Medicaid entitlement for 39 - FY 2026 - T21

The New Jersey Department of Human Services received a $743.7 million Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Block Grant (CFDA 93.767) from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, effective October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2027. This award enables the state to maintain and expand health insurance coverage for low-income, uninsured children and eligible pregnant women under Title XXI of the Social Security Act. The funding supports New Jersey's option to operate a separate CHIP program, expand Medicaid eligibility for children, or operate a combined approach to deliver comprehensive health care services to vulnerable pediatric populations.

As the designated state administrator, the Department of Human Services distributes these entitlement funds through a network of county-level agencies, nonprofit organizations, and community-based service providers to deliver direct health coverage and associated enrollment services statewide. The block grant operates as part of a federal-state matching program that has enrolled over seven million children nationally, with state plans subject to CMS approval within 90 days. New Jersey's substantial allocation reflects the state's reliance on federal entitlements to support ongoing child health insurance operations and expansion efforts targeting low-income children under age 19.