Get Covered New Jersey is the state's official health insurance marketplace, and it is where most New Jersey residents buy individual and family health plans. It can also be confusing, especially when the financial help rules change. DGS Benefits will help you compare plans, work out your real cost after financial help, and enroll. We have been serving New Jersey families for 35 years, and we explain every step in plain English.
What is the NJ health insurance marketplace?
Get Covered NJ is run by the state. It lets you compare health plans from several insurance companies in one place, see what you would pay after financial help, and enroll online, by phone, or with a licensed broker. Plans are grouped into metal levels such as Bronze, Silver, and Gold. Plan prices are set by the insurance companies, so getting help from a broker does not raise your premium. If you want the basics of how deductibles, copays, and networks work, see our page on health and medical insurance in NJ.
When is open enrollment?
The main enrollment window for 2027 coverage runs November 1, 2026 through January 31, 2027. New Jersey has kept a full three-month window. Last year, residents had to enroll by December 31 for coverage to start January 1, and signing up in January meant a February 1 start. Deadlines can change from year to year, so call us in October and we will confirm the exact date for you.
How much financial help is available?
More than most people expect. Here is what the most recent numbers show for New Jersey:
- Eight in ten people enrolling through Get Covered New Jersey for 2026 qualified for financial help, according to the state.
- Across the 2026 enrollment period, financial help averaged about $604 per person per month, or $7,248 a year, when federal tax credits, cost-sharing reductions, and New Jersey state help are combined.
- New Jersey Health Plan Savings adds state financial help for households earning up to roughly 600% of the federal poverty level, about $93,900 for a single person in 2026.
- Premiums for 2026 plans rose by an average of 16.6% before financial help, the enhanced federal tax credits expired at the end of 2025, and proposed 2027 rates average about 20% higher. Your own numbers can look very different from last year's.
Do not assume you earn too much to get help. We will run your actual numbers at no charge.
What if you miss open enrollment?
You can usually still enroll if you have a qualifying life event, such as losing other coverage, getting married, having a baby, or moving. In most cases you have about 60 days from the event, so call us as soon as something changes. If you just lost coverage, read Lost Your Health Insurance in NJ? Here's What to Do Next.
How we help you enroll
- Talk with us. Tell us about your household, your income, your doctors, and your medications.
- Compare. We line up the plans side by side and check your doctors and prescriptions against each one.
- Run your real numbers. We show you the monthly cost after financial help, not just the sticker price.
- Enroll. We help you complete your application and confirm your plan.
- Review each fall. Plans, prices, and financial help change every year, so we check again before renewal.
Common mistakes that cost people money
- Assuming you make too much for financial help based on last year's numbers
- Letting a plan auto-renew without checking whether your premium changed
- Comparing sticker prices instead of your actual monthly cost after financial help
- Waiting too long and missing the deadline for a January 1 start
- Not checking that your doctors and prescriptions are still covered
For more on this year's changes, read NJ Health Insurance Marketplace Open Enrollment 2026: What You Need to Know. Turning 65? Look at Medicare Supplement plans instead. If you own a business, ask about employee benefits.
Frequently asked questions
Does it cost anything to use a broker?
No. Marketplace plan prices are the same whether you enroll yourself or with us.
Can I change my plan in the middle of the year?
Usually only if you have a qualifying life event and enroll within the special enrollment window. Outside of that, changes wait for open enrollment.
I earn too much for help. Should I still check?
Yes. New Jersey Health Plan Savings reaches higher incomes than the federal help alone, and rules change from year to year.
Can I keep my doctor?
Only if your doctor is in the plan's network. Tell us who you see, and we will check before you choose.
Is a consultation really free?
Your first consultation is free. Contact us to get started.
DGS Benefits Inc. is a licensed insurance broker in the State of New Jersey and is not a government agency or the official Get Covered NJ website.
Plans, premiums, provider networks, and financial help vary by insurance company, county, age, and household income, and eligibility for financial help is determined by the marketplace.
We do not offer every plan available in your area. Enrollment dates, premium figures, and program rules are subject to change.