What You Need To Help Keep Your Child Healthy
"All people, including people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (I/DD), should have timely access to high quality, comprehensive, accessible, affordable, appropriate health care that meets their individual needs, maximizes health, well-being and function, and increases independence and community participation."
To read more of The Arc’s Position Statement on Health Care click HERE.
Health Insurance
The Affordable Care Act (ACA)
Enactment of health care reform, known as the Affordable Care Act (ACA), is the most significant law for people with disabilities since the enactment of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990. It brings about comprehensive reforms that will benefit Americans with disabilities by prohibiting discrimination based on health status and improving access to care.
Get Covered NJ
New Jersey's Official Health Insurance Marketplace. It is where individuals and families can easily shop for and buy health coverage, and the only place to receive financial help. GetCoveredNJ helps you compare health plans and calculate costs, and choose the plan that works best for you and your family. You can also apply for financial help to lower your monthly insurance premium and out-of-pocket costs. GetCoveredNJ also helps determine if you qualify for free or low-cost health insurance through New Jersey’s publicly funded health insurance program, NJ FamilyCare, otherwise known as Medicaid.
Medicaid
Medicaid provides health coverage to millions of Americans, including eligible low-income adults, children, pregnant women, elderly adults and people with disabilities. Medicaid is administered by states, according to federal requirements. The program is funded jointly by states and the federal government.
Medicaid eligibility is also an eligible requirement to receive services from the New Jersey Division of Developmental Disabilities. For more information and a list of additional Medicaid resources, visit DDD’s website.
Medicare
Medicare is the federal health insurance program for people who are 65 or older, certain younger people with disabilities, and people with End-Stage Renal Disease (permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis or a transplant, sometimes called ESRD). The different parts of Medicare help cover specific services:
- Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance)
- Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance)
- Medicare Part C (Medicare Advantage Plans)
- Medicare Part D (Prescription Drug Coverage)
State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIPs) offer personalized counseling and assistance to people with Medicare and their families. Visit the NJ SHIP website.
Division of Aging Services Universal Application (UA1) - By filling out the Universal Application, you could some or all of the following benefits if you are eligible:
- Prescription assistance programs (PAAD or Senior Gold)
- Utility assistance programs (Lifeline Utility Credit Program or Tenants Lifeline Assistance Program, Universal Service Fund (USF), Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
- Medicare Savings programs (SLMB or SLMB QI1) which pay Medicare Part B premium payments
- Hearing Aid Assistance Program for the Aged and Disabled
- Medicare Part D premium payments if PAAD eligible
- Medicare Part D wrap-around cost payments, such as co-payments, co-insurance, and deductibles, if PAAD or Senior Gold eligible
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
- Voter registration information
National Medicare Education Week
Dual Eligible
Some people with intellectual and developmental disabilities are eligible for both Medicaid and Medicare. For more information about the 2025 Medicare Part D Changes for People Who Have Medicare and Medicaid (Dual Eligible), click here.
Read this CMS fact sheet for more information about beneficiaries dually eligible for Medicaid and Medicare.
The Arc of New Jersey created three "Frequently Asked Question" (FAQ) fact sheets regarding Dual Eligibility:
- FAQ- Dual Eligibles General Information
- FAQ- Dual Eligibles and Prescription Medication
- FAQ- Dual Eligibles and Special Needs Plan (D-SNPs)
Health Care Advocacy
- The Arc of New Jersey's Health Care Advocacy program promotes quality health care for people with developmental disabilities throughout New Jersey.
- Tax Tips for People With Special Needs and Their Families
- Giving Someone a Power of Attorney For Your Health Care
Health Care Self-Advocacy Resources
- Cancer Screening and Risk Reduction - Guides for people with I/DD
- Primary Care Resources for Adults on the Autism Spectrum and their Primary Care Providers
- The New Jersey Division of Disability Services (DDS) Wellness Guide
- Health Passport for Youth in English and Spanish
Healthy Living Programs
Other Links
- The IDD Health Toolkit
- Health Care Options for Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities: A Guide for Parents and Professionals
- The Care2Caregivers: 800-424-2494
- Top 5 Exercises for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
- Health Matters: Low Physical Activity Level for Individuals with Disabilities
- Issues That Affect Oral Health for Individuals with IDD
- Preventing Falls for People with Intellectual Disability
- Healthy Eating Tips to Help Fight Obesity
- Get in the Game! Sports and Autism
- Eruption Athletics – An Innovative Approach to Making Fitness Fun
- Step into Good Foot Health
- Summer Safety Tips
- The impact of poor vision
- Fact sheet: Medicaid and Private Health Insurance for Persons with IDD
- Understanding HIPAA Laws
- Coping with Public Health Emergencies (video)
- Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) in NJ - fees are on a sliding scale and no one is turned away because of inability to pay. There is at least one FQHC in every county and some counties have more than one.
- Medina Community Clinic shares office space with The Arc/Mercer health care center in Lawrenceville. Medina provides specialty care for persons who are uninsured.
- MEDICAL RECORDS & ACCESS: UNDERSTANDING YOUR RIGHTS AS A PATIENT
- Free Early Childhood Developmental Screenings
- Free Early Childhood Developmental Screenings (Spanish)
