News Release

New Jersey Department of
Banking and Insurance

Acting Commissioner Justin Zimmerman

For Immediate Release:
January 8, 2024

For Further Information:
Dawn Thomas - E-mail
Teresa Sicard-Archambeault - E-mail
(609) 292-5064

TRENTON — New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance Acting Commissioner Justin Zimmerman today announced that more than 366,000 New Jersey residents, a record high for New Jersey, signed up for a 2024 health insurance plan through the state’s Official Health Insurance Marketplace, Get Covered New Jersey, in the first nine weeks of the Open Enrollment Period that started on November 1, 2023.  The Acting Commissioner also announced that the department is continuing to hold pop-up enrollment and assistance events at several New Jersey shopping malls for two weeks in January to provide resources and encourage residents to enroll in 2024 health coverage before the end of Open Enrollment on January 31^st.

“More New Jersey residents have access to quality, affordable health insurance through the marketplace than ever before. With only a few weeks left in the Open Enrollment Period, I urge residents in need of health coverage to review their options and sign up today,” said Acting Commissioner Justin Zimmerman. “To assist residents in getting information about available health plans, the department is providing direct enrollment assistance at several shopping malls.  Engaging New Jersey residents in their communities is vital to increasing public awareness of the accessibility of health coverage through Get Covered New Jersey.”

During the first nine weeks of the annual Open Enrollment period from November 1^st to January 2^nd, 366,986 residents signed up for 2024 health coverage, including 114,982 new or existing consumers who actively selected a plan and 252,004 who were automatically renewed. Overall plan selection totals are up 14 percent compared to this time last year.

New Jerseyans continue to receive historic levels of financial help, and the average amount of financial help for 2024 coverage is $574 per person per month or $6,888 per year. Get Covered New Jersey is the only place to get financial help to lower your costs for health coverage. Nine in 10 enrolling qualify for financial help, and many can find a plan for $10 a month or less.

“The Murphy Administration has made significant progress in expanding access to health coverage and providing pop-up enrollment assistance furthers our work in helping residents find the quality, affordable health coverage they deserve,” added Acting Commissioner Zimmerman.

New Jerseyans shopping at three malls around the state can also shop for health insurance with assistance from grant-funded health insurance Navigators who will be on-site at Willowbrook Mall (Wayne, NJ) in northern Jersey, Menlo Park Mall (Edison, NJ) in central Jersey, and Cherry Hill Mall (Cherry Hill, NJ) in southern Jersey. The pop-up initiative will continue to be held for two weeks in January to provide resources and encourage residents to enroll in 2024 health coverage before the end of Open Enrollment. The annual Open Enrollment Period for 2024 coverage at Get Covered New Jersey runs from November 1, 2023 to January 31, 2024.

Navigators are available—at Willowbrook Mall in front of the Starbucks in the food court area, at Menlo Park Mall in Center Court on the lower level in front of the elevator, and at Cherry Hill Mall in the Grand Court—to provide free, unbiased enrollment assistance to residents looking to determine immediate eligibility, apply for financial help, and enroll through Get Covered New Jersey. 

Navigators are available to assist new and returning consumers in determining 2024 coverage at the following dates and times:

The Department held successful pop-up enrollment events at these Malls for two weeks in December, prior to the December 31^st coverage deadline.

Annually, the Open Enrollment Period at Get Covered New Jersey runs from November 1^st through January 31^st. Consumers that enrolled by December 31st received coverage beginning January 1^st; those who enroll by January 31, 2024 will have coverage beginning on February 1, 2024.

Open Enrollment is the only time of year residents can enroll in a plan, unless they have a major life event, such as getting married, moving, having a baby, losing employer-sponsored coverage, or if they meet certain income standards that qualify them for a Special Enrollment Period. Additionally, losing NJ FamilyCare coverage also qualifies residents for a Special Enrollment Period, and those who no longer qualify because their income is too high may be able to get help paying for premiums.

Established by Governor Phil Murphy and operated by the Department of Banking and Insurance, Get Covered New Jersey provides New Jerseyans with access to quality, affordable health insurance options for themselves and their families. All plans offered through GetCovered.NJ.gov cover preventive services, emergency services, prescription drugs, prenatal and pediatric care, and more, and no one can be denied coverage due to a pre-existing condition.

In New Jersey, there remains a requirement to have health coverage. Residents who do not qualify for an exemption from the Shared Responsibility Payment will pay a penalty at tax time.

The deadline for Open Enrollment for 2024 coverage is January 31, 2024.

Residents can learn more at GetCovered.NJ.gov or:   

• Find free local assistance on the Get Covered New Jersey website;  
• Browse plans now and find out if they qualify for financial help with the Shop and Compare Tool. 

Get Covered New Jersey’s Week 9 Open Enrollment Snapshot may be found here: https://www.nj.gov/getcoverednj/help/about/publicinfo.shtml