By Jamie Lynn Connors
This is an important week in New Jersey–and not just because of the presidential election.
Enrollment has opened for Get Covered New Jersey, the new state-based health insurance marketplace that continues key elements of the federal Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare.
“It’ll begin providing better access than ever before for residents in need of a more affordable health care plan that works for them and their families,” Gov. Phil Murphy said during a briefing last week.
Open enrollment started on Sunday and runs through Jan. 31, 2021. Individuals can compare and purchase health insurance plans, through a marketplace operated by the state Department of Banking and Insurance. This replaces enrollment through Healthcare.gov.
It’s among several steps taken by New Jersey to preserve the Affordable Care Act, a reform measure that made coverage available for 20 million uninsured Americans, and prohibited insurers from rejecting people with pre-existing conditions.
About 218,000 New Jerseyans are insured through the Affordable Care Act.
Dismantling Obamacare has been a priority of President Trump and Congressional Republicans, even through the coronavirus pandemic.
“We are proud of the steps we have taken to support the Affordable Care Act and push back against attacks on the landmark law by the Trump Administration. Our policies improve affordability and access to coverage at a critical time,” Murphy said.
“I urge residents who need health coverage to check out their options at Get Covered New Jersey now,” the governor added.
“New Jersey will continue to prove that the Affordable Care Act works and that, when we support and protect the Affordable Care Act, we will end up…with more affordable health care.”
States using the federal exchange must pay 3 percent of premiums to the federal government, according to healthinsurance.org. The site says the state-run exchange will continue collecting the fee, approximately $50 million per year, to run Get Covered New Jersey.
Murphy said Get Covered will allow the state “to better tailor our marketplace to the unique needs of New Jerseyans,” Murphy said.
An online comparison tool will help Garden Staters view plans they qualify for. Plans will take effect the first day of the month after they are purchased.
There also will be special enrollment periods “for triggering events, like a pregnancy,” Murphy said.
“There’s a flexibility around [the marketplace] that we just have not had before,” Murphy said. “Flexibility has been a big priority.”
The New Jersey marketplace was approved in early 2019.
“Our new exchange could not be coming online at a more important time,” Murphy said.
“The past eight months and the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic that has hospitalized tens of thousands of our residents have proven the need for residents to have high quality and affordable healthcare unlike ever before.”
