Posted on March 6, 2026
NJ FamilyCare is funded by state and federal Medicaid and CHIP dollars. Nearly 20% of New Jersey residents, including over 860,000 children, receive healthcare through NJ FamilyCare. Almost 550,000 low-income working-age adults in New Jersey are enrolled through the Affordable Care Act’s Medicaid expansion, which is the primary focus of new federal requirements taking effect this October.
Federal law now says that people ages 19 to 64 in the Medicaid expansion group must work or take part in approved activities, like education or volunteering, for at least 80 hours each month. Some adults do not have to meet this rule, including those who are pregnant or recently had a baby, former foster youth up to age 26, parents with children 13 or younger, and people who are determined to be “medically frail”.
If someone loses NJ FamilyCare because they do not meet the work requirements, they also cannot get subsidized Marketplace coverage. Starting December 31, 2026, most adults in the Medicaid expansion will have their NJ FamilyCare eligibility checked every six months. They will need to show they meet the work or community engagement rules twice a year. Click here to learn more or see if these rules apply to you.
You can find updates about how the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act affects New Jersey’s Medicaid program at NJ Medicaid Assistance Advisory Council (MAAC) meetings. Handouts and recordings from these meetings are posted on the Medical Assistance Advisory Council (MAAC) website.
