NJ Easy Enrollment Health Insurance Program

On June 30 Governor Murphy signed legislation (along with 29 other bills) creating the New Jersey Easy Enrollment Health Insurance Program hoping to help New Jerseyans obtain health insurance through Get Covered New Jersey, the State's official health insurance marketplace.

“More than 324,000 New Jerseyans signed up for health coverage through Get Covered New Jersey during the Affordable Care Act Open Enrollment Period—a record high in New Jersey,” said Department of Banking and Insurance (NJ DOBI) Commissioner Marlene Caride.

The new legislation allows uninsured and underinsured residents to indicate their interest in coverage for themselves or a household member on their tax return or through unemployment insurance benefit claims.

The NJ DOBI will be required to create a system to analyze the data collected through tax returns and unemployment benefit claims to determine an individuals eligibility for Get Covered New Jersey, NJ FamilyCare, or other services - this permits the NJ DOBI to share the data collected with the Department of Human Services.

The Shared Responsibility Payment, required payment by uninsured New Jersey taxpayers, will be waived for individuals who enroll and maintain eligibility for the Easy Enrollment Health Insurance Program while they undergo the enrollment process, and maintain coverage following enrollment.

Nine out of 10 residents enrolling at Get Covered New Jersey qualify for financial help.

“As of 2019, 692,000 New Jerseyans were without health insurance. It is critical that we continue to do all that we can to bring that number down and connect eligible residents to subsidized coverage,” said Senator Teresa Ruiz. “This program will jump-start the application process, allowing residents to simply check a box and get information on their eligibility for low-cost options. Similar programs have seen great success in other states around the country and I am hopeful it will increase enrollment in health insurance here in New Jersey.”

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