Many immigrants are eligible for Medicaid in New Jersey (or for other public health care programs, such as NJ FamilyCare). Their incomes and/or resources are within Medicaid’s limits, and they qualify for one of the Medicaid-eligible categories (such as children, pregnant women, aged, or disabled people, etc.).

However, there are also many other immigrants who would qualify for Medicaid based on their income and their category who are not eligible for Medicaid solely because of their immigration status. This includes undocumented immigrants, tourists, students, workers, some legal permanent residents in the U.S. less than five years, and others. For these immigrants, Medicaid will cover only emergency medical services. This “emergency” Medicaid will cover the treatment of inpatient and outpatient emergencies in acute care general hospitals. Labor and delivery are considered emergency care by Medicaid and will be covered either in a general hospital or at a birthing center. Immigrants applying for “emergency Medicaid” to cover the treatment of an emergency condition do not have to supply a Social Security number.

Immigrants who do not qualify for Medicaid only because of their immigration status are usually eligible for Charity Care in New Jersey for inpatient and outpatient hospital care. Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) (from the New Jersey Primary Care Association) and many other health centers and clinics throughout New Jersey also provide outpatient care, including dental and vision care, without regard to patients’ immigration status, and charge uninsured patients according to a sliding scale based on the patient’s income.

If you were not given Medicaid for emergency health care or Charity Care from an acute care general hospital in New Jersey, and you think you should be eligible, you may contact the Health Care Access Project at Legal Services of New Jersey through their statewide Hotline (1-888-576-5520) for free legal assistance or a referral if you are not eligible for Legal Services.