Low-income health plans
Take a look at the ways you can get help paying for health insurance if you qualify:
Catastrophic plans
AmeriHealth offers catastrophic plans to individuals under 30 and those with extreme financial hardship. Catastrophic coverage protects you from the costs of worst-case scenarios, providing coverage for hospitalization or serious illnesses.
Premium tax credits
Federal premium tax credits can help lower your monthly premium payments. Eligibility for the premium tax credit is based on several things, including your income and household size.
You can apply some or all of your premium tax credit to your monthly insurance premium payment. New Jersey’s health insurance marketplace — GetCovered.NJ.gov — will send your tax credit directly to your insurance company and you will pay less each month. This is called taking an “advance payment of the premium tax credit” or APTC. Find out if you’re eligible at GetCovered.NJ.gov.
State-based financial savings
New Jersey Health Plan Savings (NJHPS) for low-income New Jersey residents
New Jersey residents also have access to a state subsidy called New Jersey Health Plan Savings, which can help lower the cost of health insurance. Residents qualify for this subsidy based on income. Households with annual incomes up to 600 percent of the federal poverty level will receive NJHPS. These savings are in addition to federal financial help.
Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) Corporation shareholders
If you are a member of a federally recognized tribe or are an Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) Corporation shareholder, you may qualify for more savings.
Lower out-of-pocket costs
If you qualify for a premium tax credit, you may also qualify for a Cost-sharing Reduction (CSR). This lowers the amount you pay for out-of-pocket costs, such as deductibles, copays, and coinsurance. It means you will pay less out of pocket each time you get medical care, including at the doctor’s office, hospital, or urgent care center.
CSRs are often called “extra savings.” If you qualify for these extra savings, you will get them only if you enroll in a health plan at the Silver level. When you shop for plans, look for the plan level: Bronze, Silver, or Gold. You can use a premium tax credit for a plan at any level, but you will only get the extra CSR savings if you choose a Silver plan. Read more about plan levels below.
If you qualify for CSRs, you also have a lower out-of-pocket maximum. Every time you pay out of pocket at the doctor's office or for prescription drugs, those payments go towards your maximum. When you reach your maximum, your plan covers 100 percent of all covered services.
AmeriHealth offers low-cost health plans to fit your needs and budget
If you don’t qualify for financial assistance, you can choose from a variety of affordable health insurance plans offered directly through AmeriHealth. When you purchase directly from us, you have more cost-saving options and it’s easier to make updates to your policy. We also have licensed agents who can help you find a plan that best meets your needs.
Under the Affordable Care Act, we are required to organize all plans by the level of coverage they offer using metallic tiers. We offer Bronze, Silver, and Gold health plans for individuals and families. All health plans cover the same essential health benefits, which include doctor visits, hospital stays, prescription drug coverage, blood tests, X-rays, preventive care, and more. But how much you pay in monthly premium and out-of-pocket costs when you need care is different. Compare cost and coverage by tier:
| Gold | Silver | Bronze | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost | $$$ | $$ | $ |
| Cost when you receive care | $ | $$ | $$$ |
| Good option if you… | Plan to use a lot of health care services | Want to save on monthly premiums while keeping your out-of-pocket costs lower | Don’t plan to need a lot of health care services |
To learn more about what factors are involved in determining plan costs, read Health insurance cost.
Ready to choose an affordable AmeriHealth health plan?
Typically, you must enroll in health coverage during the annual Open Enrollment Period (OEP) from November 1 to January 31. You may be able to apply for coverage outside of this time period if you have a qualifying life event, such as getting married, having a baby, losing coverage through an employer, or moving to a new area (called a Special Enrollment Period, or SEP).
You can enroll in a health plan through GetCovered.NJ.gov or amerihealth.com. Tax credits are only available when you enroll through GetCovered.NJ.gov.