Best Cheap Health Insurance in New Jersey for 2026

Best and cheapest health insurance in New Jersey

Cheapest health insurance companies in New Jersey

Affordable health insurance in New Jersey

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Best health insurance companies in New Jersey

The company's medical insurance plans have great coverage. Horizon BCBS also has a large doctor network, which makes it easier to get medical care.

Plus, Horizon has excellent customer service. The company gets roughly half the number of complaints expected for a company its size. That means its customers are usually satisfied with their experience.

Best-rated health insurance companies in NJ

Horizon BCBS has a poor ValuePenguin editors score, in part because, on a national level, it has high rates and gets many complaints from its customers. That means Horizon usually isn't a good option in states where it does business. But New Jersey is an exception. Here, the company has affordable coverage and a good reputation for customer service.

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How much does health insurance cost in New Jersey?

Health insurance discount changes in New Jersey for 2026

New Jersey residents have access to extra state-level subsidies. That means you'll pay less for coverage if you earn below $93,900 per year for a single person ($192,900 per year for a family of four).

Federal subsidies are available for 2026, but they may be lower than in previous years. That's because Covid-era "enhanced subsidies" expire at the end of 2025 and as of now, it’s unclear whether they’ll be extended. But because New Jersey offers extra state-level subsidies, residents won't see as dramatic of a price increase as residents of other states.

Health insurance rates in New Jersey after subsidies (2026)

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Cheap New Jersey health insurance plans by city

In fact, Oscar has the cheapest Silver plans in all of New Jersey's major cities, including Jersey City, Paterson and Elizabeth.

Cheapest health insurance plans by NJ county

Best health insurance by level of coverage

To choose the best health insurance for you, think about your budget and medical needs. If you need more medical care, you might want to choose a Gold plan. But if you are younger and generally healthy, a Bronze plan could be a good fit.

If you aren't sure what plan level to choose, start by considering a Silver plan. This level plan gives you good coverage but also has lower monthly rates than Gold plans. Compare a Silver plan against your monthly budget and health care needs, and then see if you need more or less coverage.

Gold plans: Best if you need expensive medical care

Gold plans cost an average of $1,019 per month in New Jersey. These plans are best if you need complex, expensive or frequent medical care. They pay the highest share of your medical bills, which means you pay less when you go to the doctor.

Gold plans also cost the most each month. But if your medical costs are high, a Gold plan will usually save you money in the long run. That's because Gold plans usually have the lowest overall out-of-pocket costs.

Silver plans: Best for most people

In New Jersey, Silver plans cost $669 per month, on average. Silver plans are a good choice for most people who have average medical needs. These plans give you good coverage at a moderate rate. They're also the most popular option in New Jersey. Roughly 4 in 5 people who get coverage through GetCoveredNJ choose a Silver plan.

Silver plans are also the only level eligible for extra discounts called cost-sharing reductions, which let you pay less when you get medical care.

Bronze plans: Best for young, healthy people with savings

Bronze plans are some of the cheapest options, with rates averaging $556 per month in New Jersey. These plans mean you have to pay more for your health care. That's because they usually have high deductibles, coinsurance and copays.

If you don't go to the doctor often, a Bronze plan could be good. But you'll want to make sure you have the money to pay for higher medical costs if you need an expensive treatment.

Catastrophic plans: Best as a last resort

Catastrophic plans have the lowest level of coverage and cost $324 per month for a 21-year-old on average. You can only buy a Catastrophic plan if you are under 30 or otherwise qualify for an exemption.

These plans can be cheap, but you'll have to pay a large share of your medical bills if you are seriously ill or injured or need other medical care, so you should only use them as a last resort. You also can't lower your monthly rate through tax credits with Catastrophic plans.

Cheap or free health insurance in New Jersey if you have a low income

If you have a low income and can't afford health insurance, or if you have a plan but still have trouble paying your medical bills, you have a few options.

Medicaid in New Jersey

Medicaid is a free health insurance program for people with low incomes. You have to make less than about $22,000 as an individual or less than about $44,000 as a family of four to qualify for Medicaid in New Jersey. If you are eligible, Medicaid, also called NJ FamilyCare in the state, can reduce or even eliminate the cost for medical care.

Use cost-sharing reductions for cheaper medical care

If you buy a Silver plan and you have a low income but not low enough for Medicaid, you might get discounts that lower what you have to pay for health care. They're called cost-sharing reductions (CSRs), and they give you a lower deductible, lower coinsurance and lower copays. You may even end up with coverage that is similar to a more expensive Gold plan.

If you're single, you have to make between $21,597 and $39,125 per year to qualify. For a family of four, the range is between $44,367 and $80,375 per year.

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Are health insurance rates going up in NJ?

Bronze plans cost 18% more than they did in 2025. Silver plans rose by an average of 15%, and Gold plans went up in price by 13%, on average. The cost of Silver health insurance rose by 25% between 2022 and 2026.

Why is health insurance expensive in NJ in 2025?

Insurance companies are raising rates for New Jersey residents in response to inflation, higher medical costs and an increased demand for more expensive medications. Some insurance companies are also concerned that tariffs and changing regulations may increase the price of medications and so are raising rates to offset future costs after people file claims.

There are things you can do to potentially lower your rates, including:

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COBRA insurance in New Jersey

COBRA is a program that lets you keep the health insurance you had with your employer when you leave, get fired or retire from your job. But because you no longer work there, your employer won't pay its share of the bill, so COBRA can be expensive. In New Jersey, it costs $781 per month, on average, for one person.

A Silver plan from GetCoveredNJ costs $669 per month on average, which is cheaper than COBRA. Unless you need a specific type of coverage that your employer had, it makes more sense to buy a plan from GetCoveredNJ.

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Short-term health insurance plans in New Jersey

No companies sell short-term health insurance plans in New Jersey because of rules that make this type of insurance a bad deal. All health policies in the state must offer full-year coverage and have comprehensive benefits. Insurance companies also can't refuse to sell you a policy. These types of plans are called "guaranteed issue." Typically, short-term plans don't fit these requirements, so you can't buy them in NJ.

If you need health insurance coverage for a short period of time, such as between jobs, you can buy a plan on GetCoveredNJ. Once you no longer need the coverage, you can cancel the plan.

Health insurance enrollment by income level in New Jersey

New Jerseyans with marketplace coverage are more likely to earn a below-average income than those who have other types of health insurance. That means these people will be most impacted by lower subsidy levels in 2026.

Enrollment by income

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Frequently asked questions

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Methodology

New Jersey health insurance rate data for 2026 is from Get Covered New Jersey. ValuePenguin used the state marketplace data to find average rates for different plan tiers, geographic locations and family sizes.

Rates

Rates are based on a 40-year-old with a Silver plan, unless otherwise noted. Rates for Bronze plans include regular and Expanded Bronze plans for 2024, 2025 and 2026, when the plans are available. Rates are for marketplace plans only. Off-marketplace plans were not included in this analysis. Your costs and plan options will vary; plans aren't always available in all parts of a state or county.

Subsidies

Rates after subsidies are estimates for a 40-year-old with a Benchmark Silver plan and are based on how subsidies were structured before 2021. Prices are calculated using KFF's rates for full-price Benchmark plans, federal poverty levels (FPLs), IRS rules about premium tax credits, state subsidy estimates from GetCoveredNJ and Congressional reports about expanded tax credits. The total cost in the state uses rates calculated by income, which are weighted using CMS data on the incomes of those who purchased plans during last year's open enrollment. The median was used for each income range. Unknown incomes were excluded from the calculations. Incomes of 100% of the federal poverty line and 500% of the federal poverty line were assumed for enrollees who earn less than 100% FPL and more than 500% FPL, respectively. Information about state subsidies, when available, was sourced from state marketplaces.

Ratings

ValuePenguin's experts rank companies based on cost, coverage options, customer satisfaction and unique value. Ratings are out of 100 possible points. ACA ratings show how the company performs in New Jersey for medical care, member experience and plan administration. This 2026 plan quality data from CMS is based on data from last year. Ratings are not available for new plans or plans with low enrollment.

More sources

Enrollment trends, including plan selections by tier and enrollment by income, are from CMS data for the 2025 open enrollment period.

Other sources include S&P Global Capital IQ and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).