Medicaid Application Instructions


There are three basic methods one can use to apply for the NJ Medicaid program: online application, personal application, and application via telephone.

Online Application

For many individuals interested in applying for the NJ Medicaid program, online applications have been found to be the most popular form of application. The first step involves using the State's online self screening tool known as NJHelps, which can be found at this link:
http://mynjhelps.org/go

This tool will help you know whether or not you qualify for the NJ Medicaid program and list the documents you will need to provide in order to apply for the program. Once one has passed the online screening tool, you can download an application form from:
http://www.njfamilycare.org/

Apply In-Person

This is usually done by visiting one's county board of social services.More information regarding the locations one can visit when interested in making personal applications can be found at this link:
www.state.nj.us/humanservices/dfd/programs/njsnap/cwa/

On visiting one of the above offices, a qualified member of staff will help you apply for the NJ Medicaid program by evaluating you for all types of Medicaid and other assistance programs offered by the State. Note that you need to book an appointment before going to the county board for any services.

Phone Application

One can choose to apply for the NJ Medicaid program via phone if one is unable to either do it online or personally. There are various numbers one can call depending on their preferred location. Some of these numbers include: 609-348-3001(Atlantic county), 856-225-8800 (Camden County), 732-745-3500 (Middlesex County). Additional contacts can be found at this link:

www.state.nj.us/humanservices/dfd/programs/njsnap/cwa/


Eligibility Requirements

In order to qualify for the NJ Medicaid, one first needs to fall within any of the following groups:

  • Pregnant women
  • Children
  • Specific low income Medicare beneficiaries
  • People over the age of 65, and individuals who are blind or disabled
  • Families with children up to the age of 18
  • Women without insurance and have cervical or breast cancer
  • Undocumented immigrants in need of emergency care

Once one has been established to belong to any of the above categories, a few general eligibility requirements need to be met and they include:

  • One must be a citizen of the United States, or a qualified alien
  • The individual must be a resident of the State of New Jersey
  • The individual must also meet some specific standards for financial assets and income

Eligibility for NJ Medicaid is also based on specific criteria, some of which include:

  • The Medically Needy Groups

This option allows the State to include in its Medicaid eligibility program, additional individuals with high income levels that would otherwise not qualify in the mandatory or optional categorically needy groups. With this option, individuals are given the option to 'spend down' to Medicaid eligibility, which is achieved by incurring remedial and/or medical care expenses that in turn offset their excess income.

The State of New Jersey also allows families to fall into this category by paying monthly premiums to the state of an amount that is similar to the difference between the family income and the income eligibility standard.

  • New Jersey Medicaid Retroactive Eligibility

This simply implies that eligibility for the NJ Medicaid retroactive eligibility starts retroactively to any or all of the three months before the application date. This means that the Medicaid coverage stops at the end of the month of which an individual's circumstances change.