Does Medicaid Cover ABA Therapy in New Jersey?
Published April 8, 2026
Yes — New Jersey Medicaid (NJ FamilyCare) covers ABA therapy for children and teens under 21 with an autism diagnosis. New Jersey has one of the strongest autism insurance climates in the country, with robust Medicaid coverage and a commercial insurance mandate that applies to all ages. Here's what you need to know.
Key takeaways
- NJ FamilyCare covers ABA for all children under 21 with autism
- Delivered through Amerigroup, Horizon NJ Health, UnitedHealthcare, and WellCare
- NJ's commercial insurance mandate applies to all ages — no age cap
- NJ has a high density of ABA providers, especially in the northern counties
- Adults may access services through the DDD Supports Program and Community Care waiver
NJ FamilyCare managed care plans
NJ FamilyCare is New Jersey's Medicaid program. Most enrollees receive services through a managed care organization. The plans operating in NJ include:
- Horizon NJ Health — one of the largest NJ Medicaid plans
- Amerigroup New Jersey — statewide coverage
- UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of NJ — statewide
- WellCare of New Jersey — statewide coverage
New Jersey's autism insurance mandate — all ages
New Jersey's autism insurance law (P.L.2009, c.310) is one of the broadest in the US. It requires fully-insured commercial health plans to cover ABA therapy with no age limit — coverage applies to children and adults alike. There is no annual dollar cap. This means adults with autism in NJ have private insurance options that most other states don't offer.
How to access ABA through NJ FamilyCare
- Confirm your NJ FamilyCare plan at njfamilycare.org or call 1-800-701-0710.
- Obtain an autism diagnosis from a licensed psychologist, psychiatrist, or physician.
- Find an in-network ABA provider using FindABA or your plan's directory.
- Complete intake and prior authorization. Typically 7–14 days for approval.
- Therapy begins at no cost to you.
NJ resources
- NJ FamilyCare: njfamilycare.org
- NJ Division of Developmental Disabilities: nj.gov/humanservices/ddd
- Autism NJ: autismnj.org
- NJ FamilyCare helpline: 1-800-701-0710
Find New Jersey ABA providers that accept Medicaid
FindABA lists ABA providers across New Jersey showing accepted plans including Horizon NJ Health, Amerigroup, and NJ FamilyCare.
Search New Jersey providers →