Taking the family out of NJ FamilyCare
May 17th, 2011 | by Raymond J Castro | Published in NJPP Blog: As a Matter of Fact ... | 4 Comments
By Raymond J. Castro, Senior Policy Analyst
In defense of his plan to cut the state’s federally subsidized health insurance program for working poor families, Governor Christie recently asserted that New Jersey provides more access to Medicaid than any state except New York.
That’s simply not true.
In fact, if the governor has his way, New Jersey would have one of the nation’s most restrictive policies when it comes to the Medicaid program that provides affordable health insurance to working poor families who have no other options.
It is accurate to say that when it comes to children New Jersey is second only to New York in providing health coverage through Medicaid/ NJ FamilyCare. However, when it comes to providing affordable coverage to the rest of the family, Medicaid/NJ FamilyCare lags behind nine other states and is racing toward the bottom of that list.
Last year, the state cut the NJ FamilyCare eligibility level for parents in New Jersey from 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) to 133 percent of FPL. For a family of three, that meant a maximum yearly income of $25,000 instead of $36,000.
The state plans even further reductions this year by reducing that eligibility threshold to just 29 percent of FPL. That’s a yearly income of about $5,300 for a family of three. That’s also the same eligibility level for the welfare program, WorkFirst NJ. The irony there is that taking away the option of NJ FamilyCare creates an incentive for parents to stop working full time and rely on welfare in order to have health insurance.
If those proposed cuts are enacted, New Jersey would have one of the lowest eligibility levels for parents in the nation. Only Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Missouri and Texas would have lower eligibility levels.
More important, however, is that research in New Jersey and nationally has shown that reducing the eligibility level for parents will reduce the number of children enrolled in NJ FamilyCare. That will only increase the financial pressures on emergency rooms and hospitals as it drives up the number of uninsured New Jerseyans.
Read more about family health insurance here.
View the press event with Senators Joseph Vitale and Loretta Weinberg and advocates on this issue along with the governor’s response.
May 17th, 2011at 4:03 PM(#)
Families need health insurance coverage, especially with younger children, but also people like myself who are not working, disabled, and having no other kind of coverage. Medicaid isn’t perfect, and I am not a fan of HMO’s, but at least we have the coverage; I would like to see choice of doctor returned to the individual, not having to choose a health network, but choosing a doctor who is convenient to get to. As a physically challenged individual, I have more than my primary care physician. I have glaucoma, so I see my opthalmologist every 2 or 3 months. I also have a shunt in my head, so I have to see my neurosurgeon regularly. The problem with that is location. There are no doctors in my county who are neurosurgeons; I have to travel to another county just to get my neurological needs met. This has got to stop; either get rid of HMO’s or improve the health system so that those of us who need specialists can see them regularly and without referrals.
May 17th, 2011at 4:10 PM(#)
My husband has been out of work for 2 yrs; I only work PT; we were denied coverage for family. What do we have to be homeless to get coverage??? THis country is going downhill.
May 20th, 2011at 10:56 AM(#)
I am a single mother of 2 that I have sole custody of. I have had NJ Family care for the past 2 years and was cut this year. I make $700 less than it says I can for earned income, but make too much for unearned income. Christie now made it that for child support for 2 children you cannot get more than $55 a week to support them. Thats insane. So I am the only person my kids can rely on and if I get sick I cannot afford to go to the doctor. God forbid I get cancer or something like that. Its a death sentence because I would not be able to get treatment. I am sure Chris Christie has the best health insurance. NJ Family wasn’t free for me but atleast I could afford it.
October 26th, 2011at 10:57 PM(#)
If you come in to the USA with NO citizenship, everything is handed to you on a silver platter. You get FREE shelter, food, health insurance, schooling and TANF funds ! I am born and raised here, Mother of 2 and I can’t even get a cavity filled because I don’t ” qualify ” for insurance. I only make 27K a year ! What’s wrong with this country???!!! Chris Christie is, for starters.