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Question
and Answers
Below is a
general list of frequently asked questions. If you don't see your
questions listed below, PLEASE call the Bergen County Board of Social
Services at 201-368-4200 and ask to speak to a FamilyCare worker. It is suggested that at anytime
you or a
family member contacts a FamilyCare worker that they keep a
record of the day,
time and the name of the person who assisted them.
How do I know if my family will qualify for NJ
FamilyCare?
NJ FamilyCare is affordable health insurance for children. The primary
qualifications are simple: 1) you don't have health insurance or Medicare
2) OR you had health coverage and you have lost your coverage (See the
information below about children who have income below the Plan A Income
Limit) and 3) your
family monthly income falls within the guidelines listed in the Who
Can Qualify for NJ FamilyCare?
section of this
Web site.
Will
my children have to be without health insurance for 6
months before they can be eligible?
Most children can
qualify for NJ FamilyCare only if
they have been uninsured for a period of six months or more. There are exceptions to this rule, such as if
your place of work goes out of business or your company has a reduction in
its work force. If you are privately paying for your children's health
insurance with a policy outside of your employers, you may be able to drop
it. We strongly urge you to call a FamilyCare worker at Bergen County
Board of Social Services, 201-368-4200. and speak to a
FamilyCare worker to find out if any exceptions apply to you.
-
Pregnant
Women and children from very low income families who have other insurance may qualify for NJ
FamilyCare. When a family member qualifies for NJ FamilyCare and has
other insurance coverage, that coverage remains their primary
insurance.
-
Pregnant
Women and children who have Family Income below the Plan A
Income Limit who lose their insurance do not have to wait six months
before they can qualify for NJ FamilyCare.
I
have a job out-of-state. The health insurance I receive is not accessible.
Will my children qualify for NJ FamilyCare is spite of the fact that I have
insurance?
Yes.
If health insurance is not accessible to your children, they may be
eligible to apply for NJ FamilyCare.
I
don't speak English very well and I am afraid to call.
Contact the Bergen County Board of Social Services and request to speak to
a bi-lingual worker. The agency has workers available who can speak
Spanish and many other languages. Don't be afraid! Call!
How
do I apply?
You can print an application from this Web site. Go to Application
Download where you can download and print the application. Return
the application by mail to the Bergen County Board of Social Services or
you can call 201-368-4200 and request an application. The application will be sent to your home in the mail.
Complete the application; return all of the required information in the
self addressed stamped envelope. That's all there is to it! You can also
call to request an application for a friend, brother, or sister.
I
really need help completing the application. Where can I get some?
You can call 201-368-4200 and to speak to a FamilyCare worker for assistance over the
telephone. If you would rather have face to face assistance, come to the
Bergen County Board of Social Services located at 216 State Hwy 17 North
in Rochelle Park. You can enter our office building from Passaic
Street or Route 17 North. A FamilyCare worker will assist you if you
need help filling out the application.
Do
you think I should make a copy of all this paperwork before I send it?
YES! Do not send original documents. Make photocopies of all
documents and keep a copy of your application for your records.
I
cannot make up my mind as to which HMO to select. What should I do?
First, you should contact your family doctor to see if he or she is
participating in one of the NJ FamilyCare HMO's.
Although you must select one of the 4 HMO's that serve Bergen County, you
may see a doctor who participates in that plan even if the doctor
practices in another county in New Jersey. You need to ask your doctor specifically if he or she is participating in
the NJ FamilyCare program. If they are not, we recommend that you check
our Web site to compare the services provided by each HMO. If you
don't know the names of doctors that participate in the NJ FamilyCare
HMO's, you can check our Web site for a list of Primary Care Physicians
for each HMO. Once you have narrowed your choice to an HMO and have
selected a Primary Care Physician, it is strongly recommended that you
call the doctor's office. Doctors may change plans or may have
new hours. Inform the doctor's office that you are thinking of
selecting him / her as your Primary Care Physician and discuss any health
concerns or needs that your family may have. Make sure he or she
participates in the plan that you have selected.
Make a selection even if you are not sure. Not choosing an HMO and failing
to complete the HMO selection form will SLOW DOWN your application. Once
you or your family is enrolled into NJ FamilyCare, you will have an
opportunity to change your HMO at a later date, if you are not satisfied.
If you need help completing the HMO Enrollment Form, a Health Benefits
Coordinator from the NJ FamilyCare program is at the Bergen County Board
of Social Services on Mondays and Wednesday's from 9 AM to 12 Noon.
Come into the Agency and speak to the Health Benefits Coordinator who will
assist you with the HMO Enrollment Form.
If
I have to pay a monthly premium, how important is it to send in my check
once I receive notice?
It is very important that you send in your check as soon as you know your
monthly premium. You will receive notice of your premium by mail. Your
family cannot be enrolled until the check has been received, so the sooner
you get it in, the quicker you can have peace of mind knowing that your
family is insured.
Can
I keep the same doctor I have now?
Yes, if your doctor is a participant of one of the 4
HMO's providing services for NJ FamilyCare in Bergen County. Call your doctor and ask
if he or she is providing services for NJ FamilyCare and if so under which
HMO. Then choose that HMO as your health care provider.
I
sent in my application four weeks ago and have not heard anything. What
should I do?
If
you sent in your application to the Bergen County Board of Social Services
and you have not heard from the Bergen FamilyCare program in four weeks please call
201-368-4200 and ask to speak to a FamilyCare worker about the status of
your application.
My
family came to the United States in December, 1999. Will my children be
eligible for NJ FamilyCare?
Yes, NJ FamilyCare does not require that legal residents must reside in
the United States for any length of time before they can qualify for the
NJ FamilyCare program. Legal immigrants who are lawfully admitted for
permanent residence, including parents and their children can apply for NJ FamilyCare, even if they have lived in this country less
than five years.
What
does it mean that I have to renew my children's insurance every 12 months?
Renewal is simply a way of checking to see if anything has changed in your
family's situation. You will be sent a preprinted form to confirm your
income status. It is very important that you immediately respond to any
written request so that your insurance coverage will not be interrupted.
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