Healthcare Open Enrollment

Health insurance can protect you and your family from high, unexpected medical costs. Below, we have compiled resources and information regarding the healthcare open enrollment period in New Jersey. 

All New Jerseyans can enroll for health insurance through the state-based exchange, Get Covered New Jersey. The Open Enrollment Period typically runs from November through January. It is the only time of year residents can enroll in a plan, unless they have a major life event, such as getting married, moving, or having a baby, that qualifies them for a  Special Enrollment Period (SEP), which subsequently grants a 60-day window after the event to enroll in a plan.

All plans offered through Get Covered New Jersey cover preventive services, emergency services, prescription drugs, prenatal and pediatric care, and more. No one can be denied coverage due to a pre-existing condition. 

Get Covered, Avoid a State Tax Penalty

As of January 1, 2019, New Jersey state law requires all residents to maintain health insurance. New Jerseyans must have health coverage or make a shared responsibility payment during tax time, unless you qualify for an exemption.

2023 Affordable Care Act Open Enrollment Period 

When the dates of the 2023 Open Enrollment Period are available, we will share more information about when and how to apply here. 

2022 Affordable Care Act Open Enrollment Period 

The Open Enrollment Period for 2022 coverage ran from November 1, 2021 to January 31, 2022.

New Jerseyans must enroll by December 31, 2021 for coverage starting January 1, 2022; if they enroll by January 31, 2022, coverage will begin February 1, 2022.

In 2022, 9 out of 10 residents enrolling at Get Covered New Jersey  qualified for financial help to lower the cost of quality, affordable health coverage. The majority of people receiving financial help now have access to a health plan at a cost of $10 a month or less, due to historic savings that remains available for 2022 from the federal American Rescue Plan Act and the State of New Jersey. 

How to Apply

Residents can browse plans and see if they may qualify for financial help, and find free local assistance, at GetCovered.NJ.gov.

To apply, you will need the following information for yourself and anyone in your household enrolling:

  • Home and/or mailing address(es)
  • Birth date(s)
  • Social Security number(s)
  • Document information for legal immigrants, if applicable
  • Employer and income information for every member of your household (for example, pay stubs or W-2 form[s])
  • Your best estimate of what your household income will be in 2021
  • Policy numbers for any current health plans covering members of your household

Enrollment assisters and insurance brokers are available to help navigate through the process. Certified Enrollment Assisters are available to assist individuals to fill out their applications in person or remotely. Use the Find Local Assistance Tool to get help near you. 

Financial Assistance for New Jersey Health Insurance Plans 

Qualifying residents may be eligible for financial helpto lower their premiums and out-of-pocket expenses through Get Covered New Jersey. New Jerseyans who purchase plans through the Marketplace may be eligible for Premium Tax Credits, cost-sharing reductions (CSRs), and New Jersey Health Plan Savings (NJHPS), which are new state subsidies to decrease the cost of premiums for new and existing enrollees.

NJ FamilyCare

NJ FamilyCare is New Jersey’s publicly funded health insurance plan for qualifying residents of any age who do not have insurance through their employers.

Through NJ FamilyCare, eligible New Jerseyans can qualify for free or low-cost health insurance, including the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) or Medicaid.  NJ FamilyCare eligibility is based on income and household size, and you can apply all year long. 

When you fill out an application on Get Covered New Jersey, you will automatically be screened for NJ FamilyCare eligibility and notified if you are eligible. You will not need to fill out more than one application.

The Federal Health Insurance Marketplace

New Jersey transitioned from the federal health insurance marketplace, HealthCare.gov, to its own marketplace, Get Covered New Jersey, in 2021. As a result of operating its own marketplace, the state is able to offer a longer Open Enrollment Period, state subsidies to lower costs in addition to available federal tax credits, a strengthened assister network providing free enrollment assistance to residents, and an experience tailored for New Jerseyans.