How to Renew New Jersey Medicaid
Updated August 2026
NJ FamilyCare operates on a 12-month continuous eligibility cycle for most enrollees. When your renewal period arrives, DMAHS first attempts ex parte renewal — an automated electronic check against data from the Social Security Administration, IRS, and New Jersey's state wage and employment records. No action is required from you if ex parte succeeds.
12-month
Continuous eligibility cycle
NJHelps.gov
Online renewal portal
10 days
Deadline to report major changes
Keep your contact information current on NJHelps.gov
DMAHS sends renewal notices by mail and through your NJHelps.gov account. If your address is outdated, you may miss a renewal deadline and lose coverage. Log in to NJHelps.gov now to confirm your current address, phone number, and email address are correct — even if your coverage is not up for renewal yet.
How NJ FamilyCare renewals work
If the system confirms that your income and household composition still meet eligibility requirements, you receive a notice stating your coverage has been renewed.
When you need to take action
Ex parte doesn't always work. If DMAHS can't confirm your eligibility through automated data sources — because your income changed, your household situation shifted, or data systems returned incomplete results — a renewal packet is mailed to you with a response deadline.
Missing that deadline is the most common reason people lose NJ FamilyCare coverage unnecessarily. The renewal form itself is usually straightforward: confirm your household members, current income, and address. Return it by the deadline printed on the form. You can also complete your renewal online at NJHelps.gov or by calling 1-800-701-0710.
Checklist: keeping your NJ FamilyCare coverage active
Use this checklist to reduce the risk of a coverage gap.
- Log in to NJHelps.gov at least once a year to review your account information
- Update your mailing address immediately if you move
- Respond to any mail from DMAHS or your county Board of Social Services
- Report major income changes (new job, job loss, significant raise) within 10 days
- Report household changes: marriage, divorce, birth, or family members moving in or out
- Submit requested documents by the deadline on your renewal notice
- Call 1-800-701-0710 if you receive a notice you don't understand
What if coverage is terminated incorrectly?
You have appeal rights. If DMAHS terminates or reduces your NJ FamilyCare coverage and you disagree, you can request a fair hearing through the Office of Administrative Law. Request the hearing within 20 days of the notice if you want coverage to continue during the appeal (sometimes called "aid pending" continuation). After 90 days, you can still appeal but continuation of benefits is not guaranteed.
Free legal assistance is available through New Jersey Legal Services if you need help navigating a fair hearing.
The 2023–2024 unwinding in New Jersey
During the COVID-19 public health emergency (March 2020 to March 2023), federal law prohibited states from disenrolling Medicaid enrollees. When that protection ended, states resumed normal renewals — a process referred to as the "unwinding." New Jersey's managed care infrastructure meant the administrative processing was more orderly than in many states, but NJ was not immune to coverage losses from returned mail, outdated contact information, and administrative errors.
If you or a family member lost NJ FamilyCare during 2023 or 2024 and believe it was a mistake, you can reapply at NJHelps.gov — prior coverage gaps don't affect future eligibility.
How to complete your renewal
When NJ FamilyCare sends a renewal notice, follow these steps.
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1
Read the notice carefully
Identify exactly what the agency is asking for and the deadline to respond. Renewal packets may ask you to confirm your current income, household size, or address.
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2
Update your information
If anything has changed — income, address, phone number, household members — report it now. Outdated contact information is the leading cause of missed renewal notices.
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3
Submit the renewal online or by phone
NJHelps.gov is typically the fastest way to complete a renewal. You may also call 1-800-701-0710 or mail in your completed packet.
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4
Confirm your coverage continued
After submitting, confirm you receive a notice that coverage was renewed. If you don't hear back within a few weeks, call 1-800-701-0710 to verify your status.
NJ FamilyCare (New Jersey Medicaid)
- NJ FamilyCare renewal phone line: 1-800-701-0710
- NJHelps.gov online portal: NJHelps.gov
- NJ Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services (DMAHS): state.nj.us/humanservices/dmahs/home