New Jersey Health Insurance Coverage...
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If you are searching for ways to lower your health insurance costs and you live in the State of New Jersey...We, here at HealthInsureCoverage.com, work hard to supply you with the information you need to make an informed decision regarding your health insurance needs and requirements.

• In the State of New Jersey what are you protections when purchasing health care coverage?
     Federal Law extends certain protections to employers seeking to buy health insurance for themselves and their workers. New Jersey has enacted comprehensive reforms to expand small employers' access to health insurance and to limit premium variation due to health status. Generally, small employers are those that employ 2-50 employees. Please note, however, that the definition of small employer and employee is somewhat different under federal and state law. Check with the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance to be sure that you know which protections apply to your group.
• Your insurance cannot be canceled because someone in your group becomes seriously ill.
     This is called guaranteed renewability and it applies to group plans of all sizes. Insurers can impose other conditions, however. They can require you to meet minimum participation and contribution rates in order to renew your coverage. Additionally, they can refuse to renew your coverage for nonpayment of premiums or if you commit fraud, or if they are discontinuing that insurance product. In the latter case, they must give you a chance to buy other plans they sell to groups of your size.
• Can you be charged more because of your group's health status?
     Premiums for all health plans sold to small employers in New Jersey are based on modified community rating. That means your premium cannot vary due to the health status or claims experience of people in your group. However, within limits, premiums will vary based on the age, gender and family size of those in your group and because of the location of your business. The New Jersey Small Employer Health Benefits Program issues buyer™s guides describing standard small group health plans and an annual premiums comparison survey.
• What plan choices to you have?
     Insurance companies must offer small employers standardized health plans. New Jersey requires that five standardized health plans (options A through E) plus a sixth HMO option be offered to all small employers. The standardized plans help you compare differences in cost and coverage. Carriers may offer riders to the standard plans. Carriers also can offer non-standard plans. These policies are subject to the same requirements as standard health plans.
• What if you are self-employed?
     If you are self-employed with no other workers, you are not eligible to buy a group health plan on your own (though you may be able to join another group health plan through a family member). Therefore, the laws that protect employers' access to group health insurance do not apply to you. Your access to health insurance is protected by the laws that apply to individuals.
• If you are self-employed and buy your own health insurance, you are eligible to deduct an increasing percentage of the cost of your premium from your federal income tax.
     This deduction is 70% for 2002 and 100% thereafter.
• A quick summary of Association Plans.
     Some small employers, self-employed people, and other individuals buy health insurance through professional or trade associations. The laws applying to association health coverage can be different than those for other health plans. Check with the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance about your protections in association health plans.

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