TRENTON — Legislation sponsored by Assembly members Samuel D. Thompson and Charlotte Vandervalk that would expand the eligibility requirement for the FamilyCare Health Coverage Program was released last week from the Assembly Health Committee.

The measure, A-2983, would make eligible for the program single adults and couples without dependent children with incomes up to 133 percent of the poverty level.

"An expansion in eligibility for the FamilyCare Program is necessary to ensure health coverage of minimum-wage earners who work approximately 35 hours per week," said Thompson, R-Middlesex, Monmouth. "It is expected that expanding the threshold for eligibility will make an additional 9,500 individuals eligible for the program."

Under current law, only single adults and couples without dependent children whose gross family income does not exceed 100 percent of the poverty level are eligible for the program. "The FamilyCare Health Coverage Program is representative of the Legislature's long-standing commitment to ensuring access to quality and affordable health care for all New Jersey residents," said Vandervalk, R-Bergen who chairs the committee. "Our legislation builds on this commitment by expanding the circle of eligibility to include more working adults and their families."

Individuals would be eligible under the bill subject to a waiver from the federal Health Care Financial Administration.

The Thompson-Vandervalk measure was released by a committee vote of 6-1 and now heads to the full Assembly for consideration.

published Atlantic Highlands Herald
14 December 2000

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