For 2024 health plans, New Jersey open enrollment begins on November 1, 2023 and runs through January 15, 2024. If you enroll by December 15, your coverage will start on January 1, 2024.
Once open enrollment ends, you might qualify for a 60-day special enrollment period that will allow you to sign up for a new health insurance plan. (See What Happens If I Miss the Enrollment Deadline?)
To get covered, you can go directly to the online health insurance marketplace for New Jersey. If you need personalized help, you can reach out to an enrollment assistant. Most enrollment helpers are working remotely during the COVID crisis.
Where's the New Jersey Health Care Exchange?
You can find the health insurance exchange for New Jersey atHealthcare.gov. This is where you can learn about the various health insurance options available to you under the Affordable Care Act. If you see a plan you like, you'll be guided through the enrollment process online.
The Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) expanded Medicaid eligibility to include more people who couldn’t otherwise obtain health insurance. As written, the ACA would extend Medicaid to all adults with incomes at or below 138% of the federal poverty level. (For a single person in New Jersey in 2023, that’s $20,120. For a family of four, it’s $41,400.)
However, the U.S. Supreme Court later ruled that it was up to individual states to decide whether to expand Medicaid. As of December 2023, only 10 states have not expanded their programs.
Montana Has Expanded Medicaid
Montana expanded its Medicaid program in 2016. The state uses a plan called Montana HELP to make Medicaid available for adults with incomes up to 138% of the federal poverty level. (The rules of pregnant women and children, unfortunately, are higher and remain governed by Montana's older Medicaid rules.)
Montana's Medicaid rules require some recipients to pay 2% of their income in premiums. The state says this averages about $26 per month. If you earn more than the poverty level, you can be disenrolled for failing to pay your premiums. If your income is below the poverty level, you won't be disenrolled but your past-due premiums can be deducted from your state income tax returns.
Montana wants to impose a work requirement for Medicaid but that plan is still pending federal review.
Get Help Finding a Health Insurance Plan in New Jersey
Get Help From New Jersey's Health Insurance Exchange
The following links and telephone numbers take you to the official help resources for Healthcare.gov, the health insurance marketplace for New Jersey.
Help by phone: 800-318-2596 (TTY: 855-889-4325)
In-person help: Go to Find Local Help, where you can enter your city and state or zip code to find an application assister, insurance agent, or health insurance broker in your area.
Get Help From a Licensed Insurance Broker
To directly connect with a New Jersey insurance broker who can help you evaluate insurance plans and choose a plan that's appropriate for your situation, call 800-943-6832. (We receive advertising income from the licensed brokers who offer their services through this telephone number.)