New Jersey Medicaid income limits
Last verified: June 2026
Verify current limits with NJ FamilyCare (New Jersey Medicaid)
NJ FamilyCare children's income limit: 355% FPL
NJ FamilyCare income limits by coverage group
The table below shows income thresholds as a percentage of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). Dollar amounts are estimates based on 2026 HHS FPL guidelines and update each January — verify current figures at NJHelps.gov or by calling 1-800-701-0710.
| Coverage group | Income limit (% FPL) | Est. annual income, family of 4 (2026) | Asset test? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adults 19–64 (ACA expansion) | 138% FPL | ~$46,000 | No |
| Pregnant women | 205% FPL | ~$68,000 | No |
| Children (no premium) | 0–200% FPL | Up to ~$67,000 | No |
| Children (small premium applies) | 200–355% FPL | ~$67,000–$115,000 | No |
| Aged, blind, disabled (standard) | Varies by program | Contact DMAHS | Yes — $4,000 (individual) |
All dollar figures are estimates. FPL guidelines update January of each year. Verify with DMAHS or NJHelps.gov.
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 premiums above 200% FPL
Children in households earning between 200% and 355% FPL receive NJ FamilyCare coverage with a small monthly premium. Premiums are typically in the $40–$50 per child range, with a family cap. DMAHS sets these amounts annually — check current premium schedules at nj.gov/humanservices/dmahs or through NJHelps.gov when you apply.
Non-payment of premiums can result in disenrollment, but NJ FamilyCare provides a grace period before coverage terminates. Contact DMAHS promptly if you're having difficulty paying.
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.
How Medicaid income limits work
Medicaid eligibility is tied to the Federal Poverty Level (FPL), a measure the Department of Health and Human Services updates each January. States set their income limits as a percentage of FPL — so when FPL increases, the dollar thresholds for Medicaid also shift.
The Affordable Care Act established a standard income methodology called Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) for most Medicaid applicants. Under MAGI, the agency counts wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security benefits, and most other taxable income. Assets — a savings account, vehicle, home — are not counted for MAGI-based programs. That changed with the ACA and applies in all states.
States that expanded Medicaid under the ACA cover most adults at or below 138% FPL. In non-expansion states, income limits for adults without dependent children are far lower — sometimes as low as a few hundred dollars per month — or eligibility for that category simply doesn't exist.
These are federal guidelines — state limits may differ
What counts as income under MAGI
MAGI (Modified Adjusted Gross Income) is the income standard for most Medicaid applicants — children, adults under 65, pregnant women, and parents. It includes wages, salary, tips, self-employment income, unemployment benefits, Social Security retirement and disability benefits (SSDI), and most other taxable income.
It does not count child support received, gifts, loans, inheritances that are not generating income, or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments. One key MAGI rule: the ACA added a 5% FPL income disregard for most adults, which effectively raises the usable threshold by that amount. So a state with a 133% FPL limit effectively covers adults to about 138% FPL after the disregard.
Assets — a bank account, car, or home — are not counted for MAGI-based programs. That's a major difference from old-law Medicaid, where asset tests were common. If you previously didn't qualify because of assets, your eligibility may have changed after the ACA.
Asset limits and long-term care Medicaid
MAGI-based programs have no asset test. But Medicaid programs that cover long-term care — nursing home care, home and community-based services for seniors — use the old income and asset methodology, which does include asset limits.
Asset limits for long-term care Medicaid vary by state and are updated periodically. Generally, countable assets above the limit must be spent down before an applicant qualifies. Exempt assets — the primary home (in most circumstances), one vehicle, and certain personal property — are not counted.
Specific asset limits for New Jersey's long-term care programs are on the seniors and long-term care page. The thresholds change, so verify current figures with NJ FamilyCare (New Jersey Medicaid) directly.