Health Care Coverage for the Child Care Workforce
Need Health Insurance?
It’s important to be healthy so you can take good care of yourself and the children who are counting on you. COVID-19 has shown the importance of health care coverage and the American Rescue Plan, enacted in March 2021, has made coverage more affordable and accessible than ever through the Health Insurance Marketplace® — which in New Jersey is called GetCoveredNJ.
If you choose to buy a health plan through GetCoveredNJ, you may qualify for help paying for health coverage, even if you weren’t eligible for help in the past.
Preventive services, like shots and screenings, can help prevent illness and other health problems, or find issues at an early stage, when treatment is likely to work best. All GetCoveredNJ health plans and many other plans must cover certain preventive services, without charging you a copayment or coinsurance, if your doctor or other provider is in your plan’s network.
NJ FamilyCare
Medicaid program: If your income is at or below 138% of the federal poverty level ($1,563/month or $2,106 for a family of two), then your application may find that you are likely to qualify for NJ FamilyCare, a publicly funded health insurance program with free or low cost coverage. Consumers eligible for NJ FamilyCare cannot get financial help with their coverage through GetCoveredNJ.
CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program): If your income is at or below 355% of the federal poverty level ($8,210/month for a family of four), then your application may find that your children are likely to qualify for NJ FamilyCare, a publicly funded health insurance program for children with free or low cost coverage. Children eligible for NJ FamilyCare cannot get financial help with their coverage through GetCoveredNJ.
Lower Your Monthly Premiums with the NJ Health Plan Savings (NJHPS)
On July 31st, 2020 Governor Murphy signed into law legislation restoring a key funding source of the Affordable Care Act that is making health coverage more affordable in New Jersey.
New Jersey residents now have access to a state subsidy – called New Jersey Health Plan Savings (NJHPS) – that lowers the cost of health insurance. These savings are only possible because New Jersey is operating the Health Insurance Marketplace through GetCovered.NJ.Gov.
The New Jersey Health Plan Savings (NJHPS) reduces the cost of monthly premiums for current Marketplace enrollees and for new enrollees. NJHPS began lowering premiums for coverage as of January 1, 2021.
Similar to the Advance Premium Tax Credit (APTC), New Jersey residents will qualify for these savings based on income. Households with annual incomes up to 600% of the federal poverty level (FPL) will receive NJHPS. An individual with an income of up to $81,540 and a family of four who makes up to $166,500 can receive state subsidies to lower the costs of health coverage. These savings are in addition to federal financial help. Anyone who qualifies will be able to see a lower premium when using the plan comparison tool or after filling out an application. Ask the free navigator support professional how this works!
Did U Know?
- A strong, stable early education workforce is essential to economic recovery, child learning and development, and overall family well-being.
- Available evidence suggests that early care and education workers serving children ages 0-5 (including child care, Head Start, and preschool teachers) are far more likely to lack health insurance than other educators.
- Don’t wait! Check out GetCoveredNJ today! Assistance is available in multiple languages!