Best Health Insurance Agencies in Trenton

Frequently Asked Questions

• Introduction

  If you're looking for health insurance for yourself or your family, an agent can help you save time, understand your options, and manage your costs. Insurance agents must be licensed in the state where they operate. They can provide information about on- and off-exchange plans to help you weigh all of your options, and they can see if you qualify for tax credits that can lower your monthly premiums. There's no cost to work with an agent, and they can help you save quite a bit by recommending the best plan for your needs. Here's what you should know before you get started.
  

• Are immigrants in Trenton allowed to purchase health insurance plans from the GetCoveredNJ Marketplace?

  Yes, as long as they are New Jersey residents, most immigrants, including those with temporary protected status and non-immigrant visas, can get a health plan through the GetCoveredNJ Marketplace. Except for holders of B1/B2, student, and F1 visas, qualified immigrants in Trenton can receive financial assistance to reduce their insurance costs. Undocumented immigrants and DACA recipients will be unable to obtain coverage through the marketplace. However, they can buy health plans from insurance agencies or the insurer.

• Is there a low-cost alternative for Trenton residents who can’t afford private or marketplace health insurance?

  Yes, the NJ FamilyCare program provides low-cost and free coverage in Trenton for adults aged 19 to 64, pregnant immigrants lawfully present in the country, adult immigrants with more than five years of permanent residency, and children under the age of 19 regardless of immigration status. You must meet the income limit to qualify. A single adult's income, for example, must be only 138% of the Federal Poverty Level, while a family of four with children must be only 355%.

• How much does health insurance cost in Trenton?

  The average monthly cost of health insurance in New Jersey for a 40-year-old adult in 2022 is $379. According to a Kaiser Family Foundation analysis, the average monthly premium for 2023 is $424 per individual. In addition to federal financial assistance through the GetCoveredNJ Marketplace, Trenton families can benefit from state subsidies through the New Jersey Health Plan Savings to lower their insurance costs.

• Do you have to carry health insurance if you live in Trenton?

  Everyone in Trenton and throughout the state must have health insurance. The New Jersey Health Insurance Market Preservation Act requires you to have insurance coverage for the entire year or make a Shared Responsibility Payment (SRP) with your state income tax return. If you have income restrictions that make insurance unaffordable, have a gap in coverage of less than three months, are a member of an exempted group, or are incarcerated, you may be eligible for an exemption.

• When will your coverage start if you bought your new health plan during the Open Enrollment Period (OEP) in Trenton?

  It is determined by your enrollment date. Trenton's OEP runs from November 1 of this year to January 31 of the following year. If you enroll before December 31, your coverage will begin on January 1 of the following year. Meanwhile, if you enrolled between January 1 and January 31, your coverage will begin on February 1.

• How can you find affordable health insurance? 

  Affordable insurance is available through employers, Medicare, Medicaid, and the federal Health Insurance Marketplace, which offers subsidies in the form of tax credits. You can also purchase coverage through private insurance companies and independent agents. Nearly half of all Americans have employer-sponsored health insurance, and about 10% of the population is uninsured.