Archive photo, March 2019: New Jersey State House in Trenton. Ken Lund / CC BY-SA 2.0, cropped
New Jersey residents who buy their own health insurance can start choosing 2027 coverage through GetCoveredNJ on November 1. They can compare plans and check estimated financial help now, before enrollment opens.
The enrollment window runs through January 31, 2027, the state Department of Banking and Insurance said in its October 28 announcement. The marketplace is for people shopping for individual or family coverage, including residents who do not have a health plan through work.
For people already enrolled, this is a time to review next year’s choices rather than assume the same plan will cost the same amount or cover the same doctors.
What is changing for 2027?
Costs are rising, but the amount a household pays depends on the plan and the financial help it qualifies for.
In an October 15 rate notice, DOBI reported a weighted average 19.8% increase for unsubsidized individual-market premiums, covering plans sold through the marketplace and directly by insurers. That is not a prediction that every customer’s monthly bill will rise 19.8%.
State subsidies and remaining federal assistance can reduce the amount eligible customers pay. New Jersey Health Plan Savings will remain available to qualifying households with incomes up to 600% of the federal poverty level, according to the October 28 announcement. Eligibility and savings depend on the household’s circumstances.
Five insurers will offer marketplace plans for 2027: Ambetter from WellCare of New Jersey, AmeriHealth, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, Oscar and UnitedHealthcare.
What to do before choosing a plan
Start at the official GetCoveredNJ website. Its Shop and Compare tool lets residents preview plans using their ZIP code, birth date and income. The estimate is a starting point for comparing options, not a promise of a particular subsidy.
Look beyond the monthly premium. Check whether your doctors are in the plan’s network and compare the costs you may pay when you use care. A lower monthly bill alone does not tell you which plan fits your needs.
Current marketplace customers should update their application with any changes in income, address or household size, the state advises. Those details can affect financial help. Review the 2027 options using current information.
Free help is available
Residents can use the site’s “We Can Help” section to find local enrollment assistance, or call 1-833-677-1010, TTY 711. The state says its Navigator network provides free, unbiased help with enrollment, renewal and applications for financial assistance.
The department awarded more than $5.1 million to 33 community organizations for this work, with help available in more than 10 languages across all 21 counties.
People who have recently lost job-based coverage or experienced another qualifying life event may not need to wait for open enrollment. GetCoveredNJ explains those exceptions on its enrollment timing page. NJ FamilyCare accepts applications throughout the year.
JBizNews Desk | Trenton
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