Many immigrants are eligible for Medicaid or other public health care programs such as NJ FamilyCare because their incomes are low and they qualify for one of the Medicaid-eligible categories (such as children, pregnant women, aged or disabled people, etc.). However, there are also many immigrants who would qualify for Medicaid based on their income and their category but who are not eligible for Medicaid because of their citizenship status. This group includes undocumented immigrants, tourists, students, workers, legal permanent residents in the U.S. less than five years, and others.

Immigrants who do not qualify for Medicaid only because of their citizenship status are usually eligible for Charity Care in New Jersey for inpatient hospital care and for outpatient health care at federally qualified health centers and many other health centers and clinics. However, Medicaid will cover these immigrants for the treatment of emergencies, which includes labor and delivery. This coverage is often called “emergency Medicaid.” Immigrants applying for “emergency Medicaid” to cover the treatment of an emergency condition do not have to supply a Social Security number.

This article originally appeared in the April 2003 issue of Looking Out for Your Legal Rights^®.

Last legal review 3/10/05.