Children age 18 or younger in "Qualified" immigrant status are able to apply for NJ FamilyCare, regardless of the date that they entered the United States. They do not have to wait five years to be eligible.

Adults who are legal permanent residents of the US must have had that status for at least five years in order to be eligible for NJ FamilyCare.

"Qualified" status includes:

• A lawful permanent resident
• A refugee
• An asylee
• A Cuban-Haitian entrant
• An undocumented resident whose deportation is being withheld by USCIS
• An Amerasian immigrant
• A child of an honorably discharged US military veteran
• A child of a member of the US military
• Certain American Indians born in Canada are treated the same as a US citizen for the purpose of Medicaid eligibility.
• An immigrant paroled for over one year.
• An applicant under the Violence Against Women Act

Please note: Families accessing NJ FamilyCare benefits will NOT be considered a "Public Charge".*

Public Charge is a term used by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to describe people who cannot support themselves and depend on government benefits that provide cash support, such as, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) - or they live in a nursing home or other long-term care institution at the government's expense. If an immigrant receives NJ FamilyCare benefits, USCIS will not consider the receipt of these benefits as a reason to classify the immigrant as a "Public Charge".

Please review the information provided on this web site or for additional assistance, call 1-800-701-0710. A translator is available for most languages.

MEDICAL EMERGENCY PAYMENT PROGRAM FOR UNDOCUMENTED RESIDENTS

This program will pay for emergency care provided by a hospital for people who would have been eligible for NJ FamilyCare/Medicaid but for their immigration status. The care must be for medical conditions that happen suddenly with severe symptoms that will cause a serious health problem if immediate medical attention is not provided.

If care is received in a hospital for a condition meeting the above criteria, the hospital, physicians' and other related costs (including ambulance service) may be covered by this program.

How do I apply for the Medical Emergency Payment Program for undocumented residents?

1. Inform the hospital office staff that you wish to apply for this program.
2. If an application form is available, you will be asked to fill it out immediately.
3. If an application is not available, the staff member will notify the County Welfare Agency that you are interested in applying.
4. After the emergency medical treatment, you must call the County Welfare Agency yourself to schedule an interview.
5. Bring any bills that you received for your child's emergency treatment with you to the County Board interview.
6. You must complete an application within 3 months of the date of the emergency in order to be covered under this program.

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