Life events that may qualify you for a Special Enrollment Period

• Getting married
• Having a baby or adopting a child
• Losing other health coverage
• Moving to a new residence
• Gaining citizenship or lawful presence in the U.S.
• Leaving incarceration.

You can apply for health coverage in the Marketplace 4 ways: 

1. Online at healthcare.gov ​

If you apply online, you must have a valid email address.

2. Paper application

Please see Application for Health Coverage

3. By phone: 1-800-318-2596 (TTY: 1-855-889-4325)

A customer service representative will work with you to complete the application and enrollment process, 24/7 except holidays.

4. In person with an agent, broker, or assister.

Enter your ZIP code online for a list of local people and organizations.

HealthCare.gov  New Jersey did not create a state specific insurance marketplace, so NJ residents will use this federal site to select and enroll in a health insurance plan.  Please note that  since 36 states  are sending their residents to this federal marketplace,  there may be delays depending on the amount of traffic to the site.  

Recent Changes to the Healthcare.gov website:

• A new "Hardship Exemption" was created for individuals with true hardships (e. g. homelessness, being evicted, or having shut-off of utilities) so that these people do not have to pay a penalty for not having health insurance.  Please refer to Exemptions from the requirements to have health insurance

• A new "window-shopping" feature that lets prospective customers see health plans and prices in their area, including previously unavailable details such as deductibles and cost-sharing, as well as provider networks.
• A new "Reset" button allows people who were previously stuck in the system to do away with their old application and start over. To do that, you log into your account, select the application in progress and hit "remove." ; then close  and reopen your web browser, and log back in to start a new application. 
• To help relieve problems during periods of high user volume, the website now offers a queuing system.  Consumers can request email notifications of when is a good time to come back.

The bill summaries below are starting places, but do not contain the complete legislative history of the law.  

The Affordable Care Act was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Barack Obama on March 23, 2010.  On June 28, 2012, the Supreme Court rendered a final decision to uphold the health care law.

Note:  Congress eliminated the federal tax penalty for not having health insurance, effective January 1, 2019.

New Jersey has chosen to use the federal health insurance exchange, named the Health Insurance Marketplace, for health insurance rather than implementing a state-based exchange. The federal exchange is located at Healthcare.gov. For Spanish speaking consumers, CuidadoDeSalud.gov is also available.

The following locations have certified application counselors.

• South Jersey Family Medical Centers, Address:  1301 Atlantic Ave, Atlantic City, NJ, 08401, Call 609-572-0000; Website: sjfmc.org
• Atlanticare (Healthplex) has application counselors, in Spanish also;  Address:  1401 Atlantic Ave, Atlantic City, NJ, 08401:  Call 888-569-1000
• Center for Family Services; Call 877-922-2377 

If you have questions, call  24/7 1-800-318-2596  or Chat Online at healthcare.gov/contact-us.

Please also see:

What is the Affordable Healthcare Act?

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, or commonly referred to as Obamacare was passed in March 2010, with the goal of increasing healthcare coverage to more Americans. Read the full text of the law.

When can I apply?

The plan-year 2020 Open Enrollment period has ended.  The next enrollment period will run from October 15, 2020 to December 7,2020 for coverage effective in 2021.

Who can apply?

• You must live in the United States.
• You must be a U.S. Citizen or National (or lawfully present) See more information about Immigration status
• You cannot be currently incarcerated

What do I need to apply? (Online checklist)​

• Social Security Numbers (or document numbers for legal immigrants)
• Immigration document information (for lawfully present immigrants)
• Employer and income information for every member of your household who needs coverage. (Pay stubs, or W-2 forms)
• Policy numbers for any current health insurance plans covering members of your household.
• Completed Employer Coverage Tool for every job-based plan you or someone in your household is eligible for.

Where can I go if I have more questions?  Assisters will be available to help in filling out applications. Locate local help

For more information, call 1-800-318-2596 or visit www.healthcare.gov.

Where can I go to file a complaint about insurance in New Jersey?

You can visit the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance Online or call the department at: 609-292-7272.