State officials say some affected residents may still qualify and should submit the information needed for an eligibility review.
TRENTON, NJ – 10,399 people lost NJ FamilyCare coverage on October 1 after failing to respond to requests for information about their eligibility under new federal rules, the New Jersey Department of Human Services said in an October 6 announcement.
The department is urging those residents to respond immediately because some may still qualify for coverage. It sent letters in July to 23,633 noncitizens whose records needed review.
The number who did not respond is not a count of people the state has conclusively determined are ineligible. Officials said the missing information is needed to establish whether coverage can be restored. Only NJ FamilyCare can make that determination for an individual applicant.
The changes stem from federal legislation signed in July 2025. Federal implementation guidance narrows the immigration categories for which states can receive federal funding for full Medicaid benefits beginning October 1, 2026.
The remaining categories generally include lawful permanent residents, Cuban and Haitian entrants, and people covered by the Compacts of Free Association. Other eligibility requirements and applicable waiting periods still matter. The law preserves exceptions involving emergency care and certain coverage for children and pregnant people.
Refugees, people granted asylum, some humanitarian parolees and trafficking survivors can be affected if they have not obtained another qualifying status or do not fit an exception. A person’s previous eligibility therefore does not, by itself, establish eligibility under the new rules.
New Jersey’s member guidance says most noncitizen members are unaffected. It identifies continued protections for children under 19 regardless of immigration status, lawfully present people under 21, and lawfully present pregnant people. Eligibility is assessed individually, including within the same household.
Residents who received a documentation request should follow its instructions and send copies, keeping their original records. Documents can be submitted through VerifyOS.com using the reference number on the letter and the member’s date of birth. The state also lists fax and mail submission options.
Anyone who has lost the letter, needs the reference number or has questions can call the NJ FamilyCare/HMS hotline at 1-833-635-7060, with TTY access through 711. Language assistance is available.
Residents found ineligible for FamilyCare may have other coverage options. State guidance advises checking Get Covered New Jersey promptly because loss of coverage can provide a special enrollment period. The October 6 announcement also directs uninsured residents toward clinics that accept patients regardless of insurance or immigration status.