• Most families will pay no medical costs in the New Jersey FamilyCare program.children with father image by Marzanna Syncerz from Fotolia.com
  
  Like all states, New Jersey requires that Medicaid applicants meet strict guidelines to be eligible for the program. Medicaid provides medical coverage for low-income individuals and families that cannot afford to buy health insurance. New Jersey's Medicaid program can be used to pay the costs of doctor and hospital visits, prescriptions and nursing home care.
  
  

Residency

• New Jersey requires that all Medicaid applicants be legal residents of the state. They also must be U.S. citizens. Legal aliens who are permanent residents are eligible for Medicaid beginning five years after their arrival date, as long as they arrived in the United States after Aug. 22, 1996.
  
  Emergency coverage is available for legal aliens who are within the five-year waiting period. Emergency Medicaid covers health care costs for documented emergencies. To be eligible for these benefits, aliens must notify hospital staff and complete an application. The application will be given to the local welfare agency to determine eligibility. Emergency coverage is also available for undocumented residents and for foreign individuals who do not plan to stay in the United States permanently, such as students or temporary workers.
  
  

Families

• New Jersey families with dependent children qualify for Medicaid coverage based on their total household income. Children ages 18 or younger are eligible for coverage if their families' incomes are at or below 350 percent of the federal poverty level. Parents and guardians may qualify for coverage if their incomes are at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level. In 2010, the federal poverty level for a family of four is $22,050 annually.
  
  A family's assets are not a factor when the Department of Human Services determines eligibility. In most cases, families must not have any other health insurance to qualify. However, according to the New Jersey FamilyCare website, certain exceptions apply, such as insurance loss because of a job layoff.
  
  

Pregnant Women

• Pregnant women qualify for Medicaid in New Jersey if their family's income is at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level. Women may apply at their health care provider's office and follow up with their local welfare agency. Medicaid for pregnant women lasts throughout the pregnancy and for 60 days following birth. In addition, newborns automatically have coverage for one year even if the family's income changes, according to the state Department of Human Services.
  
  

Disabled Elderly

• Senior citizens age 65 or older may qualify for Medicaid coverage if they meet income and health requirements. New Jersey's Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services or the federal Social Security Administration must find that the senior citizen is blind or disabled. Monthly income requirements for elderly people vary from year to year, so those interested in coverage must check with their local welfare agency to get the most up-to-date qualifications. According to the Department of Human Services, monthly income can include pension checks, Social Security benefits, veterans' benefits, inheritances and unemployment checks.