Medicaid Office

New Jersey Medicaid Income Limits

Updated August 2026

The table below reflects the NJ FamilyCare Income Chart effective January 1, 2026, published at njfamilycare.dhs.state.nj.us — verify current figures there or by calling 1-800-701-0710.

NJ FamilyCare children's income limit: 355% FPL

New Jersey covers children at up to 355% of the Federal Poverty Level — among the highest thresholds for children's Medicaid/CHIP coverage in the United States. A family of four earning roughly $115,000 per year (2026 estimate) may still qualify their children for NJ FamilyCare. Many higher-income NJ families never check because they assume they earn too much. They're often wrong.

NJ FamilyCare income limits by coverage group

Adults 19–64 (ACA expansion, Medicaid)

Income limit (% FPL)
0–138% FPL
Monthly limit, family of 4 (2026)
$3,795/mo
Asset test?
No

Pregnant women (NJSPCP) & Plan First family planning

Income limit (% FPL)
0–205% FPL
Monthly limit, family of 4 (2026)
$5,638/mo
Asset test?
No

Children — no premium, no copay

Income limit (% FPL)
0–150% FPL
Monthly limit, family of 4 (2026)
Up to $4,125/mo
Asset test?
No

Children — NJ FamilyCare, copay applies

Income limit (% FPL)
>150–355% FPL
Monthly limit, family of 4 (2026)
$4,126–$9,763/mo
Asset test?
No

Aged, blind, disabled (standard)

Income limit (% FPL)
Varies by program
Monthly limit, family of 4 (2026)
Contact DMAHS
Asset test?
Yes — $4,000 (individual)

How MAGI income is calculated

Most NJ FamilyCare programs use Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) methodology to determine eligibility. MAGI-based programs have no asset test — savings, home equity, and vehicle value don't count against you.

What counts as MAGI income: wages, salary, self-employment earnings, Social Security income (some), rental income, and investment income. What doesn't count: child support received, workers' compensation, veterans' benefits, and certain tax credits. For most working families, MAGI is close to — but not identical to — gross income on your tax return.

A 5% FPL income disregard applies to MAGI-based categories. In practice, this means the effective income cutoff for adults is about 143% FPL, not 138%. DMAHS applies this automatically.

Children's copays above 150% FPL — no monthly premium

NJ FamilyCare charges no monthly premium for children at any income level, including the highest tier approaching 355% FPL. Instead, families above 150% FPL pay per-visit copays: $5–$10 per service between 150% and 200% FPL, and $5–$35 per service between 200% and 355% FPL. Below 150% FPL, children's coverage has no premium and no copay.

Because there is no monthly premium at any tier, families sometimes assume higher-income coverage must cost more up front than it does — the cost exposure is limited to per-visit copays, not a recurring bill. Check current copay schedules at njfamilycare.dhs.state.nj.us or through NJHelps.gov when you apply.

Asset limits for aged, blind, and disabled programs

Seniors and people with disabilities who apply for NJ FamilyCare through non-MAGI pathways face an asset test. New Jersey's asset limit is $4,000 for an individual — higher than the $2,000 federal minimum that many states use, but still relatively restrictive. For couples, the limit is $6,000 in most standard programs.

Excluded assets include: your primary home (with conditions), one vehicle, life insurance with low cash value, and irrevocable burial arrangements. Long-term care Medicaid has additional spousal impoverishment rules — see the seniors and long-term care section for details on the Community Spouse Resource Allowance.

NJ FamilyCare (New Jersey Medicaid)

Visit the official New Jersey Medicaid website

Related guides

Income Limits

Current income cutoffs by state and household size, tied to the Federal Poverty Level.

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Spend-Down

How to qualify by deducting medical bills from income that's above the limit.

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Eligibility Requirements

The income, household, age, and state rules that determine who qualifies.

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