New Jersey officials will track and seek to enroll the state’s uninsured children in a new way: a simple check box on tax forms.

Jon S. Corzine

Gov. Jon Corzine announced the state is asking taxpayers to indicate if they have any uninsured children on their NJ-1040 forms. In return, they will be provided with a new “Express Lane” insurance application for New Jersey’s FamilyCare program, the state- and federal-funded health care program.

While Iowa and Maryland also track their uninsured children through tax forms, New Jersey becomes the first state to use that information to help enroll them in health plans.

“Families across the nation continue to grapple daily with the effects of skyrocketing healthcare costs,” Corzine said in a statement. “This new partnership demonstrates New Jersey ‘s strong commitment to ensuring that our children have access to the healthcare services they deserve. By using this shorter, simpler application, New Jersey now has the opportunity to identify and cover even more of the uninsured. I am confident that we will emerge as a national leader using the Express Lane eligibility enrollment option.”

New Jersey’s Human Services Commissioner Jennifer Velez added that nearly a quarter of a million New Jersey residents have already indicated at least one uninsured child in their households. Those families and others will receive an application for the NJ FamilyCare program within 90 days to enroll their children in health insurance.

“We’re proud to be a part of a process that can bring some relief to families as they struggle with making so many critical choices during these tough economic times,” Velez said.

Children in families whose annual household income is less than $77,175 – for a family of four or 350% of the federal poverty level – can qualify for NJ Family Care, which provides comprehensive health coverage for free or at a low cost. The program currently serves 131,586 children and 127,604 adults in New Jersey.