Quick answer
In 2026, the benchmark silver plan on Get Covered New Jersey averaged $545 a month for a 40-year-old before subsidies, about $80 below the U.S. average of $625. Prices rise with age, from about $426 a month at 21 to $1,157 at 60. Most enrollees get a federal tax credit, and New Jersey adds its own subsidy for incomes up to 600% of the poverty level. For 2027, insurers proposed an average increase of about 20%.
Key takeaways
- New Jersey’s 2026 benchmark premium for a 40-year-old was about $80 below the national average.
- About 509,000 people picked a plan for 2026, and 82% got a federal premium tax credit.
- New Jersey Health Plan Savings adds state help for households up to 600% of the poverty level.
- Insurers proposed an average 20.4% increase for 2027. All five Marketplace insurers are staying.
- New Jersey has its own individual mandate, so going without coverage can mean a penalty on your state tax return.
On this page
What a New Jersey Marketplace plan costs before subsidies
| Age | Benchmark silver plan, per month (2026 estimate) |
|---|---|
| 21 | $426 |
| 30 | $484 |
| 40 | $545 |
| 50 | $762 |
| 60 | $1,157 |
| 64 | $1,279 |
| Child under 15 | $326 |
A family of four with two 40-year-old parents and two young children would pay about $1,742 a month for benchmark plans before subsidies.
What you’d pay after a tax credit
If your household income is between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level, a federal premium tax credit caps what you pay for the benchmark plan at a share of your income. A single 40-year-old in New Jersey earning $40,000 would pay about $287 a month for the benchmark plan in 2026, with a federal tax credit of about $258, before any state help. For 2027, the same person’s federal share would be about $289 a month.
New Jersey Health Plan Savings lowers premiums further for Get Covered New Jersey enrollees with household incomes up to 600% of the poverty level. For 2026, that was about $93,900 for one person or $192,900 for a family of four. Unlike the federal credit, it reaches people above 400% of the poverty level. State officials have said the program can’t fully make up for the federal help that expired after 2025. You only get state or federal help by enrolling through Get Covered New Jersey.
Costs beyond the premium
What you pay when you get care depends on your plan’s deductible, copays and coinsurance, up to the out-of-pocket maximum of $10,600 for one person in 2026 ($12,000 in 2027). If your income is under 250% of the poverty level, a silver plan’s cost-sharing reductions lower those costs.
New Jersey Marketplace facts
- Marketplace: Get Covered New Jersey, the state-run exchange since fall 2020.
- Enrollment: 509,192 plan selections for 2026, about the same as 2025. Paid enrollment had fallen to about 434,700 by the end of June 2026.
- Insurers: Five: AmeriHealth, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, Oscar, UnitedHealthcare and WellCare (Ambetter). All five plan to sell Marketplace plans again in 2027.
- 2027 prices: Insurers proposed an average increase of 20.4% before subsidies, from 15.4% for Horizon to 35.7% for UnitedHealthcare. The state reviews the requests before rates are final.
- State help: New Jersey Health Plan Savings, plus a reinsurance program that keeps full-price premiums lower, which mainly helps people who don’t get a federal tax credit.
- Individual mandate: New Jersey requires residents to have coverage or qualify for an exemption. Otherwise, you owe a shared responsibility payment on your state tax return. See do you have to show proof of health insurance when filing taxes.
- Medicaid: NJ FamilyCare covers adults with incomes up to 138% of the poverty level, and children qualify at higher incomes regardless of immigration status. Starting in 2027, many adults in the expansion group will need to meet federal work requirements. See Medicaid work requirements.
- Other rules: Pregnancy counts as a qualifying life event for enrolling, and short-term health plans aren’t sold in New Jersey.
When to enroll
Open enrollment for 2027 coverage runs from November 1, 2026 to January 31, 2027, longer than on HealthCare.gov. Sign up by December 31 for coverage that starts January 1. For ways to keep your bill down, see how to lower your Marketplace premium.
Other options in New Jersey
- Job-based coverage, usually the cheapest route if it’s offered.
- NJ FamilyCare for adults and children who qualify; see health insurance for low-income families.
- Medicare at 65.
Health insurance costs in other states: Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia and Washington.
See 2027 plans and prices in your New Jersey county: compare quotes by ZIP code.
Frequently asked questions
What’s the average cost of health insurance in New Jersey?
Before subsidies, the 2026 benchmark silver plan for a 40-year-old averaged $545 a month. What you pay depends on your age, county, income, plan and any state or federal help.
Is there a penalty for not having health insurance in New Jersey?
Yes. New Jersey has its own individual mandate. If you go without coverage and don’t qualify for an exemption, you’ll owe a payment on your state tax return.
When is open enrollment for 2027 in New Jersey?
November 1, 2026 to January 31, 2027 through Get Covered New Jersey. Sign up by December 31 for coverage starting January 1.
Sources
This article is general information, not insurance or tax advice. Prices are averages and estimates; your actual premium depends on your county, age, income and plan. Last reviewed September 2026.