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What to Expect

Shop and Compare

You can compare health plans and estimate how much financial help you might qualify for before you apply. Our shop and compare tool lets you compare plans based on your:

Remember: Open Enrollment is the yearly period when people can enroll in health coverage. You can enroll in or change coverage outside of Open Enrollment only if you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period or meet a certain income level.

Apply

The shop and compare tool is only an estimate of your financial help. You will need to complete a GetCoveredNJ application to get your official eligibility results.

Once you find a health plan that is right for you, you can apply. You will get your official eligibility results and can enroll in the plan you chose. Or you can apply first to get your official eligibility results before you shop for plans.

The information you give on your application determines if you qualify for financial help. It also determines if you qualify for NJ FamilyCare, New Jersey’s publicly funded health insurance program with free or low-cost coverage.

Pay Your First Premium

Once you apply and enroll, you will need to pay your first month’s premium before your coverage can start. You will pay your premiums to your insurance company. In many cases, you can pay your insurance company for your first premium payment directly through your GetCoveredNJ account. Your coverage will not start until you pay your first premium.

You must pay your insurance company every month on time or your coverage may be terminated. Your insurance company will send you a bill.

Use Your Health Insurance

Once you enroll in a health plan and your coverage starts, you can use it to help cover medical costs for services like doctor visits, prescription drugs, and emergency care. Some basic and routine care is free.

Report Changes and Compare

If you have a change to your income or household size, you must update your application. Some changes will qualify you for a Special Enrollment Period (SEP). With an SEP, you can update your health plan. Some changes, like your income going up or down, may affect your financial help or eligibility for coverage. If you don’t update your application, you may miss savings. Or you may have to pay money back when you file your federal taxes.

Re-enrollment

If you have a Marketplace plan and choose auto-renewal, you will be automatically re-enrolled in the same health plan for the next year during Open Enrollment with financial help if you are still eligible. If you don’t choose to let GetCoveredNJ electronically check your income data, your coverage will be renewed without financial help. This will mean you pay a higher share of the premium. Look for the option to allow GetCoveredNJ to check IRS data each year on the last page before you submit your application.

You can cancel your plan at any time, but remember that there are health and financial risks to having coverage gaps and not having coverage. There is a requirement in New Jersey for individuals to maintain coverage.

Major life event? See if you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.

Open Enrollment for 2024 has now closed. You may be eligible for a Special Enrollment Period if you have a major life event or meet a certain income level.