What is Get Covered New Jersey?
Get Covered New Jersey is the state's official health insurance marketplace where individuals and families can easily shop for and buy coverage. It is the only place you can apply for financial help to lower the cost of your monthly insurance premiums and out-of-pocket costs. You can learn if you might qualify for free or low-cost health insurance through NJ FamilyCare, New Jersey’s publicly funded health insurance program.
New Jersey employers can also find information on coverage for small businesses of up to 50 employees here.
Who can shop on Get Covered New Jersey?
Get Covered New Jersey is a source of affordable health insurance for New Jersey residents who do not have health coverage from their employers or access to other health care programs. Financial help is available to help lower the cost of premiums and out-of-pocket costs for those who qualify. Residents can also learn at Get Covered New Jersey (abbreviated as GetCoveredNJ) if they might qualify for NJ FamilyCare, New Jersey’s publicly funded health insurance program.
To shop on GetCoveredNJ you:
- Must live in the United States and have a primary residence in New Jersey
- Must be considered a resident of the United States and New Jersey for tax purposes
- Must be a U.S. citizen or national or be lawfully present. If you are a noncitizen, you must be lawfully present in the U.S. for the entire time you plan to have health coverage (see here)
- Cannot be currently incarcerated
Individuals who are not eligible to buy health insurance through GetCoveredNJ can still apply for other members of their household who are eligible. For example, parents who are not lawfully present can still enroll their children in health insurance through GetCoveredNJ if their children are eligible.
I am new to Get Covered New Jersey. Where do I start?
If you don’t have coverage or are shopping for Marketplace coverage for the first time, you can go to New Customers.
You can find trained experts to help you shop and enroll at Find Local Assistance or go to Customer Service.
Is there financial help available to lower the cost of my plan?
You may qualify for financial help to lower the cost of your plan. When you apply for health coverage through GetCoveredNJ, you could qualify for three types of financial assistance: advance premium tax credits (APTC), cost-sharing reductions and New Jersey Health Plan Savings, a state subsidy offered by the state of New Jersey. Premium tax credits and the state subsidy help lower your monthly premium payments. Cost-sharing reductions help lower your out-of-pocket costs like deductibles and co-pays for doctor visits.
Due to the federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 and the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, Get Covered New Jersey customers may now be eligible to receive expanded financial help. The State of New Jersey and the federal government are providing additional savings through subsidies and advance premium tax credits. This means more people now qualify for more financial help.
Note that consumers must reconcile the advance premium tax credits they receive each year on their federal income tax return using Form 8962, even if they don’t normally file federal income taxes. Consumers must reconcile their APTC in order to continue to receive APTC. For more information about “reconciling” your APTC, visit our Financial Help page.
How will I know how much financial help I can receive?
You can enter some basic information into the shop and compare tool to receive an estimate of how much financial help you could receive. For a final determination, you will need to complete a full application and provide more detailed information about your household and income. After completing an application, you will receive official eligibility results that tell you how much financial help you qualify for.
How can I apply for coverage and financial help on GetCoveredNJ?
You can apply for coverage and financial help:
Online: Apply at GetCovered.NJ.gov
In Person: Apply in person or by phone with free help from a certified assister or broker. To find a certified assister or broker in your area, go to Find Local Assistance.
By Telephone – Call our Customer Call Center. Calls are free.
By U.S. Mail - Download an application and mail to:
Get Covered New Jersey
Attn: Application
PO Box 55898
Trenton, NJ 08638
GetCoveredNJ is the only place where you can apply for financial help to lower the cost of your monthly premiums and out-of-pocket costs.
I didn't qualify for financial help before, but I heard there are new health plans available this year. What are my choices?
Plans and prices change every year, and new financial help became available to residents at more income levels in May 2021. That means many people who previously did not qualify for financial help may now be eligible to save on a health plan through Get Covered New Jersey. It is important to see what's new and compare. Use our shop and compare tool to see your choices for Marketplace coverage and health plans.
Why did I lose my financial help?
If you lost the financial help that you had previously, it could be one of several reasons:
- You did not authorize GetCoveredNJ to access your financial information with the IRS to renew your financial help for another coverage year. You can submit a new application to see if you are eligible for financial help. You can authorize GetCoveredNJ to see if you are eligible for financial help for up to five years.
- After a tax household size or income change, your income may have increased to a level where you are no longer eligible for financial help, or your income now falls into the NJ FamilyCare income level and you or your children were referred to NJ FamilyCare for an eligibility determination (check your eligibility results to confirm this information).
- You have other coverage now or your employer coverage is considered affordable.
- You may have answered a question differently from last year and no longer meet the financial help eligibility criteria. This includes if you have gained other coverage or if you did not agree to file federal income taxes or did not attest to reconciling your previous federal financial help (advance premium tax credits, or APTC).
- You did not provide documentation to verify your income, or to verify that you are not enrolled in other coverage. Be sure to carefully read letters from GetCoveredNJ about how to provide documentation.
- You failed to reconcile premium tax credits that your tax household received in prior years with your federal income tax filing using IRS Form 8962. You must file a federal income tax return for any year that you receive advance premium tax credits, even if you don’t usually file an income tax return or your income is below the level requiring you to file an income tax return. You must file a joint income tax return if you are married unless an exception applies. If you did not reconcile APTC you received in prior years, use your 1095-A form for that year to file your taxes and reconcile your APTC as soon as possible.
More information about why your financial help changed may be found in the eligibility letter sent to you from GetCoveredNJ. You can also contact our consumer assistance center (1-833-677-1010) with any questions you may have about your coverage through GetCoveredNJ.
What do I need to apply?
You will need this information for yourself and anyone in your household applying for coverage:
- Home address and mailing addresses, if different
- Birth dates
- Social Security numbers
- Document information for lawfully present immigrants and non-citizens, if applicable
- Employer and income information for every member of your household (for example, pay stubs, previous year tax filing, or W-2 forms)
- Your best estimate of what your tax household income will be for the year you are seeking coverage
- Policy numbers and employee cost for any current health plans covering members of your household
On the application, I need to list my household. Should I include everyone who lives in my household?
You should only list people in your tax household. Your tax household is all of the people who you will include on your federal income tax return for the year you receive coverage, even if they are not seeking coverage.
What is my tax household?
Tax filer + spouse + tax dependents = tax household
Follow these basic rules when including members of your household:
- Include your spouse if you are legally married.
- If you plan to claim someone as a tax dependent for the year you want coverage, include them on your application.
- If you won’t claim them as a tax dependent, do not include them.
- Include your spouse and tax dependents even if they are not seeking health coverage.
Your tax household includes the tax filer and spouse, if you have one, and your dependents that are included on the tax return. Generally, one’s tax dependents are their minor children or people who live with them and depend on them for support. The IRS (at irs.gov - https://www.irs.gov/publications/p501) defines who can be a tax dependent and tax professionals can assist with this determination of who is your tax dependent and should be included in your GetCoveredNJ application.
Other persons who live with you but who are not your spouse and are not your tax dependents should not be included on your GetCoveredNJ application. Anyone who files a separate tax return because they are not claimed as a tax dependent should file their own separate GetCoveredNJ application. Friends and family members who happen to live in the same house with you but are not your tax dependents, such as your working adult children, your working siblings, your parents, or your friends, should be filing their own GetCoveredNJ application. However, if you will claim any of these people as your tax dependents for the coverage year’s tax return, then they should be included in your GetCoveredNJ application.
What income should I include on my application for financial help?
The income you report on your application is called your Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI). In general, your MAGI is the estimated adjusted gross income before tax (the income you report when you file your federal taxes) for your household plus any non-taxable Social Security, tax-exempt interest, or foreign income you have for the year for which you are applying.
For most people, a household consists of the tax filer, their spouse if they have one, and their tax dependents, including those who do not need coverage. The Marketplace counts estimated income of all tax household members (not everyone who you live with). Marketplace savings are based on your expected household income for the year you want coverage, not last year’s income. You must make your best estimate so you qualify for the right amount of savings.
Remember: Report income changes within 30 days to make sure you’re getting the right amount of Premium Tax Credit during the year. If the amount of advance credit payments you get for the year is less than the tax credit you should have received, you'll get the difference as a tax credit when you file your federal income tax return. If your advance payments for the year are more than the amount of your credit, you must repay some of the advance payments with your tax return. Learn more
How should I estimate my income on the application?
The application will ask you for information about how much you earn through employment and other sources, including social security benefits, alimony, tax-exempt interest, and tax exempt foreign income. Review each question carefully on the application and provide complete details for each type of income and deduction. The application will use the information you provide to calculate an estimated income for the coverage year.
Think about whether you are expecting changes, including raises, new job or job loss, changes to other sources of income, and gaining or losing a tax dependent. If you are expecting a change in income, then you can enter that in the application instead of what the system calculates for you.
Remember to come back and update your application throughout the year if you have income or household changes to make sure you get the right amount of financial help.
What income deductions can you include on the application?
You should only count your deductions from your federal income tax filing (Form 1040 Schedule 1) such as: deductible part of self-employment tax, IRA deduction for contributions if you don’t have a retirement account through your job, educator expenses if you are a teacher and personally pay for teaching supplies, alimony paid if your divorce was finalized before 1/1/19, and student loan interest deduction (note: principal payments on a student loan do NOT count as a deduction, only the interest paid can count as a deduction). Personal expenses also do NOT count as deductions. The standard deduction, itemized deductions and qualified business income deduction are also not included on your application as they are not part of your adjusted gross income. Follow the prompts in the application for this information.
I have an income from overseas. Should I include this income on the application?
Foreign earned income that was excluded from taxes must be included on your application for financial help (premium tax credits). U.S. citizens or resident aliens of the United States who lived abroad may qualify to exclude foreign earnings from income taxes up to a certain amount ($120,000 for 2023 and $126,500 for 2024). In addition, some foreign housing amounts may be excluded from taxes. Contact a tax professional if you have questions about untaxed foreign income to include in your application. Untaxed foreign income must be added to your GetCoveredNJ application when entering your income information.
I am an immigrant. Can I buy health insurance with financial help at GetCoveredNJ?
- Applicants who are eligible to buy coverage with financial help:
U.S. Citizen / Naturalized U.S. Citizen / U.S. National / Lawfully Present including Lawful Permanent Resident, Pending I-551 (When consumer gets Employment Authorization Cards (EAD)), or Temp. I-551, Non-immigrant Visa holders (Only who can legally work in the U.S. and file taxes), Temporary Protected Status (TPS), Asylees, Refugees, Deferred Action (including individuals granted Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program), Granted relief under the Convention Against Torture (CAT), citizens of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, and Palau; and others - Applicants who are eligible to buy coverage without financial help:
- Certain non-immigrant visa holders (e.g., student visa)
- If F1 visa holder is granted Pre or Post Optional Practical Training (OPT) with valid Employment Authorization Card (work authorization), they may be eligible for financial help
- Applicants who CANNOT buy coverage through marketplace:
Non-New Jersey residents and non-lawfully present consumers (non-lawfully present consumers may be eligible for Emergency Medicaid depending on situation and may be able to purchase coverage directly from an insurance company) - Consumers with eligible immigration statuses who have household incomes below 138 percent of the FPL and are ineligible for NJ FamilyCare due to immigration status are eligible for coverage and financial help through GetCoveredNJ even if their income falls below 100 percent of the FPL.
Can I apply for coverage through GetCoveredNJ if I live part-time in another state?
Where you live can affect your eligibility for health coverage and cost-savings through GetCoveredNJ. Generally, people must live in a state to be considered residents. But if someone is living out of the state temporarily, they can still be considered a resident of the state. To qualify for coverage through GetCoveredNJ, you must have a New Jersey address that is used for tax purposes and that is considered the permanent home address where everyone on your application lives.
What if I disagree with a Marketplace decision about my eligibility?
If you don’t agree with a Marketplace decision, you may be able to file an appeal. You generally have 90 days from the date of your Eligibility Determination Notice to ask for an appeal.
Marketplace decisions you can appeal:
- Not eligible for advance payments of the premium tax credit (APTC)
- Eligible for APTC, but the amount is wrong
- Not eligible for a Special Enrollment Period
- Not eligible to buy a Marketplace plan
- Not eligible to choose a Catastrophic plan
You cannot file an appeal until you get the Eligibility Determination Notice. It is a letter that says your eligibility for coverage has ended or your savings have changed. The letter will also explain your appeal rights.
I received a letter with an access code. How do I claim my account?
If you got a letter with an access code, you can access your account and current coverage information. For more information, go to Existing Marketplace Customers.
I cannot access my account. Where can I go for help?
You should have received a letter or email from Get Covered New Jersey (or from noreply@getcovered.nj.gov) with an access code to log in to your new user account. If you did not receive the email, please check your spam folder. If you need additional help, you can contact Customer Service (1-833-677-1010).
What is an Open Enrollment Period?
Open Enrollment is the yearly period when you can enroll in health insurance. In New Jersey, Open Enrollment is November 1 to January 31. Open Enrollment is the only time during the year when you can enroll in coverage, unless you experience a major life event that qualifies you for a Special Enrollment Period, if a state-designated Special Enrollment Period is in effect, or if you qualify for NJ FamilyCare.
If I sign up during Open Enrollment, when will my coverage start?
If you enroll by December 31, your coverage will start January 1. If you enroll in January, your coverage will start February 1. Open Enrollment ends January 31st.
What is a Special Enrollment Period?
A Special Enrollment Period (SEP) is a time outside of the yearly Open Enrollment Period when you can sign up for health insurance coverage or make changes to your existing enrollment. You qualify for a SEP if you have had a qualifying life event or meet a certain income level.
The state may also designate a Special Enrollment Period in response to the needs of its residents.
What is a Qualifying Life Event?
A qualifying life event (QLE) is a specific event that qualifies you for a SEP. Qualifying Life Events include:
- Birth, Adoption or Court-ordered dependent
- Change in lawful presence, incarceration, American Indian/Alaskan Native status
- Loss of coverage through employer, Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Plan (known as NJ FamilyCare), or other minimum essential coverage
- Marriage
- Moved to New Jersey or moved to a new coverage area within New Jersey
- Pregnancy
- Primary individual on the application died or became incarcerated
- Survivor of domestic violence, abuse or spousal abandonment
- Exceptional Circumstances or Plan/Program Error
- Plan or benefit display error
- Error, misrepresentation, inaction or misconduct by the Exchange or assisters
- Health plan violation of a material policy provision
- Resolving a data matching issue proving eligibility
- Exceptional circumstances that reasonably prevented enrollment, including serious medical conditions, natural disasters, etc.
More information is available here.
When do I need to report my qualifying life event and how long will my special enrollment period last?
If you had a qualifying life event, you should report the event, apply for health insurance, and enroll in a plan within 60 days from the event. If you or someone receiving coverage has a change in income or gains other minimum essential coverage (MEC) during the year, you should report these changes within 30 days by updating your application.
Are there any ongoing Special Enrollment Periods?
As part of its goal to advance health equity, New Jersey introduced a new Special Enrollment Period (SEP), the Expanded Access Special Enrollment Period, in 2022 that allows consumers at a certain income level to enroll throughout the year in free or nearly free coverage. Consumers with an annual income up to 200% of the Federal Poverty Level ($30,120 for an individual or $62,400 for a family of four in 2025) can qualify for a Special Enrollment Period to enroll any time of the year with access to plans with low or no monthly premium.
Consumers who qualify for this SEP will automatically be identified when they submit their application for coverage, and can begin shopping by clicking on the “Shop for Plans” button after submitting the application.
In addition, uninsured or underinsured residents (those without minimum essential coverage) can indicate their interest in coverage for themselves or a tax household member when completing their state income tax return. Through the New Jersey Easy Enrollment Health Insurance Program, consumers can receive an invitation to apply and enroll outside of the Open Enrollment Period.
What if I or someone on my application is getting other coverage?
Gaining other health insurance coverage (such as Medicare, employer coverage, etc.) should be reported the month before their new coverage begins by updating your application to avoid a gap in coverage for other household members. Some household enrollees may need to select a new health plan if the head of household is gaining other coverage.
I have health coverage from a different state. Can I apply for health insurance through GetCoveredNJ?
You must live in New Jersey to be eligible for coverage through GetCoveredNJ. If you move to the state of New Jersey, you can apply for coverage and if eligible, enroll through a Special Enrollment Period to start your new coverage when your other coverage ends. You should enroll in a plan where you reside and file taxes.
Generally, if you are enrolled or eligible for other minimum essential coverage, you will not qualify to get financial help from Get Covered New Jersey.
Is there enrollment assistance available?
Yes. You can get free help to find a health insurance plan that’s right for you. GetCoveredNJ has a network of trained professionals who can help people with enrollment for free. Call our Customer Call Center or find a certified assister or broker in your area who can guide you through the application.
What benefits do health insurance plans on GetCoveredNJ cover?
All plans sold on GetCoveredNJ have met the high standards of GetCoveredNJ, the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance (DOBI), and the requirements of the Affordable Care Act. Each plan sold on GetCoveredNJ covers essential health benefits (EHBs). The amount you pay for these services varies by plan. These benefits include:
- Ambulatory care (outpatient) services
- Emergency services
- Hospitalization
- Maternity and newborn care
- Mental health and substance use disorder services
- Prescription drugs
- Rehabilitative and habilitative services and devices
- Laboratory services
- Preventive and wellness services, including annual physicals and mammograms, and chronic disease management
- Pediatric services
Some routine and preventive care is required to be free to you. This includes certain vaccinations (shots) and child well visits.
If I have a pre-existing health condition, will I be denied coverage or pay more for my premium?
No. A pre-existing condition will not keep you from getting health coverage. An insurance company can’t turn you down or charge you more because of your condition. Once you have insurance, the plan can’t refuse to cover treatment for pre-existing conditions.
Will I get to keep my doctor if I buy a health insurance plan through GetCoveredNJ?
It depends. Each insurance company has a network of doctors in each plan. Plans do not provide coverage for doctors who are not in their network. You can find if a doctor is in the plan you want to buy when you compare plans on GetCoveredNJ.
Health plans are listed as Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum or Catastrophic. What does this mean?
Plans in the Marketplace are in “metal” categories: Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. Metal categories are based on how you and your plan split the costs of your health care. There are also Catastrophic health plans. Right now, there are no Platinum plans offered in the Marketplace.
- Bronze: The health plan pays 60% of total health care costs. You pay about 40%. Bronze plans have the lowest premiums and the highest levels of cost-sharing (deductibles, co-pays, etc.).
- Silver: The health plan pays 70% of total health care costs. You pay about 30%. People who qualify for premium tax credits may also qualify for more savings through cost-sharing reductions. These can only be applied to Silver plans.
- Gold: The health plan pays 80% of total health care costs. You pay about 20%. Gold plans have higher premiums and lower cost-sharing levels.
- Platinum: The health plan pays 90% of total health care costs. You pay about 10%. Platinum plans have the highest premiums and the lowest levels of cost-sharing.
- Catastrophic: Available to individuals under the age of 30 and those who qualify for a hardship exemption. This plan has a low monthly premium, but a very high deductible. This may be an affordable way to protect yourself from costs of a serious illness or injury. But you pay most routine medical expenses yourself.
I was enrolled in a Bronze plan last year but automatically enrolled in a Silver plan for 2025. Why was my plan changed?
Get Covered New Jersey is utilizing a federal rule that permits Marketplaces to transition eligible consumers from a Bronze plan to a Silver plan upon automatic renewals. Through this affordability measure, consumers who are eligible for extra savings will be renewed into a Silver plan with the extra savings, called cost-sharing reductions (CSRs), with the same insurance carrier and the same coverage with a lower or equivalent premium.
How do I know that my coverage is active?
Your health plan will send you a membership package. It will have enrollment materials and a health insurance card. The card is your proof of insurance. It may take a few days after you apply through GetCoveredNJ for your health plan to send your card, especially in busy times like Open Enrollment.
If you don’t get your card, call your health plan. Ask if they sent your card. Ask if your coverage is active. Health plan member services numbers are listed on their websites. Or go to this list of insurance companies and their customer service phone numbers. You can also check your health insurance coverage status under your enrollment status or call the GetCoveredNJ call center.
Is dental coverage included with the plans available in GetCoveredNJ?
It depends. Under the Affordable Care Act, dental coverage is treated differently for adults and children 18 and under. Dental coverage for children is an essential health benefit. If you buy coverage for someone 18 or younger, dental coverage must be available as part of a health plan or as a stand-alone plan. You do not have to buy it.
Dental coverage for adults 19 and older is not an essential health benefit. Health insurance companies do not have to cover adult dental care. You can shop for and buy dental plans separately from your health plan at GetCoveredNJ. Compare plans and costs with the shop and compare tool.
How can I get insurance for my adult children who are under age 26?
The Affordable Care Act allows children to be added to or kept on a parent's health insurance policy until they turn 26 years old. These rules apply to job-based insurance coverage and to individual plans. Children can join or stay on a parent's plan even if they are:
- Married
- Not living with their parents
- Attending school
- Not financially dependent on their parents
- Eligible to enroll in their employer’s plan
If you buy an individual plan and your adult children under age 26 are your dependents for tax purposes, you can add them to your plan.
If an adult child is not a tax dependent, the adult child should fill out his or her own application to apply for a tax credit. They can choose the same plan but will be on a different policy.
Is there still a requirement to have health insurance in New Jersey?
Yes. New Jersey is committed to making sure health insurance is available and affordable to all residents. To help with this, the state has kept in place a requirement for New Jersey residents to have health coverage or make a shared responsibility payment during tax time, unless you qualify for an exemption.
Making sure all residents have health coverage helps make sure there are more health plans available for consumers to choose from. It makes sure premiums are affordable and comprehensive coverage is available for all who need it. Any funds the state collects from this penalty go to lowering the cost of health insurance for individuals.
Through New Jersey’s efforts to stabilize our insurance market, New Jerseyans can get needed coverage for themselves and their families. To learn more about New Jersey’s health insurance requirement and the shared responsibility payment, go to the State Treasury website.
Are there exemptions from the requirement to have health insurance?
Yes. In some cases, individuals who do not have minimum essential coverage will not have to make the shared responsibility payment. These are called “exemptions.” To learn more about applying for a hardship exemption, go to the State Treasury website. If you get a hardship exemption, you will also be able to enroll in a Catastrophic plan that has lower premiums but with higher costs for care.
I've read something about short-term coverage. Is that a choice?
Short-Term Limited Duration plans are prohibited in New Jersey. Sometimes called "skimpy" plans, they don't cover the basic services you would expect from insurance and that are required in New Jersey. Plans offered at GetCoveredNJ cover comprehensive benefits like preventive care, check-ups, prescriptions, hospitalizations, maternity care, mental health care, and more.
What if I need health care, and my health plan refuses to cover treatment or services?
You may challenge coverage denials by a health insurance company. Coverage required on an emergency or urgent basis require a decision within 48 hours.
Other types of denials may also be challenged. These include utilization management (UM) denials. UM denials are refusals to pay a claim or authorize a service or supply because the insurance company determined it is:
- not medically necessary to treat the covered person’s illness or injury,
- experimental or investigational,
- cosmetic, or
- dental rather than medical.
Two other types of UM decisions that may also be challenged:
- Denial of an “in-plan exception” (a request to get services from an out-of-network provider when the insurance company’s network does not have any providers who are qualified, accessible, and available to perform the specific medically necessary service), and services are required on an emergency or urgent basis.
- Administrative denials, such as refusal to pay a claim or authorize a service or supply based on contract provisions or other grounds not involving the exercise of medical judgment.
To learn more, go to: https://www.nj.gov/dobi/division_insurance/managedcare/ihcap.htm.
What if I get a bill that I did not expect from an Out-of-Network provider?
Health care providers are not allowed to “balance bill” for certain surprise services, such as in an emergency, or when an in-network provider was not available in an in-network hospital. Under state law, doctors and hospitals may not bill you above the amount of your in-network cost-sharing, including your deductible, co-pays, or co-insurance.
Report to your health plan any attempts by the out-of-network health care provider to bill you for these types of services above what you would pay for in-network care. You may also file a complaint with the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance online. Or call the consumer hotline at Consumer Hotline 1-800-446-7467, from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm EST Monday through Friday.
To learn more about consumer protections from out-of-network billing, go to: https://www.state.nj.us/dobi/division_consumers/insurance/outofnetwork.html
After I’ve applied, how can I get information on using my coverage and updating my information?
Once you’ve applied, you can learn more about how to use your coverage and update your information if you have a change during the year at After You Apply.
What if my insurance company makes a decision that I think is wrong?
After you apply for and enroll in coverage, it is important that you can use it to get health care. If you have concerns regarding your Get Covered New Jersey eligibility for financial help or enrollment or believe an error may have been made, please contact the Customer Assistance Center at 1-833-677-1010.
If you believe a decision your health plan carrier made is wrong and is negatively affecting your access to medical care, you can file a complaint with the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance. You can file an online complaint. Or call the Consumer Hotline 1-800-446-7467, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. EST Monday through Friday.
What if I did not get a health insurance card but need to make a doctor’s appointment or fill a prescription?
If you do not have a health insurance card, contact your health plan. They may be able to tell you your member number or send you a temporary card to give your doctor or pharmacy. Here is a list of insurance companies and their customer service phone numbers.
If you get care after your coverage starts but before you get your card, you may have to pay for your care at the time of service. If you pay for covered services, you can file a claim with your health plan to get it paid back.
How do I pay my bill?
You pay your premium directly to your health plan. Follow their instructions for how and when to pay your premium. You may be able to pay online. Look for the “Pay Now” button in your account after you choose your plan. It is important to pay your total monthly premium to your health plan by the due date to start your coverage.
Your coverage could end if you do not pay your monthly premiums on time. If you do not get the bill from the insurance company as your due date comes close, contact your insurance company. You can make the payment via phone with your insurer. Here is a list of insurance companies and their customer service phone numbers.
Why have I lost coverage?
You may have lost coverage for one of the following reasons:
- If you did not pay your monthly premiums to your insurance company, you may have been terminated for non-payment. Your insurance company should have sent you letters about payments due and potential termination of coverage.
- If you did not respond to requests for documents to verify certain information on your application related to citizenship, lawful presence status, or your being enrolled in Medicare or NJ FamilyCare.
- If a member of your household has been identified as deceased as part of the automatic check that Get Covered New Jersey does periodically with the Social Security Administration, Get Covered New Jersey is required by the federal government to terminate coverage for the deceased member. If this information is accurate, you should update your account by contacting Get Covered New Jersey to report the passing of the household member and the date of death. If you or a family member have been incorrectly identified as deceased, you should complete the following steps:
-
- Call the consumer assistance center (1-833-677-1010) about the notice that the consumer is identified as deceased when they are not deceased; or
- Upload a letter or statement attesting that the household member has been incorrectly identified as deceased, and the household member will contact the Social Security Administration to correct this information.
- Note: Any consumer incorrectly identified as deceased should promptly contact the Social Security Administration to report that the household member was identified as deceased in error through a Social Security data match. Visit socialsecurity.gov, go to your local Social Security office, or call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 to resolve this issue.
Check your GetCoveredNJ account inbox for letters about data matching issues and subsequent eligibility determinations. If you cannot determine from your eligibility letter why you lost coverage, or have any questions, please contact the consumer assistance center (1-833-677-1010).
What if my application resulted in a Data Matching Issue?
You can learn more about submitting documentation to resolve a Data Matching Issue at After You Apply.
What if my application resulted in a Data Matching Issue and I do not have documentation to prove my income?
Alternative Attestations for Income Data Matching Issue
Applicants may need to provide documentation for income, referred to as an Income Data Matching Issue (DMI). If you have an income DMI, you should review the list of acceptable documents in the notices received and provide those documents to verify your income. In the rare event you are unable to provide any of the other existing acceptable income documents, you may sign and submit an Attestation of Frequently Changing Monthly Income or Attestation of Other Income. There are legal and financial implications for knowingly providing inaccurate income information on the Get Covered New Jersey application. If you think this document may be what you need, you are encouraged to find free help from a certified assister, agent, or broker or call the Customer Call Center.
I received a Non-ESI MEC Data Matching Issue. What is this, and how can I resolve it?
A data matching issue is a difference between some information you provided on your health insurance application and information Get Covered New Jersey has from other trusted data sources. A Non-Employer Sponsored Insurance (ESI) Minimum Essential Coverage (MEC) data matching issue occurs when the Marketplace cannot verify your enrollment status in a government-sponsored health program. These health programs include: Medicare Parts A and B, NJ FamilyCare, Medicaid, Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Tricare, Refugee Medical Assistance, Veterans Health Care program, the Civilian Health and Medical program, the Department of Defense Non-appropriated Fund Health Benefits Program or the Peace Corps.
If you are enrolled in any of the above coverage programs and expect to stay enrolled, then you will not be eligible for health insurance through Get Covered New Jersey.
To show proof that you are not enrolled in coverage through NJ FamilyCare (Medicaid or CHIP), submit one of the following documents:
- Letter or statement from NJ FamilyCare that shows that you or your family members were denied NJ FamilyCare coverage or that your NJ FamilyCare coverage has recently ended.
- Letter, document, or statement from NJ FamilyCare showing that you or a family member are enrolled in an NJ FamilyCare program that is not considered minimum essential coverage, including coverage only for family planning services (“NJ FamilyCare Plan First Program”) or emergency treatment.
To show proof that you are not enrolled in Medicare, provide one of the following:
- Letter or statement from Medicare or the Social Security Administration stating that you or your family members are no longer enrolled in Medicare or no longer eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits, and your coverage has ended.
If you have recently been disenrolled from any of the above programs or are losing that coverage soon, you need to submit documentation to demonstrate the loss of coverage. Acceptable documentation includes:
- Letter from Veterans Affairs and/or Veterans Administration
- Letter from insurance company about health coverage, including coverage end date
- Letter from Peace Corps
- In the rare event you are unable to provide any of the other existing acceptable documents, you may call the GetCoveredNJ Customer Call Center and request a further review of your case.
What is Form 1095-A?
Form 1095-A, also called the Health Insurance Marketplace Statement, is an IRS form related to your health insurance coverage. You will receive this statement from Get Covered New Jersey if you or a household member received Advance Premium Tax Credits (APTC) to help pay for health insurance that you purchased through Get Covered New Jersey. Form 1095-A is needed to file your Federal Income Tax Return and Form 8962. The 1095-A shows how many months you had health insurance coverage and the amount of Advance Premium Tax Credit (APTC) you received. You will use form 1095-A to complete Form 8962, Premium Tax Credit, to report the amount of APTC you received during the year for which you are filing taxes. Every taxpayer who receives APTC must reconcile the APTC their tax household received on their annual tax filing for the coverage year, even if they do not normally file federal income taxes.
The Form 8962 will calculate if you can receive more of a tax credit or if you owe any amount back. The Advanced Premium Tax Credit is based on the amount of income on your Get Covered New Jersey application. Form 8962 will look at your final annual income, as reported on your taxes. If your income or tax household size changed during the year, you may owe back part of the premium tax credit or you may get more premium tax credit.
The 1095-A form does not include any state subsidy you received – called New Jersey Health Plan Savings (NJHPS) - and only includes the federal financial help received, called Advance Premium Tax Credits/APTCs. The New Jersey Health Plan Savings financial help does not get reported through the 1095-A and Form 8962 and consumers should only report the APTC amounts on the 1095-A form(s). If you include New Jersey Health Plan Savings on your Form 8962, it could result in the IRS incorrectly calculating your final APTC for the year and may result in you paying back APTC. For more information on form 1095-A, please visit Health Insurance Marketplace Statements.
When and how will I receive my Form 1095-A?
Get Covered New Jersey will mail you the Form 1095-A by January 31st after the coverage year. You may receive more than one 1095-A form if you changed plans or had other changes during the year.
If you elected to receive your Form 1095-A by paper mail, you will receive it by the beginning of February. Look for an envelope that says “Important Tax Information Enclosed” and the Get Covered New Jersey logo. You can also find your Form 1095-A in your secure account at GetCovered.NJ.gov.
If you elected to receive your Form 1095-A electronically, you can download the form from your secure mailbox in your Get Covered New Jersey account by January 31st. After logging in to your Get Covered New Jersey account, select “My Inbox” and click on the notification titled “1095A Form for Health Plan”.
If you wish to change the settings for how you receive your 1095-A form, you can update your account at Get Covered New Jersey. The communication preferences for the 1095-A form is a separate question from the general communication preferences.
What if I didn’t receive my Form 1095-A?
If you do not receive your Form 1095-A form shortly after January 31st and you were enrolled in a health insurance plan through Get Covered New Jersey in the year prior, please call Get Covered New Jersey at 1-833-677-1010.
Why is the total financial help listed on my Form 1095-A different from what I received each month?
The State of New Jersey provides additional financial help to lower health insurance premiums. This state subsidy, referred to as the New Jersey Health Plan Savings, is not connected to your federal or state taxes. Do not include the New Jersey Health Plan Savings (NJHPS) on your federal tax return. The state financial help does not need to be reported with the federal Advance Premium Tax Credit (APTC) amounts. The numbers listed in Part III, Column C of the 1095-A form reflect only the federal financial help you received. Column C may be different than the total financial help you received because it does not include the state subsidy.
If you believe that the federal financial help listed is different than the APTC you received throughout the year, make sure you are reviewing all of your 1095-A forms (if you receive more than one). If you have questions, call Get Covered New Jersey at 1-833-677-1010.
Why did I receive more than one Form 1095-A?
You will receive one Form 1095-A for each Health Insurance Marketplace plan that you or members of your household enrolled in through Get Covered New Jersey during the year. Additionally, you will also receive more than one Form 1095-A for the following reasons:
- If you or members of your household were not all enrolled in the same health plan
- If you updated your household information during the year
- If you switched plans during the year
- If you received a corrected Form 1095-A due to errors on your original Form 1095-A
Note: If you or members of your household were enrolled in coverage in different states during the coverage year, you will receive a Form 1095-A from each state’s Health Insurance Marketplace where you were enrolled in coverage.
What if I think my Form 1095-A has errors?
To report a suspected error on your Form 1095-A, please call Get Covered New Jersey right away at 1-833-677-1010. Get Covered New Jersey will review your coverage records and send you a corrected Form 1095-A if needed. Call if you think your Form 1095-A has:
- Months of coverage for you or any members of your household that are different than what you expected
- Household members are missing from the form
- Incorrect demographics on the form: address, social security number, or date of birth
- Monthly enrollment premiums and/or the monthly advance payment of premium tax credit amounts that are different than what you thought you received for one or more months
What do I need to do if I received a corrected Form 1095-A?
If you received a Form 1095-A with the "CORRECTED" box checked at the top, it generally means that you previously received a Form 1095-A containing one or more errors. Visit Corrected, Incorrect or Voided Forms 1095-A for information.
I had to repay all or part of my advance premium tax credit that I received last year. How can I avoid having to repay in the future?
To avoid having to repay advance premium tax credits, you should do the following:
- Make sure Get Covered New Jersey has your most up-to-date income information.
- Report any changes to your household size, income, and other health insurance coverage to Get Covered New Jersey as quickly as possible.
- Consider taking less than the full amount of advance premium tax credit available to you. You may select any amount of the premium tax credit you are eligible to receive in advance, and then receive the remainder of the premium tax credit on your taxes if you end up being eligible for a larger tax credit than you used throughout the coverage year. This option is available on GetCovered.NJ.gov as a last step before you finalize your enrollment (look for the “Adjust APTC” button).
Why did I receive Form 1095-A and Form 1095-B or 1095-C?
If you or a member of your household were enrolled in Medicaid, Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), or NJ FamilyCare at some point in the coverage year, you should receive Form 1095-B from the State of New Jersey. If you were enrolled in other types of coverage - such as a catastrophic plan, Medicare Parts A or C, TRICARE, benefits from the Department of Veteran Affairs, or certain employer-sponsored health insurance – you may receive Form 1095-B or Form 1095-C from other sources.
Get Covered New Jersey only provides Form 1095-A and does not provide Form 1095-B “Health Coverage” or Form 1095-C “Employer-Provided Health Insurance Offer and Coverage”.
Form 1095-B is sent to individuals to report other minimum essential coverage that includes government-sponsored programs such as Medicaid/CHIP/Medicare, individual market plans, and other coverage the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services designates as minimum essential coverage.
Form 1095-C is furnished to any employee of an Applicable Large Employers (ALE) who is a full-time employee for one or more months of the calendar year.
Will I receive a Form 1095-A if I purchased a catastrophic plan?
No. You will not receive a Form 1095-A for a catastrophic plan purchased through Get Covered New Jersey because these plans are not eligible for the premium tax credit.
You may receive a Form 1095-B (titled “Health Coverage”) for catastrophic coverage directly from the health insurance company (see prior question for more information on the 1095-B).
Where can I find more help?
While Get Covered New Jersey can help you with certain issues related to Form 1095-A, you may have additional questions, particularly about how the form affects your taxes. Additional resources to help you can be found at the following pages:
- Corrected, Incorrect or Voided Forms 1095-A
- Instructions for Form 1095-A
- Premium Tax Credit
- Affordable Care Act – What to Expect When Filing Your Tax Return
- How to correct an electronically filed return rejected for a missing Form 8962
- Gathering Your Health Coverage Documentation
- About Form 8962, Premium Tax Credit
Get Covered New Jersey does not provide tax advice. You can share this information with your tax preparer if you have one. Many people can get free help to fill out their taxes. Visit IRS.gov/Individuals/Free-Tax-Return-Preparation-for-You-by-Volunteers to learn more.
What is the New Jersey Easy Enrollment Health Insurance Program (NJ-EZ Enroll)?
The New Jersey Easy Enrollment Health Insurance Program makes it easier for residents to obtain quality, affordable health insurance through Get Covered New Jersey (www.getcovered.nj.gov), the state’s Official Health Insurance Marketplace. Through this program, uninsured and underinsured residents (those without Minimum Essential Coverage) can indicate their interest in coverage for themselves or a household member when completing their tax return, which will be shared with the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance.
How does Easy Enrollment work?
Consumers have the option to indicate they are interested in learning if their household qualifies for affordable health insurance coverage for themselves or members of their tax household who are uninsured by completing and submitting the NJ-EZ Enroll Form Easy Enrollment Health Insurance with their New Jersey State Tax return. This form is available for those who e-file and those who file paper returns. Consumers will need to select ‘Yes’ for “I want GetCoveredNJ to use the information in this return and available data from other relevant sources to see if my household would qualify for affordable health coverage.” The Division of Taxation will send the tax filer’s information to GetCoveredNJ upon submission of the form with the New Jersey State Tax return.
Upon receipt of the information from the Division of Taxation, GetCoveredNJ creates a pre-filled application for the consumer. If the individual has an existing account, GetCoveredNJ sends an invitation notice based on the preferred method of communication (email or postal mail). If the consumer does not have an existing account, GetCoveredNJ creates an account and sends an invitation notice with an access code to the consumer based on their preferred method of communication.
How do I apply for coverage through GetCoveredNJ after my information was sent from the Division of Taxation?
If you have an active GetCoveredNJ account, you will receive an invitation notice from GetCoveredNJ with instructions on how to log in to your account. After logging in to your GetCoveredNJ account, you can complete your pre-filled application to determine your eligibility for financial help, shop for plans, and enroll in coverage.
Use the following step-by-step guide to:
If an account was created for you or you have an inactive account with GetCoveredNJ, you will receive an invitation notice with an Access Code from GetCoveredNJ that you will use to claim your GetCoveredNJ account. After claiming your GetCoveredNJ account, you can complete your pre-filled application to determine your eligibility for financial help, shop for plans, and enroll in coverage.
Use the following step-by-step guide to:
- New Consumer - Enrolling in coverage if you were referred to GetCoveredNJ (You received a notice with an Access Code from GetCoveredNJ)
When should I apply?
Consumers should apply as soon as possible to access health coverage.
When will coverage begin?
Coverage through GetCoveredNJ will begin the first of the month following plan selection.
What if my Easy Enrollment invitation letter says I should qualify for free or low-cost coverage from NJ FamilyCare?
Free or low-cost health insurance is available to those eligible through NJ FamilyCare, New Jersey’s publicly funded health insurance program. Applications completed through GetCoveredNJ will be referred to NJ FamilyCare for an eligibility determination when consumers or members of their tax household are assessed as likely eligible for NJ FamilyCare. Please respond to any requests for additional information from NJ FamilyCare and review their mailings. If NJ FamilyCare determines the tax household members seeking coverage are not eligible for NJ FamilyCare’s coverage, a referral will be made back to GetCoveredNJ and coverage can be purchased through GetCoveredNJ.
Important: Consumers who do not cooperate with NJ FamilyCare’s eligibility determination process and receive an administrative denial, will still be eligible to enroll in coverage through GetCoveredNJ, but will not be eligible for financial help.
Is the estimate on my invitation notice the final cost for my coverage?
No. The estimated cost of coverage provided on the invitation notice is based on the information shared on your tax return if you and/or the uninsured members of your household enrolled in the second lowest cost Silver plan (SCLSP) in your area. Consumers should log into their GetCoveredNJ account, update any necessary information, and submit their application to determine their eligibility for financial help, shop for plans, and enroll in coverage.
Will I have to make a Shared Responsibility Payment if I enroll in coverage?
New Jersey’s Health Insurance Market Preservation Act requires most state residents to maintain health coverage. Residents must have minimum essential health coverage, qualify for an exemption, or remit a Shared Responsibility Payment when they file their New Jersey Income Tax return.
The New Jersey Easy Enrollment Health Insurance program allows residents to indicate their interest in health coverage on their tax form. If you enroll in coverage and keep that coverage for the remainder of the year, any shared responsibility payment – imposed for not having coverage – will be waived for the tax year. If you do not keep coverage for the remainder of the year, the shared responsibility payment will remain in place.
Where can I learn more about the Shared Responsibility Payment, waivers, and exemptions?
For more information on the Shared Responsibility Payment, visit the NJ Health Insurance Mandate - Shared Responsibility Payment (SRP) page on the New Jersey Department of Treasury’s website.
Note: All questions related to Shared Responsibility Payment, exemptions and waivers must be directed to the New Jersey Department of Treasury.
What if I did not yet receive an invitation notice from GetCoveredNJ after submitting the NJ-EZ Enroll Form with my State Income Tax return?
Consumers who did not yet receive an invitation notice, can apply for GetCoveredNJ coverage by selecting the Qualifying Life Event entitled Submitted NJ-EZ Enroll form with NJ Taxes.
Can I still enroll in coverage through GetCoveredNJ if I did not submit the NJ-EZ Enroll Form with my State Income Tax return?
All New Jersey residents who meet the eligibility and enrollment requirements of Get Covered New Jersey can enroll in coverage during the annual Open Enrollment Period from November 1st to January 31st. It is typically the only time you can enroll in coverage unless you have a qualifying life event or meet a certain income level.
For more information, please visit the When Can I Buy Health Insurance? page on our website.
Can I purchase Marketplace coverage if I have Medicare or will soon become eligible for Medicare?
You can have a GetCoveredNJ health insurance plan with or without financial help until you become eligible for Medicare. Once you are eligible to enroll in Medicare because you are turning 65, you should complete the requirements to sign up for Medicare coverage within three months of your 65th birthday. Once eligible for Medicare, you are no longer eligible for financial help with the cost of your GetCoveredNJ coverage.
If you have a GetCoveredNJ plan at the time when you become eligible to enroll in Medicare, you may terminate the GetCoveredNJ plan in the month prior to the start of your Medicare (so there is no gap in coverage) or you can choose to keep your GetCoveredNJ plan for the rest of the plan year without any financial help (at full cost). If you want to stay enrolled at GetCoveredNJ, make sure to update your GetCoveredNJ application to list your Medicare coverage.
A GetCoveredNJ plan is not a substitute for Medicare and it is not a Medicare Supplement Plan. People covered under a GetCoveredNJ plan who become eligible for Medicare should consider all of their options.
See Medicare.gov for more information. If you need help with Medicare eligibility or coverage questions, contact:
✓ New Jersey’s Division of Aging and Community Services, State Health Insurance Assistance Program at 1-800-792-8820
✓ Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE
✓ Your County’s Office on Aging (contact information at https://www.state.nj.us/humanservices/doas/home/saaaa.html)
If I pay a premium for Part A Medicare coverage, can I enroll in Marketplace coverage?
Yes, if you end your Premium-Part A coverage (and any other Medicare coverage). Your GetCoveredNJ application must include truthful information about your Medicare eligibility and enrollment.
Many individuals over 65 will be eligible for Premium-free Part A coverage (as well as Premium Parts B, C, D) under Medicare and should not enroll in GetCoveredNJ coverage. However, some individuals pay a premium for Medicare Part A or are not eligible for Medicare. Individuals in these situations may be eligible for coverage through GetCoveredNJ, but should consult a Medicare expert before applying for GetCoveredNJ. Financial help is not available for those eligible for Medicare after the third month following the Medicare eligibility date. Local and national Medicare resources include:
✓ New Jersey’s Division of Aging and Community Services, State Health Insurance Assistance Program at 1-800-792-8820
✓ Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE
✓ Your County’s Office on Aging (contact information at https://www.state.nj.us/humanservices/doas/home/saaaa.html)
I applied through GetCoveredNJ but the eligibility notice said I would hear from NJ FamilyCare (Medicaid/Children’s Health Insurance Program/CHIP). What does it mean?
In New Jersey, NJ FamilyCare is the Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). If your eligibility notice said you would hear from NJ FamilyCare, your application was transferred to NJ FamilyCare (Medicaid/CHIP) for pending Medicaid/CHIP eligibility because, based on the information you provided in your application, you are likely eligible for NJ FamilyCare. You should respond to any mail and requests for information from NJ FamilyCare. You may contact NJ FamilyCare for more information at 1-800-701-0710.
I currently have Medicaid (NJ FamilyCare). However, I would like to see other doctors who do not take Medicaid. Can I buy a GetCoveredNJ plan to see the doctors?
If you qualify for Medicaid (NJ Familycare) coverage, you are not eligible to receive GetCoveredNJ financial help. Your income and household size are what makes you eligible for Medicaid, CHIP, or GetCoveredNJ financial help. You are not able to choose between programs. If you are willing to pay a full premium for a health plan, you can buy a plan through Get Covered New Jersey. Generally, disenrolling from Medicaid will not make you eligible for GetCoveredNJ financial help. You may apply for GetCoveredNJ coverage if you become ineligible for Medicaid or CHIP.
Can my family and I buy health insurance through GetCoveredNJ if my employer also offers health coverage? What if the employer coverage is too expensive?
Families with an offer of employer coverage that is considered unaffordable may be newly eligible for savings on a health plan through GetCoveredNJ, even if they did not qualify before. You should check to see if your family qualifies for financial help.
Employer coverage is considered unaffordable if the premiums are more than 9.02% of the family’s household income. In prior years, the affordability calculation counted the cost of employer-sponsored coverage for the employee only, even if the employee was seeking coverage for the whole family (sometimes referred to as the “family glitch”). Now, if you are trying to get coverage for your family, you can use the cost of family coverage offered by the employer for the affordability calculation.
With this new change, families whose employer coverage is unaffordable can now receive financial help through GetCoveredNJ to reduce the cost of coverage (if the household meets other eligibility criteria). If your employer offers health insurance that is considered affordable based on the federal calculation, you and/or your family will not be eligible for GetCoveredNJ financial help.
My employer offers a health insurance plan for me, but they do not offer it for my family members. Can I buy health insurance from GetCoveredNJ for my family?
If your employer does not offer health insurance for your family, your family can buy health insurance through GetCoveredNJ, and may qualify for financial help if your household meets the eligibility criteria.
Your family may be eligible for coverage with financial help through Get Covered New Jersey even if your employer offers family coverage, but it is unaffordable (defined as more than 9.02% of household income). All tax household members should be included on the GetCoveredNJ application, even if they are not seeking coverage.
What is Medicaid Unwinding?
In response to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, the Family First Coronavirus Response Act created a Medicaid and CHIP “continuous enrollment” requirement for states that wanted increased federal funding. During the continuous enrollment period, consumers who were no longer eligible for NJ FamilyCare (Medicaid/CHIP) were not terminated from coverage. On December 29, 2022, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 set an end date of March 31, 2023, for the Medicaid and CHIP continuous enrollment requirement.
Therefore, on April 1, 2023, NJ FamilyCare began redetermining eligibility for its recipients. If recipients are no longer eligible for NJ FamilyCare (Medicaid/CHIP), coverage will be terminated. This process presents the single largest health coverage transition event since the first open enrollment period of the Affordable Care Act.
For those who no longer qualify for NJ FamilyCare because their income is too high, they may be eligible to obtain health coverage through Get Covered New Jersey, and may be able to get help paying for premiums. Some consumers may be eligible for Medicare or for employer-sponsored insurance.
More information on Medicaid Unwinding is available here.
How will I know when it is my time to renew my Medicaid/CHIP coverage with NJ FamilyCare or to enroll in other coverage if necessary?
Not everyone will have their NJ FamilyCare coverage renewed at the same time. NJ FamilyCare will be sending renewal mail to members between April 1, 2023 and March 31, 2024. When it is your time to renew NJ FamilyCare coverage for yourself and/or your family, NJ FamilyCare will contact you with an updated eligibility determination or a request for additional information that will allow NJ FamilyCare to provide you with an updated eligibility determination. Please look out for mailings from NJ FamilyCare and your NJ FamilyCare health plan.
IMPORTANT: To avoid duplicate coverage and potential tax implications, consumers should apply for coverage through GetCoveredNJ after they have received notification from NJ FamilyCare that they are no longer eligible for NJFamilyCare coverage.
Can I enroll in coverage through GetCoveredNJ outside of the Open Enrollment Period (through a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) for Loss of NJ FamilyCare (Medicaid/CHIP) coverage)?
Consumers who lose NJ FamilyCare (Medicaid/CHIP) coverage can obtain coverage through GetCoveredNJ using the Loss of NJ FamilyCare, Medicaid, CHIP, and/or Medicare Special Enrollment Period qualifying life event (QLE). To avoid a gap in coverage, consumers should enroll in a GetCoveredNJ health plan within 60 days of their NJ FamilyCare (Medicaid/CHIP) coverage ending.
Consumers can enroll using two paths:
Accounts transferred to GetCoveredNJ
Consumers who are determined ineligible by NJ FamilyCare based on their income, will be automatically transferred to GetCoveredNJ and will receive a welcome notice by mail or email with a unique access code from GetCoveredNJ that allows them to access their account, find out if they qualify for financial help and enroll in health insurance. To avoid a gap in coverage, consumers should enroll in a GetCoveredNJ health plan within 60 days of their NJ FamilyCare (Medicaid/CHIP) coverage ending.
Accounts NOT transferred to GetCoveredNJ
Consumers who lose NJ FamilyCare coverage due to being non-responsive will not have their information transferred to GetCoveredNJ. Eligible consumers may enroll in coverage through GetCoveredNJ through a Special Enrollment Period. To avoid a gap in coverage, consumers should enroll in a GetCoveredNJ health plan within 60 days of their NJ FamilyCare (Medicaid/CHIP) coverage ending.
IMPORTANT: To avoid duplicate coverage and potential tax implications, consumers should apply for coverage through GetCoveredNJ after they have received notification from NJ FamilyCare that they are no longer eligible for NJFamilyCare coverage.
How will I know if I am no longer eligible for Medicaid/CHIP coverage through NJ FamilyCare?
Consumers will be notified by NJ FamilyCare of their eligibility. NJ FamilyCare will use electronic data matching to determine eligibility. In cases where electronic data matching cannot be used to determine eligibility, consumers will be sent a redetermination package from NJ FamilyCare that must be completed and returned to NJ Familycare to determine their continued eligibility. Consumers who are no longer eligible will receive a notice from NJ FamilyCare that includes their coverage end date (“effective date”).
IMPORTANT: Consumers should make sure they respond promptly to any letters from NJ FamilyCare to receive an updated eligibility determination. To avoid duplicate coverage and potential tax implications, consumers should apply for coverage through GetCoveredNJ after they have received notification from NJ FamilyCare that they are no longer eligible for NJFamilyCare coverage.
To inquire about the status of your NJ FamilyCare Medicaid/CHIP coverage, contact NJ FamilyCare at 1-800-701-0710 (TTY: 711).
How do I know if my account has been transferred to GetCoveredNJ?
Accounts transferred to GetCoveredNJ:
Consumers who are determined ineligible by NJ FamilyCare based on their income, will be automatically transferred to GetCoveredNJ and will receive a welcome notice by mail or email with a unique access code from GetCoveredNJ that allows them to access their account, complete a pre-filled application to determine eligibility for financial help, shop for plans and enroll in coverage. Consumers will be granted a Special Enrollment Period and should enroll in coverage within 60 days to avoid a gap in coverage.
Accounts NOT transferred to GetCoveredNJ:
Consumers who lose NJ FamilyCare coverage due to being non-responsive will not have their information transferred to GetCoveredNJ. Eligible consumers may enroll in coverage through GetCoveredNJ through a Special Enrollment Period. Consumers should enroll in coverage within 60 days of losing NJ FamilyCare coverage to avoid a gap in coverage.
How do I apply for coverage through GetCoveredNJ?
If your account was transferred from NJ FamilyCare to GetCoveredNJ, you should claim your GetCoveredNJ account using your unique access code. After claiming your GetCoveredNJ account, you will be able to complete your pre-filled application to determine your eligibility for financial help, shop for plans and enroll in coverage.
Use the following step-by-step guide to:
- Enroll in coverage if your account was transferred to GetCoveredNJ (You received a notice with an Access Code from GetCoveredNJ)
If your account was not transferred to GetCoveredNJ, and you do not have an existing account, create an account at GetCoveredNJ.gov. After creating an account, you can complete an application and enroll in coverage.
Use the following step-by-step guide to:
- Enroll in coverage if your information was NOT transferred to GetCoveredNJ (You did NOT receive a notice from GetCoveredNJ with an Access Code)
Important: Consumers must enter the date their NJ FamilyCare coverage ended when completing their Get Covered New Jersey application if their account was not transferred to GetCoveredNJ. “Loss of NJ FamilyCare, Medicaid, CHIP, and/or Medicare” should be selected as the Qualifying Life Event (QLE) to open the Special Enrollment Period (SEP) to enroll in coverage.
Do I need documentation to verify loss of coverage through NJ FamilyCare?
Documentation is not required to open your Special Enrollment Period (SEP) for your loss of NJ FamilyCare coverage qualifying life event (QLE). You will be required to attest to the date your NJ FamilyCare coverage ended on your GetCoveredNJ application.
If you receive a data matching issue (DMI) for having other coverage (NJ FamilyCare Medicaid/CHIP) after submitting your application for GetCoveredNJ coverage, it is because you applied for coverage before your coverage ended with NJ FamilyCare. To resolve the DMI, you must submit documentation from NJ FamilyCare that your NJ FamilyCare Medicaid/CHIP coverage has ended or will end.
When should I apply?
Consumers should apply for coverage through GetCoveredNJ after they have received notification from NJ FamilyCare that they are no longer eligible for NJ FamilyCare (Medicaid/CHIP) coverage. NJ FamilyCare will provide the coverage end date on your notice.
To avoid a gap in coverage, consumers should enroll in a health plan within 60 days of their NJ FamilyCare (Medicaid/CHIP) coverage ending.
Important: Consumers should make sure to open any letters from NJ FamilyCare regarding their eligibility.
When will coverage begin?
Consumers who have their accounts transferred from NJ FamilyCare to GetCoveredNJ:
When enrolling in coverage within 60 days of losing NJ FamilyCare (Medicaid/CHIP) coverage, these consumers will have the option for their coverage to begin the day after their NJ FamilyCare (Medicaid/CHIP) coverage ends or the first of the month following their plan selection.
Consumers whose accounts are NOT transferred to GetCoveredNJ:
Coverage through GetCoveredNJ will begin the first of the month following plan selection. To avoid a gap in coverage, consumers can request an earlier effective date (not to exceed 60 days prior to the date of their plan selection or the date their NJ FamilyCare coverage ended) by contacting the GetCoveredNJ Consumer Assistance Center at 1-833-677-1010 (TTY: 711).
What if I am referred back to NJ FamilyCare after submitting my application for coverage through GetCoveredNJ?
It is important for you to provide accurate and up to date information on your GetCoveredNJ application, as this information is used to determine your eligibility for coverage and financial help. If you are referred back to NJ FamilyCare after you have completed an application for coverage through GetCoveredNJ, you need to continue through NJ FamilyCare’s eligibility determination process. Consumers seeking financial help must wait for a determination from NJ FamilyCare stating they are not eligible for coverage based on their income or other eligibility criteria before they can be found eligible for financial help through GetCoveredNJ.
Consumers should wait at least a week before contacting NJ FamilyCare to ask for updates about their referral. NJ FamilyCare can be contacted at 1-800-701-0710 (TTY 711).
I lost coverage through NJ FamilyCare but did not receive a notice and my Special Enrollment Period (SEP) has closed. Can I still apply for coverage through GetCoveredNJ?
All qualified individuals who lose NJ FamilyCare coverage between March 31, 2023 and November 30, 2024 who submit a new application or update an existing application for coverage through Get Covered New Jersey and attest that they have lost coverage between the same time period, are eligible for the expanded Special Enrollment Period (SEP).