Health Care

Your health is essential to leading a productive and fulfilling life and to contributing to your community. Loss of health can lead to anxiety, strained relationships, financial burden, and, more drastically, unemployment and homelessness. That means that appropriate health care is essential, both for you and for your family. From regular check-ups to vaccinations to unforeseen trips to the emergency room, having health care coverage can prevent a lot of financial stress and unnecessary difficulties. Because of the importance of health care and because we know how difficult it can be to obtain the coverage you need, PROCEED works to connect you to health care programs that fit your needs. Staff members will assess your eligibility for available programs and help secure speedy access to services. Don’t wait until you or a loved needs health care to start looking for it; make plans to get coverage today.

For more information about health care services, contact Mercedes Quintana at (908) 351-7727, ext. 228. Read below to learn more about specific programs.

Nuestras Familias

When a parent or guardian begins working part-time or takes a job without health benefits, children are often left without health insurance. If the children are healthy, this is often not a pressing concern—until something goes wrong. From a broken bone to a serious illness, a child’s health can change drastically in an instant. 

Often the financial burden of paying for health insurance outweighs the risk that the health insurance may become necessary; however, this is a choice parents do not have to make. The Nuestras Familias program provides free or low-cost health insurance for children through Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).


Medicaid is a national health insurance program that provides free or low-cost health insurance to children from low-income families. If the family’s income is too high for Medicaid, the child may still qualify for CHIP, which provides low-cost health insurance to children from families with limited incomes but whose income exceeds the Medicaid guidelines. Keep in mind that your income includes your salary and any government aid that you received. 

To qualify for CHIP or Medicaid, the child must be from a household that meets the appropriate income guidelines. 

Additionally, to qualify for CHIP, children must:

  • Not be older than nineteen (19) years of age.
  • Be U.S. citizens or lawful residents.
  • Be uninsured.
  • Have a parent or guardian who is currently employed.


To qualify for Medicaid, children must:

  • Not be older than twenty-one (21) years of age.
  • Be U.S. citizens or lawful residents.
  • Be from a household that meets the income guidelines (include link to what these figures are).
  • Be either uninsured or require more insurance coverage.


Through Medicaid or CHIP, children have access to regular check-ups, emergency care, hospital stays, vision and dental care, inoculations, and prescription medicines. 

To apply for Nuestras Familias, you will need the following information:

  • Name, address, and phone number
  • Child’s date of birth
  • Child’s Social Security Number
  • Proof of income (pay stub)
  • Proof of child’s citizenship or immigration status (a birth certificate, passport, or Green Card)


Parents do not have to be legal U.S. citizens or residents for children to qualify for Nuestras Familias. Program access depends strictly on the child’s citizenship or immigration status and not on the parent’s. If your child receives assistance from Nuestras Familias, this will not affect any applications to be a permanent resident or U.S. citizen.

Health Fairs

PROCEED hosts regular Health Fairs at which individuals can learn more about health insurance and resources available to either provide coverage or supplement current coverage. They can also learn more about available medical services and programs and can assess their eligibility for these programs. Special guests and speakers provide educational lectures and demonstrations at the Health Fairs, and experienced PROCEED staff provide free, confidential, on-site HIV testing and counseling.