TRENTON — Governor Phil Murphy and Department of Banking and Insurance Commissioner Marlene Caride today announced $4.4 million in Navigator grant awards to 17 community organizations to assist in enrolling uninsured and underinsured New Jersey residents in health coverage through Get Covered New Jersey, New Jersey’s Official Health Insurance Marketplace. Navigators provide free outreach, education, and enrollment assistance to residents shopping for health insurance during the Affordable Care Act Open Enrollment Period and throughout the year. The Open Enrollment Period starts November 1st.
“Get Covered New Jersey has served as a critical resource for New Jerseyans, advancing our ongoing efforts to improve access to quality, affordable health coverage for residents in every corner of our state,” said Governor Murphy. “As part of our endeavor to ensure that residents get the coverage they need and deserve, we have increased our investment in Navigator organizations this year – as they continue to play a vital role in helping us educate residents on their health insurance options.”
During grant year 2022-2023, a total of $4.4 million will be awarded, which is an increase over the approximately $4 million awarded in the 2021-2022 grant year. The selected community organizations will serve as Navigators, providing free and unbiased outreach, education and enrollment assistance to consumers searching for health insurance.
“Reaching our residents where they are is essential to connecting individuals to health coverage. During the previous Open Enrollment Period, when a record-breaking number of residents signed up for health coverage through Get Covered New Jersey, Navigators helped build awareness and enroll residents,” said Commissioner Marlene Caride. “With Open Enrollment around the corner, I encourage residents to visit GetCovered.NJ.gov and begin the process of finding a Navigator in their area, who can help explain plan options and financial help available to reduce health care costs.”
The recent passage of the Inflation Reduction Act ensured that unprecedented levels of state and federal financial assistance remain available to New Jerseyans for the upcoming year to lower the cost of health insurance. Nine out of 10 enrollees are eligible for financial help to make insurance more affordable.
A total of 17 community organizations located throughout New Jersey will be funded to serve as Navigators for grant year 2022-2023. Navigator grants support the work of organizations that conduct public education activities and offer free, unbiased assistance to consumers to purchase and enroll in coverage in the Marketplace and help them apply for financial help.
For the second consecutive year, the department is increasing the overall number of carriers offering plans through Get Covered New Jersey. Consumers will have more choice this year with Aetna now offering plans on the marketplace. There are now five carriers, up from three that offered plans through Get Covered New Jersey just two years ago. The additional carriers offering plans on the marketplace for 2023 are AmeriHealth, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, Oscar and Ambetter from WellCare of New Jersey.
The Biden-Harris Administration has also recently eliminated the “family glitch” to further bolster affordability of health insurance. As a result of this action, family members of workers who are offered affordable self-only coverage but unaffordable family coverage may qualify for premium tax credits to buy plans on the marketplace.
With more plan options and changes at the federal level comes more decisions for consumers, which the grant awardees will help New Jerseyans navigate.
Every organization that serves the role of Navigator will have the ability to assist residents in-person and remotely. Grantee activities will include year-round outreach and education for 2023 coverage, including before and during the Open Enrollment Period.
The following organizations received funding for the 2022-2023 grant year under the New Jersey State Navigator Grant Program:
| Navigator Grant Recipient |
Grant amount |
| AtlanticCare Health Services |
$237,314 |
| Center for Family Services, Inc. |
$593,070 |
| Foodbank of Monmouth & Ocean Counties Inc. dba Fulfill |
$123,517 |
| Health Research and Educational Trust of New Jersey |
$466,190 |
| HOPES Community Action Partnership Incorporated |
$225,000 |
| Lakewood Resource and Referral Center |
$440,000 |
| New Jersey Citizen Action Education Fund |
$462,028 |
| New Jersey SHARES |
$150,000 |
| North Hudson Community Action Corporation |
$80,500 |
| Planned Parenthood of Northern Central and Southern New Jersey Inc. |
$139,323 |
| Saint James Health, Inc. |
$263,474 |
| Southern Jersey Family Medical Centers, Inc. |
$201,500 |
| The Family Resource Network |
$180,700 |
| The Oranges ACA Navigator Project, Inc. |
$200,000 |
| University Hospital |
$182,000 |
| Urban League of Hudson County |
$235,000 |
| Zufall Health Center |
$202,000 |
| Total |
$4,381,616 |
|
The selected Navigator grantees will provide local assistance at locations across the entire state of New Jersey. Consumers looking for help can search for a Navigator in their community by going to the “We Can Help” section at GetCovered.NJ.gov.
The grant program is funded by user fees that support the operation of the State-Based Marketplace Department. It is mandatory for all Exchange programs to operate and fund a Navigator program. Organizations that receive funding through the grant program must meet state and federal requirements.
In addition to state-funded Navigators, Certified Application Counselors (CACs) and Brokers will also assist consumers with enrollment in health insurance. All Navigators, Certified Application Counselors (CACs), and Brokers must complete state training and certification to assist consumers with health insurance enrollment in the State Marketplace. Organizations interested in serving as a Certified Application Counselor Designated Organization (CDO), which oversee CACs, and agents and brokers interested in assisting consumers with Marketplace coverage can find certification information at GetCovered.NJ.gov under “For Assisters and Brokers.”
The Open Enrollment Period for 2023 coverage at Get Covered New Jersey (GetCovered.NJ.gov) will run from November 1, 2022 to January 31, 2023. |
