If you are a resident of New Jersey (NJ) and are uninsured or have recently lost your health insurance coverage, there are several options available to you. NJ health insurance laws, like laws that regulate and govern other states, vary from one another. NJ health insurance law states that individuals cannot be turned down for individual coverage based on current health status and because community rating is in effect, individuals with current health issues cannot be charged a higher rate for the same policy than those with no current health problems.

Based on the NJ health insurance laws, individual coverage can easily be obtained by those who can afford it. Contact a licensed insurance agent to help you compare quotes and coverage from available insurance companies servicing your area. Further, NJ health insurance is available through legislation that was created in 1992 enabling those individuals who do not have access to employer sponsored plans and are not eligible for Medicare to participate in an open-enrollment, community-rated plan. The Individual Health Coverage (IHC) program is available to all residents of New Jersey. If you are unable to afford coverage under this NJ health insurance program, then there are other options available as well.

For uninsured families, the NJ Family Care program is the State Children’s Health Insurance Program. This is a health insurance program that provides medical insurance to children under the age of 19. Certain income qualifications and other criteria are required for participation.

Additional information about NJ health insurance programs that are subsidized by state funding is available through the New Jersey Department of Health and Human Services. The insurance industry in New Jersey is regulated by the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance. They can help individuals find private health insurance, small businesses to find agents and companies that provide small group coverage, and can help resolve disputes you may have with a current health insurer. They can be reached by calling 1-800-838-0935.

Though it can be intimidating to research health insurance through both the private and the state subsidized markets, the resources are available to those who wish to utilize them. There should be no reason why a person or family should be without some type of health insurance. Even those who are uninsured can find specialty clinics to receive low-cost health care. If you are uninsured and especially if you have children or are pregnant, do not overlook these resources. Obtaining health insurance may not seem easy, but there are plenty of sources available to help you and you do not need to go without medical care.