Modestly Cover Diaper Bank of Essex County

10/31/2026

10/27/2026

Don't miss out!!!

10/24/2026

What Our Community Can Do Now
Supporting a baby means paying attention to the stability of the people caring for that baby: parents, grandparents, and other caregivers.

As we close this series on Medicaid work requirements, one message stands out: families need clear information and people they can turn to for help.

With NJ FamilyCare changes approaching, diaper banks, health care providers, childcare programs, and community organizations can take four useful steps:
✅ Share official guidance, including protections for qualifying parents and caregivers.
✅ Help families find qualified assistance with enrollment and renewals.
✅ Share information in the languages families use. New Jersey’s work-requirements guidance is available in Spanish and Haitian Creole, among other languages.
✅ Remind families to keep using their current coverage and attending appointments while following their renewal instructions.

Not sure whether the new work requirements may apply? New Jersey’s Activity Requirements Checker can help you understand your situation:
https://njfcchecker.nj.gov/
Families can also contact NJ FamilyCare at 1-800-701-0710. TTY: 711.
At Modestly Cover Diaper Bank of Essex County, our commitment is simple: We Keep Babies First. Helping caregivers find reliable information is one way our community can put that commitment into action.
Who in your network helps families navigate health coverage? Tag an organization or share a helpful resource below. Please keep personal health information private.
Save these resources and share this series with someone who could use it:
NJ FamilyCare guidance, exclusions, notices, and translations:
https://www.nj.gov/humanservices/dmahs/obbba/work-requirements/
CHCS overview of federal Medicaid work requirements:
https://www.chcs.org/resource/a-summary-of-national-medicaid-work-requirements/
Visit us:
www.essexcountydiaperbank.org

10/22/2026

A Request for Proof Deserves Prompt Attention
Receiving a letter asking for more information does not automatically mean you are ineligible for Medicaid. Sometimes, the system needs more information to confirm your situation.

Under the new Medicaid work-requirement process, states must first use available information to verify whether requirements are met.

If that cannot be verified, a notice must provide 30 calendar days to show that you meet the requirement—or that it does not apply to you. If the issue remains unresolved, an application may be denied or coverage may end.

That 30-day period applies to this specific process. Always check the deadline on the notice you receive.

Here are practical steps families can take:
✅ Keep your mailing address and phone number current.
✅ Read each notice and mark its deadline.
✅ Keep copies of documents and submission confirmations.
✅ Ask for help if the instructions are unclear.
✅ Explain relevant caregiving, pregnancy, or health circumstances when requested.

Remember: qualifying parents and caregivers of children age 13 and younger are excluded from work requirements. A request to confirm your situation still deserves attention.
A confusing letter should be the beginning of a helpful conversation. Please go to Google to translate anything you don’t understand.

What makes submitting paperwork difficult: technology, language, unclear instructions, or something else? Share your thoughts without posting private information.

Learn more:
https://www.chcs.org/resource/a-summary-of-national-medicaid-work-requirements/
Visit us:
www.essexcountydiaperbank.org

10/22/2026

https://www.instagram.com/reel/Dd-yr7DM-28/?exln=MTRvYzAxZTlzOHAwaA==

10/22/2026

10/16/2026

I’m excluded from Medicaid work requirements. Do I still need to renew my coverage?”

Yes. Being excluded from work requirements does not remove your coverage renewal responsibilities.

Starting in 2027, most NJ FamilyCare expansion adults—those enrolled in the Alternative Benefit Plan, or ABP—will move from yearly renewals to renewals every six months. Some parents excluded from work requirements will still be affected.

Here is how the process works:

✅ NJ FamilyCare will first try to renew your coverage using information it already has.

✅ If it has enough information, your coverage may renew automatically.

✅ If information is missing, you may receive a request for documents or a renewal packet. Follow the instructions and respond by the deadline.

My concern is practical: a missed letter, an outdated phone number, or confusing instructions could interrupt a family’s coverage.

At Modestly Cover Diaper Bank of Essex County, we know parents are managing many responsibilities at once. Understanding a notice should not become another barrier to caring for their family.

💛 Keep your contact information current, read every notice, and ask for help when something is unclear.

For our community partners: Are renewal reminders part of your family outreach? A timely reminder could make a meaningful difference.

Save this post and share it with a caregiver.

Official information:
https://www.nj.gov/humanservices/dmahs/obbba/stakeholders/

Visit us:
www.essexcountydiaperbank.org

10/15/2026

January 1, 2027, is an important date for NJ FamilyCare but it does NOT mean everyone’s coverage ends that day. New Jersey’s Medicaid work requirements begin then for certain adults ages 19–64 enrolled in the Alternative Benefit Plan, also called ABP.
Here are the key dates under current state guidance:
• January 1, 2027: The new rules apply to new applications for affected adults.
• March 2027: The first affected renewal month for existing members.
Exclusions and exceptions must be considered. Qualifying parents and caregivers of children under 14 are excluded from these work requirements, although other eligibility and renewal responsibilities still apply.
What about the letters arriving this fall?
The general information letter explaining the work requirements does not mean you are losing coverage and does not require a response. A request for information or a renewal packet is different. Read it carefully, follow the instructions, and respond by the listed deadline.
At Modestly Cover Diaper Bank of Essex County, we know families are balancing their babies’ needs with many other responsibilities. Understanding a letter can make one part of that balancing act easier. Save this post and share it with a parent or caregiver. If a notice is confusing, ask NJ FamilyCare for help before assuming your coverage is ending.
Official information:
https://www.nj.gov/humanservices/dmahs/obbba/work-requirements/
Visit us:
www.essexcountydiaperbank.org

10/11/2026

“Medicaid Work Requirements” sounds straightforward. But the details matter and having a clear understanding can make a difference. For adults who are subject to the new rules, there are different ways to meet the requirement:
✅ Work, qualifying community service, or participation in a work program for at least 80 hours per month.
✅ Enrollment in a qualifying educational program at least half-time.
✅ A qualifying combination of activities totaling at least 80 hours per month.
✅ Meeting an earnings threshold equal to 80 hours at the federal minimum wage—$580 per month in 2026.
These are alternative pathways. You do not have to complete all four.

And remember these requirements do not apply to everyone receiving Medicaid. Qualifying parents and caregivers of children age 13 and younger are excluded from the work requirements.

At Modestly Cover Diaper Bank of Essex County, we encourage families to start with this question:
“Does this requirement apply to me, or do I qualify for an exclusion?”
Then ask what information NJ FamilyCare needs to confirm your situation. Other eligibility and renewal rules still apply.
Families deserve clear explanations without assumptions about their employment, caregiving, or health.

What would make these rules easier to understand? Share your questions without posting private health information.
Learn more:
https://www.nj.gov/humanservices/dmahs/obbba/work-requirements/
Visit us:
www.essexcountydiaperbank.org