[NFBNJ] NFBNJ: Three Items of Interest
Brian Mackey
bmackey88 at gmail.com
Thu May 28 00:01:21 UTC 2020
>From the desk of NFBNJ President Joe Ruffalo.
Received from Pamela Gaston, NJCBVI.
Distributed by Brian Mackey, NFBNJ Webmaster.
Greetings to all,
Please read and share the following items of interest.
1. NJ FAMILYCARE
2. Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program a Phone call Away!
3. How Can People Who Receive SSI or SSDI Get Their stimulus Rebate Checks?
The messages follow.
1. NJ FAMILYCARE
How NJ FamilyCare is Working to Support New Jerseyans' Health Care Needs
During the Coronavirus Emergency
Visit njfamilycare.org <file:///C:\Users\thester\Documents\njfamilycare.org>
to learn more and apply
(TRENTON) - The Department of Human Services is taking action to support
the more than 1.6 million New Jerseyans who receive health care coverage
through NJ FamilyCare - the collective name for NJ Medicaid and the NJ
Children's Health Insurance Program - and to ensure new applications are
processed in a timely way.
The Department has received more than 12,000 new NJ FamilyCare applications
electronically since the March 21st Executive Order implementing a statewide
stay-at-home order. Additional applications also are being received through
the 21 county boards of social services.
"The essential health care coverage that NJ FamilyCare provides is always a
critical lifeline for individuals and families in need, but never more so
than at this moment," Human Services Commissioner Carole Johnson said. "Our
Department will continue to take action and pull all available levers to
support the needs of our NJ FamilyCare members at this challenging time and
help get those who may be newly eligible enrolled in coverage."
As a result of the Department's policy actions in response to the
coronavirus:
* No one will lose their Medicaid or Children's Health Insurance
Program coverage during the emergency, regardless of whether their
enrollment was up for annual review. Ongoing eligibility will be reinstated
for Medicaid and CHIP enrollees who may have systemically disenrolled at the
end of March.
* No Medicaid or Children's Health Insurance Program enrollee will
have to pay copays for COVID testing or office visits related to COVID
testing.
* No Medicaid or Children's Health Insurance Program enrollee will
have to pay premiums during the emergency.
* No Medicaid or Children's Health Insurance Program enrollee will
have to go through a prior authorization process for any hospitalization.
The Department also has made additional policy changes to make it easier for
individuals and families to get the health care services they need,
including:
* NJ FamilyCare enrollees are able to refill their prescriptions
early and are able to get 90 days of their maintenance medication
prescriptions filled at one time, in order to avoid having to leave home too
frequently.
* NJ FamilyCare enrollees are now able to see their doctor, nurse
practitioner, mental health practitioner or substance use disorder provider
through telehealth, including via phone or video. Members and providers can
each be at home when the visit occurs, and the health care provider will be
paid the same as if the visit was in-person.
* NJ FamilyCare members who depend on home-based personal care
assistance for daily activities like bathing, toileting and other care are
able to pay pre-cleared family members to provide these services, given the
emergency's impact on access to services and the increased number of family
members at home under the Governor's order.
* NJ FamilyCare providers and health plans are delivering care and
support to our members in unprecedented ways. For example, NJ FamilyCare
members who attended medical day care programs that have closed due to the
emergency can now receive help with personal care and meals at home.
* Care managers from NJ FamilyCare health plans are proactively
reaching out to high risk members to help them access services and to update
care plans as needed.
* Transportation to and from medical services is available for NJ
FamilyCare members, with appropriate protocols in place for individuals who
have symptoms or a positive test for COVID-19.
* Special hospital discharge arrangements are available for NJ
FamilyCare members with behavioral health or long-term care needs.
Who is eligible for NJ FamilyCare?
* Single adults with incomes up to $1,387 per month and couples with
incomes up to $1,868 per month (138% of the federal poverty level or FPL);
* Parents and others with dependent children with incomes up to 138%
of the federal poverty level, for example, parents in a family of four with
incomes up to $2,829 per month;
* Children 18 and under with incomes up to 355% of FPL, for example,
a child in a family of two with income up to $5,101 per month;
* Pregnant women with incomes up to 205% of FPL, for example, a
single woman with an income up to $2,946 per month; and
* Older and disabled residents needing long-term care who meet
certain requirements.
How can someone apply for NJ FamilyCare?
You can apply for NJ FamilyCare any time at www.njfamilycare.org
<https://urldefense.com/v3/__http:/www.njfamilycare.org__;!!A_zLiUo7uN0!Uw9R
wN4rKvuhm2wQOUhbLmf-SHdVzZe4KlbJQzlWTz6WZxOUQmD6UcheDrdas0veV_06Hg$> . If
you recently lost your health insurance, you may be eligible for Medicaid
depending on your circumstances. You also may have a special enrollment
period to apply for affordable Marketplace coverage at www.healthcare.gov
<https://urldefense.com/v3/__http:/www.healthcare.gov__;!!A_zLiUo7uN0!Uw9RwN
4rKvuhm2wQOUhbLmf-SHdVzZe4KlbJQzlWTz6WZxOUQmD6UcheDrdas0scE6fyTQ$> .
What is covered by NJ FamilyCare?
Hospitalization, primary care and other doctor visits, prescriptions, lab
tests, mental health care, substance use treatment, and many other health
care services.
Who pays for NJ FamilyCare?
Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program are programs funded
through shared federal-state responsibility.
* For traditional Medicaid populations, such as pregnant women, many
children, or older and disabled residents, New Jersey pays 50 percent of
costs and the federal government pays 50 percent of costs.
* For children in families with incomes above traditional Medicaid
income who are enrolled in the Children's Health Insurance Program, the
federal government currently pays 76.5 percent, and New Jersey pays 23.5
percent.
* Finally, for the Medicaid expansion population, which was created
through the Affordable Care Act, individuals and couples without dependent
children under 138 percent of the federal poverty level are largely covered
at federal cost, with the federal government paying 90 percent and New
Jersey paying 10 percent.
<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/twitter.com/NJDHS__;!!A_zLiUo7uN0!Uw9RwN
4rKvuhm2wQOUhbLmf-SHdVzZe4KlbJQzlWTz6WZxOUQmD6UcheDrdas0uaZ8M2Tw$>
<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.facebook.com/NJDHS/__;!!A_zLiUo7uN0!
Uw9RwN4rKvuhm2wQOUhbLmf-SHdVzZe4KlbJQzlWTz6WZxOUQmD6UcheDrdas0tJc9_dcA$>
<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.instagram.com/njdeptofhumanservices/
__;!!A_zLiUo7uN0!Uw9RwN4rKvuhm2wQOUhbLmf-SHdVzZe4KlbJQzlWTz6WZxOUQmD6UcheDrd
as0vnySl2Gw$>
<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.youtube.com/channel/UC3tlkeAJHd2Cu-I
KHZ_zfzg__;!!A_zLiUo7uN0!Uw9RwN4rKvuhm2wQOUhbLmf-SHdVzZe4KlbJQzlWTz6WZxOUQmD
6UcheDrdas0u2aOEwyg$> Follow the Department of Human Services at:
2. Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program a Phone call Away!
The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Emergency Assistance
started Monday, March 16th and ends on Friday, July 31st.
This year customers can receive up to $600 toward their bill. Customers
must meet the following criteria to be eligible:
* Heat with PSE&G;
* Already received LIHEAP this season which started November 23, 2019
or applied for LIHEAP.
All LIHEAP Recipients that fit the LIHEAP Emergency criteria above can now
apply for LIHEAP emergency by calling their local LIHEAP agency (see
attached flyer) or by calling the State hotline at 1-800-510-3102 or '211'
and request LIHEAP emergency by phone.
Applications for LIHEAP will be accepted until July 31st. Customers that
apply for the LIHEAP program by July 31st can receive regular LIHEAP,
Cooling LIHEAP and the extra LIHEAP Emergency funds. Customers must apply
through their local LIHEAP agency.
For more information, refer customers to the LIHEAP toll free hot line at
1-800-510-3102 or 211 (available 9am to 9pm 7 days a week).
For customers over income and not eligible for LIHEAP or LIHEAP emergency
assistance, the moderate income programs as NJ SHARES and PAGE are
available. See attached flyer which includes all the energy assistance
programs available.
LIHEAP INTAKE agencies are closed to walk-in and client contact. They are
accepting applications via emails and drop off only.
https://www.nj.gov/dca/divisions/dhcr/offices/hea.html
Low Income Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP) - New Jersey
<https://www.nj.gov/dca/divisions/dhcr/offices/hea.html>
The Home Energy Assistance Program helps very low-income residents with
their heating and cooling bills, and makes provisions for emergency heating
system services and emergency fuel assistance within the Home Energy
Assistance Program. How to Apply for Home Energy Assistance: 1. Find out if
you are eligible for the program.
www.nj.gov <http://www.nj.gov>
Customers can also go to our website for more information:
<https://nj.pseg.com/saveenergyandmoney/gethelppayingyourbill/cantaffordtopa
y>
https://nj.pseg.com/saveenergyandmoney/gethelppayingyourbill/cantaffordtopay
3. How Can People Who Receive SSI or SSDI Get Their stimulus Rebate Checks?
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has confirmed that even people who
typically do not file a tax return will need to file to receive an economic
impact payment. Low-income taxpayers, senior citizens, Social Security
recipients, some veterans and individuals with disabilities who are
otherwise not required to file a tax return will not owe tax but must still
file a return with the IRS. The IRS is developing a simplified form that
should become available very soon. .
Here is an excerpt from the IRS website:
If you filed a 2018 or 2019 tax return you will automatically receive a
stimulus check.
However, if you did not file a tax return you can still get a check. To do
so you will need to complete a simplified tax return.
Information can be found at <http://www.IRS.Gov/CoronaVirus>
www.IRS.Gov/CoronaVirus < <http://www.IRS.Gov/CoronaVirus>
http://www.IRS.Gov/CoronaVirus>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://nfbnet.org/pipermail/nfbnj_nfbnet.org/attachments/20200527/c1645a0b/attachment.html>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image001.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 14696 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://nfbnet.org/pipermail/nfbnj_nfbnet.org/attachments/20200527/c1645a0b/attachment.jpg>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image002.png
Type: image/png
Size: 1036 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://nfbnet.org/pipermail/nfbnj_nfbnet.org/attachments/20200527/c1645a0b/attachment.png>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image003.png
Type: image/png
Size: 857 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://nfbnet.org/pipermail/nfbnj_nfbnet.org/attachments/20200527/c1645a0b/attachment-0001.png>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image004.png
Type: image/png
Size: 1692 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://nfbnet.org/pipermail/nfbnj_nfbnet.org/attachments/20200527/c1645a0b/attachment-0002.png>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image005.png
Type: image/png
Size: 946 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://nfbnet.org/pipermail/nfbnj_nfbnet.org/attachments/20200527/c1645a0b/attachment-0003.png>
More information about the NFBNJ
mailing list