less in assets if single or $3,000 if married and applying together
Income from all sources counts toward the limits. While most assets are considered, a few are exempt, such as a primary home worth up to $858,000, household and personal effects, a single vehicle and a burial trust.
Those who exceed the income limits may qualify through the
Medically Needy program, which requires that a certain amount of monthly income is spent on qualified medical bills to reach the necessary coverage threshold.
Married couples who are over the income and asset limits may be eligible for additional exemptions if only one spouse is applying. Medicaid rules allow a non-applicant spouse to keep up to $3,160.50 of an applicant’s monthly income and $126,420 in jointly owned assets.
Passaic County residents can apply for the
NJ FamilyCare Aged, Blind, Disabled program online. Those who need help applying can call (800) 701-0710 or visit the nearest
Passaic County Social Services office.
FamilyCare Managed Long-Term Services and Supports Elderly, blind and disabled residents who meet the eligibility requirements for Medicaid coverage and are assessed as needing a nursing-facility level of care can qualify for the
FamilyCare MLTSS program. Those enrolled receive comprehensive medical and long-term care services through one of five Medicaid-approved
managed care organizations. Services provided through the program include:
- Full Medicaid health care benefits
- Case management
- Assisted living
- Respite care
- Community residential services
- Personal emergency response systems
- Nursing home care
- Addiction and mental health services
Those already enrolled in NJ FamilyCare can contact their MCO to request an assessment for the MLTSS program. Other Passaic County residents can contact the
Aging and Disability Resource Connection at (877) 222-3737 to schedule the financial and medical assessments required to apply.