Best Cheap Health Insurance in New Jersey (2024)
UnitedHealthcare (UHC) is the best health insurance company in New Jersey. The cheapest Silver plan from UHC costs $488 per month before discounts.
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Best and cheapest health insurance in New Jersey
Cheapest health insurance companies in New Jersey
Aetna has the cheapest health insurance in New Jersey, with Silver plans starting at $458 per month.
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Affordable health insurance in New Jersey
Company |
Cost
| |
|---|---|---|
| Aetna | $458-$460 |
| Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield | $461-$768 |
| AmeriHealth | $468-$1,030 |
| Oscar | $481-$524 |
- In most New Jersey counties, Aetna has the cheapest Silver plans.
- Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) is also a good option if you want an easy plan to use. Most doctors and hospitals take Horizon's plans, which means it's easier to go to the doctors and hospitals you prefer and still have coverage.
Best health insurance companies in New Jersey
UnitedHealthcare (UHC) sells the best health insurance in New Jersey.
The company's plans have great coverage. And UHC has a large doctor network, which makes it easier to get medical care.
Plus, UnitedHealthcare has excellent customer service. UHC gets less than 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 New Jersey
Company |
Editor rating
|
ACA rating
|
|---|---|---|
| UnitedHealthcare | N/A | |
| AmeriHealth | 3.0 | |
| Aetna CVS Health | N/A | |
| WellCare Health | N/A | |
| Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield | 4.0 |
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AmeriHealth is cheaper than UnitedHealthcare and also sells good-quality plans. But AmeriHealth gets a lot of complaints about its health insurance plans. A cheap plan might not be worth it if the service you get from the company is bad.
Easiest health insurance to use: Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield
Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield has a large network of doctors, which makes it easy to get medical care. Having a long list of in-network doctors, medical offices and hospitals to choose from gives you more flexibility in where you get care.
It's also the most popular health insurance company in New Jersey, selling more than 60% of all health plans in the state.
Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield has the highest rating from HealthCare.gov in New Jersey, but the company also has a high rate of complaints. Before you buy a plan, it might be a good idea to try to talk to current members to find out what they think of the company.
How much does health insurance cost in New Jersey?
Health insurance in New Jersey costs an average of $550 per month, but you could pay $156 per month, on average, if you qualify for discounts based on your income.
- The level of coverage you buy heavily impacts your rate. Plans that pay for more of your medical bills, like Gold, cost more each month.
- Your age affects health insurance rates, too. Older people are more likely to have health issues, which means they pay higher rates. A 60-year-old pays over $600 more per month for a Silver plan in New Jersey, on average, compared to a 40-year-old.
Get affordable health insurance in New Jersey with subsidies
You'll pay an average of $156 per month for NJ health insurance if you qualify for discounts based on your income.
Almost 9 in 10 people in New Jersey who shop for health insurance on GetCoveredNJ, the state's health insurance marketplace, qualify for discounts based on their income. One discount, called a rate subsidy, lowers the cost of your monthly health insurance bill. About 16% of people in New Jersey who qualify for rate subsidies pay $10 or less each month for a policy.
If you're single, you have to make between $14,580 and $58,320 per year to qualify. If you're a family of four, the range is $30,000 to $120,000 per year. The less you make each year, the more of a discount you'll get. You can use a subsidy to help pay for Bronze, Silver or Gold plans from any company. You can't use a subsidy on Catastrophic plans.
If you qualify for rate subsidies, you may also qualify for another type of discount that lowers the cost you pay when you go to the doctor. These are called cost-sharing reductions, and you can only get them on Silver plans.
Cheap New Jersey health insurance plans by city
Aetna sells the cheapest health insurance in Newark, NJ.
In fact, Aetna has the cheapest plans in all of New Jersey's major cities, including Jersey City, Paterson and Elizabeth.
But if you live in Monmouth County, which is near New York City, or Ocean County in the western central part of the state, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield sells the cheapest plans.
Cheapest health insurance by NJ county
County | Cheapest Silver plan | Monthly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Atlantic | Aetna Silver 1 | $458 |
| Bergen | Aetna Silver 1 | $458 |
| Burlington | Aetna Silver 1 | $458 |
| Camden | Aetna Silver 1 | $458 |
| Cape May | Aetna Silver 1 | $458 |
Cheapest Silver plan with rates for a 40-year-old
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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 generally healthy, a Bronze plan could be a good fit.
If you aren't sure what plan level to choose, start by considering Silver plans. These plans give you good coverage but also have lower monthly rates than Gold plans. Comparing a Silver plan against your monthly budget and health care needs could help you decide if you need more or less coverage.
Health insurance is required in New Jersey. If you don't buy health insurance, you'll pay a fine based on your family size, your annual household income and the average cost for a Bronze plan. You can calculate your estimated fee using a free tool on New Jersey's state website.
Gold plans: Best if you need expensive medical care
| Gold plans pay for about 80% of your medical care. |
Gold 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 more money than it costs. That's because Gold plans usually have the lowest overall out-of-pocket costs.
Gold plans cost an average of $879 per month in New Jersey.
Silver plans: Best for most people
| Silver plans pay for about 70% of your medical care. |
Silver plans are a good choice for most people who have average medical needs. These plans give you good coverage at a relatively low rate. They're also the most popular option in New Jersey. About 80% of 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.
In New Jersey, Silver plans cost $550 per month, on average.
Bronze plans: Best for young, healthy people with savings
| Bronze plans pay for about 60% of your medical care. |
Bronze plans are some of the cheapest options, but they also 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.
Bronze plans cost $440 per month, on average, in New Jersey.
Catastrophic: Best as a last resort
Catastrophic plans have the lowest level of coverage. 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 $20,000 as an individual or less than about $41,000 as a family of four to qualify for Medicaid in New Jersey. If you are eligible, Medicaid 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, 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 $15,060 and $37,650 per year to qualify. For a family of four, the range is between $31,200 and $78,000 per year.
Are health insurance rates going up in NJ?
Health insurance rates in New Jersey increased for the 2024 plan year. Silver plans cost 3% more than they did in 2023. Gold plans had the largest increase, at 5%. The higher rates are likely because of the increased cost for medical care.
Tier | 2023 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bronze | $426 | $440 | 3% |
| Silver | $535 | $550 | 3% |
| Gold | $841 | $879 | 5% |
Monthly costs are for a 40-year-old.
In New Jersey, you can buy Affordable Care Act (ACA) plans, also called "Obamacare" plans, from GetCoveredNJ, the state's health insurance marketplace site.
Whether you buy a Bronze, Silver or Gold plan, you'll have coverage for at least 10 medical circumstances.
- Doctor visits
- Preventive and wellness care
- Emergency care
- Hospital stays
- Prescription medications
- Lab services
- Pregnancy, maternity and newborn care
- Pediatric care
- Mental health and substance use care
- Rehab services
Choose a plan tier based on how much you want your plan to pay and how much you can afford to spend each month. For example, Gold plans have high monthly rates, but they also pay for the highest share of your medical bills. If you aren't sure which plan tier to buy, start by comparing Silver plans.
COBRA insurance in New Jersey
It's almost always cheaper to buy a plan from GetCoveredNJ than to get COBRA insurance.
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 $738 per month, on average, for one person.
A Silver plan from GetCovered NJ costs $550 per month on average, which is much cheaper than COBRA. Unless you need a specific type of coverage that your employer had, it makes more sense to buy a plan from GetCovered NJ.
Short-term health insurance in New Jersey
New Jersey banned the sale of short-term health insurance plans. All health policies in the state must provide 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 they can't be purchased 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.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best health insurance in New Jersey?
UnitedHealthcare sells the best health insurance in New Jersey. The company has great service and good-quality coverage. If you're looking for a cheap plan, Aetna is the cheapest option.
How much is health insurance per month in New Jersey?
Health insurance in New Jersey costs $550 per month, on average, for a 40-year-old with a Silver plan. If you get discounts based on your income, the average rate is $156 per month. Your rate depends on where you live, what company you choose, what plan tier you buy, how many people you insure, your age and whether or not you use tobacco.
What is Obamacare called in New Jersey?
In New Jersey, the Affordable Care Act marketplace is called GetCoveredNJ. This is the website you use to view the health insurance plans in your area, get quotes, check your eligibility for monthly rate discounts and apply for coverage.
Methodology
ValuePenguin gathered 2024 health insurance rates from New Jersey's state exchange, GetCoveredNJ. Unless another age or plan tier is mentioned, rates represent a 40-year-old with a Silver plan. The cost for a plan with rate subsidies is based on everyone who bought a plan during the 2024 open enrollment period and qualified for advanced premium tax credits (APTCs).
To find the best health insurance companies in New Jersey, ValuePenguin ranked each company based on average rates, coverage quality, customer service and unique features. Info about COBRA plans and the most popular plan level in NJ is from KFF.
Other sources include the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) and S&P Global Capital IQ.
Editorial note: The content of this article is based on the author's opinions and recommendations alone. It has not been previewed, commissioned or otherwise endorsed by any of our network partners.