Immigrant Information

Children under 19 can qualify for NJ FamilyCare regardless of their immigration status. Pregnant women who are lawfully present can qualify, regardless of the date that they entered the United States. In general, immigrant adults must have Legal Permanent Resident status in the United States for at least five years in order to qualify for NJ FamilyCare. Some immigrant adults can qualify if they are lawfully present, regardless of when they entered the US. Immigrants age 19 and 20 who are lawfully present and have very low income can also qualify.

“Lawfully present” status includes, but is not limited to:

• 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

Immigrants who do not see their immigration status listed are still welcome to apply. They may want to talk with an immigration attorney.

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 and does not live in a nursing home or other long-term care institution, USCIS will not consider the immigrant a "Public Charge."

Please review the information provided on this website. For additional help, call 1-800-701-0710 (TTY: 711). A translator is available for most languages.

MEDICAL EMERGENCY PAYMENT PROGRAM (MEPP)

MEPP covers emergency services, including labor and delivery, for New Jersey residents age 19 and older who do not qualify for NJ FamilyCare because they do not meet the U.S. Citizenship or immigration requirement.

Immigration statuses that qualify for MEPP include, but are not limited to:

• Undocumented
• Non-immigrant (student, temporary worker)
• Adults who do not qualify for NJ FamilyCare because they have not been a Lawful Permanent Resident for 5 years

For more information on what services are covered, income guidelines, and how to apply, visit the MEPP page.

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