New Jersey’s expansion of the state’s Medicaid program to cover these undocumented minors — fully effective this year — has made it far easier for Zufall and other health care systems to do this work. With full health insurance, doctors say these children will have easier access to dental care, behavioral health services and necessary medications, as well as primary and emergency care.
“Our enrollment staff is so happy,” said Laura Waddell, the health care program director for New Jersey Citizen Action, which has long fought for expanding health insurance coverage. “These statistics really warm their hearts.”