N.J’s Uninsured Kids Get Some Help

New Jersey will get an almost $17 million federal bonus for its strategies to enroll uninsured children in Medicaid and NJ FamilyCare nearly doubling the prior year’s federal bonus for dramatically increasing enrollment of uninsured children in healthcare programs administered by the state Department of Human Services (DHS).

This is the third year in a row New Jersey has received a performance bonus. In 2009, $2.2 million was awarded; in 2010, $8.8 million, and; for 2011, the total is $16,822,537.

New Jersey saw a net gain of 32,000 children in Medicaid and NJ FamilyCare between October 2010 and September 2011. The programs currently insure about 685,000 children, statewide.

“This performance bonus is great recognition for New Jersey,” says DHS Commissioner Jennifer Velez. “Children need immunizations, regular check-ups, prescriptions and dental care to thrive. Medicaid and NJ FamilyCare make these services possible for previously uninsured children.”