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Can you still get private health insurance in New Jersey? Yes — but 2027 is a tough year for anyone paying full price. Individual-market rates are rising a weighted average of 19.8% for 2027, on top of a 16.6% increase for 2026, and only five carriers sell individual plans after Aetna's exit. New Jersey still funds its own state subsidy up to 600% of the poverty level, but above that line you pay every dollar — and New Jersey still requires residents to carry health coverage. We compare private medical plans side by side with Get Covered New Jersey coverage, from Bergen County to Cape May.
New Jersey runs its own marketplace, Get Covered New Jersey. Open enrollment for 2027 coverage runs November 1, 2026 through January 31, 2027. Enroll by December 31 for coverage that starts January 1; enroll by January 31 for a February 1 start. Plans, prices, and networks change by county, so we quote every option at your address and help you enroll at no cost.
The enhanced federal subsidies expired at the end of 2025, so federal premium tax credits now stop at 400% of the federal poverty level. New Jersey's own subsidy, NJ Health Plan Savings, still reaches households up to 600% of the poverty level, but it is a modest monthly amount that doesn't come close to replacing the lost federal help. Enrollment on Get Covered New Jersey fell by roughly 75,000 people in the first half of 2026 as costs rose.
For 2027, five carriers sell individual and family plans in New Jersey: Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey (the state's largest), AmeriHealth New Jersey, Ambetter from WellCare of New Jersey, Oscar Health, and UnitedHealthcare. Aetna exited New Jersey's individual market at the end of 2025. Approved 2027 increases range from about 15% at Horizon to nearly 36% at UnitedHealthcare.
Carriers, networks, and hospital access differ by region. Here is how the market breaks down:
Hackensack University Medical Center, Morristown Medical Center (Atlantic Health), Saint Barnabas and Newark Beth Israel (RWJBarnabas), Valley Hospital, and Englewood Health — plus Manhattan access for NYC commuters, which varies widely by plan.
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Penn Medicine Princeton, and Monmouth Medical Center. Horizon, AmeriHealth, and Oscar compete across Middlesex, Monmouth, and Ocean counties.
Cooper University Health Care in Camden, Virtua Health, Inspira, and AtlantiCare. AmeriHealth is strong here, and access to Philadelphia systems like Penn Medicine, Jefferson, and CHOP depends on the plan you choose.
New Jersey's hospital systems each play a distinct role, and network access varies by plan:
The state's largest network, anchored by Hackensack University Medical Center and Jersey Shore University Medical Center, with hospitals from Bergen County to the Shore.
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, Saint Barnabas, Newark Beth Israel, and Children's Hospital of New Jersey — the academic partner of Rutgers.
Morristown Medical Center, Overlook, Chilton, and CentraState — northern and central New Jersey's other major system.
South Jersey's two anchors: Virtua Health's hospitals across Burlington, Camden, and Gloucester counties, and Cooper University Hospital, the region's Level I trauma center.
The Valley Hospital in Paramus and Englewood Health — popular independent choices in Bergen County.
Many New Jerseyans want access to Manhattan or Philadelphia specialists. In-state HMO and EPO plans often don't include them, so check before you enroll.
Whether these systems are in your network depends entirely on which plan you choose — and because tiered and narrow-network plans dominate the lower price points, this is the question that matters most. Before you enroll, we verify your doctors and preferred hospitals against each plan's current network so there are no surprises.
Two years of double-digit increases, plus the loss of the enhanced federal subsidies, mean many New Jersey households are paying full price for the first time. Your exact premium depends on your age, county, and household size — which is why we quote every carrier and every route to coverage before recommending anything.
Traditional marketplace and off-exchange plans are not the only route. Many New Jerseyans — especially the self-employed, independent contractors, and small-business owners — may also qualify for true employer-level group coverage regulated under federal ERISA and Department of Labor rules. Qualifying as a bona fide employee takes only a few basic requirements — full-time work is not required — and pre-existing conditions are covered, just as with any employer group plan. You get the same kind of group PPO coverage large employers offer, on the national Aetna and First Health networks, plus the MagnaCare network in New Jersey, and enrollment is open year-round, not just during open enrollment. Availability is subject to eligibility. Call us to see if you qualify.
Private plan families we can quote in New Jersey:
Major medical on the Aetna PPO or EPO network, with 20+ deductible options including HSA-compatible plans.
Major medical with an unlimited lifetime maximum and copay options — on the MagnaCare network in New Jersey.
Budget-friendly coverage on the First Health network, with set copays for primary, specialist, and urgent care visits.
$0-deductible routine-care copays paired with a catastrophic cost-sharing layer for hospital and major expenses.
Compare all four private plan families side by side →
The honest answer: it depends on your subsidy. If you qualify for a meaningful federal tax credit plus NJ Health Plan Savings, a marketplace plan through Get Covered New Jersey is usually the better value. If you get little or no subsidy — the situation many New Jersey households found themselves in after the enhanced credits expired at the end of 2025 — an off-exchange private medical plan or employer-level group coverage frequently wins on network, price, or both. A five-minute comparison settles it, and our service is free either way.
Between 55 and 65 and not on Medicare yet? Early retirees in New Jersey, people between jobs, and anyone whose spouse is moving to Medicare can compare private PPO, ACA, and COBRA options side by side in our guide to health insurance before Medicare.
Yes. Beyond on- and off-exchange marketplace plans, we also offer exclusive private, employer-group (ERISA) PPO options on the national Aetna and First Health networks, plus the MagnaCare network in New Jersey. These plans aren’t published on the public marketplace, enrollment is open year-round, and availability is subject to eligibility. Call us to see if you qualify.
Yes. Every ACA-compliant private plan covers pre-existing conditions — no medical questions, no exclusions. ERISA employer-level group plans cover pre-existing conditions as well, just as with any employer coverage.
Yes. New Jersey has its own individual mandate: residents without qualifying health coverage or an exemption owe a Shared Responsibility Payment on their state tax return. Marketplace plans and employer-sponsored group coverage generally count as qualifying coverage, and we confirm whether any plan you're considering counts before you enroll.
Get Covered New Jersey and off-exchange ACA plans: during the annual open enrollment period (New Jersey's runs through January 31), or year-round within 60 days of a qualifying life event. Employer-level ERISA group plans: enrollment is open year-round for those who qualify. We also have other exclusive, proprietary private healthcare PPO plan options beyond what is published online. Contact us for specific details.
No. Premiums are identical with or without an agent — carriers pay us, not you. You get the comparison and enrollment help at no cost.
Compare Every Private Health Plan Available at Your New Jersey ZIP Code
Free comparison from a licensed advisor — Get Covered New Jersey, off-exchange, and employer-level coverage buy-in options.
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Plus exclusive, proprietary private healthcare PPO options generally not published online — click Get My Plan Options or call us for details.
Rate change figures are 2027 and 2026 weighted averages published by the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance; premiums vary by age, county, and household size. Employer-level group plan availability varies by state and is subject to eligibility requirements.
