Garden State kicks off ACA open enrollment period

Gov. Phil Murphy, Department of Banking and Insurance (DOBI) Commissioner Marlene Caride and enrollment assisters from across the state on Wednesday announced Navigator grant awards totaling $1.1 million to provide enrollment assistance to residents shopping for health coverage during the six-week open enrollment window.
DOBI plans to release approximately $500,000 more in grants in the coming days.
As part of the administration’s efforts, DOBI has bolstered the Get Covered New Jersey campaign with $1.5 million in funding a significant increase compared with last year that will allow for an expanded awareness campaign. The Get Covered NJ campaign will feature a broad public awareness strategy including advertising on social media, transit, radio and other mediums. The campaign will specifically aim to target underinsured communities.
DOBI will also launch an online shopping tool to help make shopping for health care coverage simpler during this year’s open enrollment period, which runs Nov. 1 to Dec. 15. The new tool will be available on the state’s Get Covered New Jersey website during open enrollment and will allow residents to easily compare health plans on and off the exchange, and see if they qualify for financial assistance.
“Health care is a fundamental right, and providing residents with access to the coverage they need is a top priority of our administration,” said Murphy. “With Open Enrollment starting this week, we want to ensure that all residents have the assistance they need to obtain the health coverage they deserve. Because of the state’s work, New Jersey is able to invest additional funding in Navigators and outreach and enrollment assistance this year and expand assistance for families within our state. We encourage residents to prepare for the upcoming enrollment season, and to remind their loved ones to get covered,” Murphy said.
This year residents will benefit from increased enrollment services due to the state’s move to a state-based exchange on the federal platform.
DOBI awarded navigator grants to five organizations totaling $1.1 million to provide enrollment assistance during this year’s open enrollment period. Eligible organizations previously served as federally funded navigators in New Jersey. The following organizations received awards:
Center For Family Services Inc. $450,000
Family Resource Network $ 165,835
FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties/Fulfill$146,307
The Orange’s ACA Navigator Project (OACANP)$200,000 Urban League of Hudson County$150,258
DOBI previously announced an award of $300,000 to the Center For Family Services (CFS) to continue serving as a Navigator for 2020. CFS served as the state’s only federal Navigator in New Jersey in 2019 and was the sole New Jersey applicant for federal Navigator funding prior to the program transfer. As part of the transition to an SBE-FP, the Department accepted Center For Family Services’ federal application for state funding and permitted the organization to apply for additional funds through the Request for Applications. The department intends to award the organization an additional $150,000.
The state also intends to award funding to at least 10 additional organizations, engaging an estimated 100 assisters to conduct outreach projects and provide consumer assistance to residents in the state. Certified Application Counselor Designated Organization Outreach Project Grant Awardees and amounts will be announced shortly.
The state will transition to a State-Based Exchange for plan year 2021.
Information on the Open Enrollment Period and available over the phone and in-person assistance may be found on the Get Covered New Jersey website at GetCovered.NJ.gov.

CREDIT: Anthony Vecchione