New Jersey Health Insurance
Beginning in 2014, residents in New Jersey will have new ways to access health plans. According to a Kaiser Family Foundation state profile, Gov. Chris Christie announced in 2012 New Jersey would not implement its own health insurance marketplace, and it would default to the federal marketplace.
However, New Jersey is one of 27 states and Washington, D.C., to expand Medicaid coverage in 2014.
New Jersey residents are free to visit the federal health insurance marketplace at HealthCare.gov in order to learn more about their coverage options. After registering and completing the application, they can locate marketplace insurance plans and find out if they qualify for subsidies to offset their premiums. The application process also qualifies some people for Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program, or CHIP.
Do you qualify for a New Jersey health insurance subsidy?
Because New Jersey decided to expand Medicaid coverage, the Kaiser Family Foundation says 63 percent of nonelderly, previously uninsured people will qualify for some type of federal financial assistance.
Some individuals can take advantage of tax credits, or subsidies, to help lower the cost of monthly premiums. Others may qualify for Medicaid or CHIP.
Here are three ways state residents can get help paying for New Jersey health insurance.
- Because of the ACA, people who earn between 100 and 400 percent of the poverty level might qualify for tax credits if they do not have access to other affordable medical insurance. This would be an income between $23,550 and $94,200 for a family of four and between $11,490 and $45,960 for an individual.
- After New Jersey expanded Medicaid, this program was open to many adults who make less than 138 percent of the federal poverty level, or about $32,500 for a family of four.
- Children of New Jersey families who make less than 355 percent of the poverty level, or about $83,000 for a family of four, may qualify for CHIP.
Health insurance companies in New Jersey
These insurers offer major medical plans that New Jersey residents can find on the marketplace:
- AmeriHealth New Jersey
- Health Republic Insurance of New Jersey
- Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey
New Jersey health and coverage statistics
New Jersey population (2013): 8,899,339
Population 65 and older (2012): 14.1 percent
Life expectancy (2010): 80.3 years
Number of Medicaid beneficiaries (2012): 1,053,800
Number of Medicare beneficiaries (2012): 1,187,500
Estimated number of uninsured residents (2012): 1,279,400
Overall state health ranking: 10
Sources: Kaiser Family Foundation, U.S. Census Bureau, America’s Health Rankings 2014 report.
New Jersey health insurance resources
Federal marketplace: https://www.healthcare.gov/
New Jersey Department of Health: http://www.state.nj.us/health/
New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance: http://www.state.nj.us/dobi/index.html
New Jersey FamilyCare (CHIP and Medicaid): http://www.njfamilycare.org/default.aspx
Kaiser Family Foundation: http://kff.org/tag/new-jersey/
