New Jersey’s total Medicaid enrollment increased by 36 percent—nearly 460,000 people—in a little less than four years under the Affordable Care Act. Safeguarding residents’ from potential changes to the Affordable Care Act on the federal level, Assembly Democrats Herb Conaway (D-Burlington), John McKeon (D-Essex), and Nancy Pinkin (D-Middlesex) sponsored legislation (A-5499) authorizing the Department of Banking and Insurance to establish a State-based exchange for certain health benefits and coordinate with Department of Human Services.
The members issued the following joint statement on the passage of the bill by the full Assembly, 52-25:
“Preserving affordability and access for residents under the Affordable Care Act requires New Jersey to take action. We can protect New Jersey families from any erroneous changes the Trump administration continues to make to the federal program. A state-based exchange and a coordinated outreach program are key components to fighting against the discriminatory changes prohibiting residents with preexisting conditions and limiting women’s access to contraceptives. Healthcare and access to it should remain a right and not just privy to those who can afford it.”
Federal law created marketplaces for consumers and small businesses in every state to access obtain health and/or dental insurance coverage through Individual or Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) Health Insurance Exchanges, operated by States through State-based Exchanges (SBEs), or operated by the Federal government through the Federally-facilitated Exchange (FFE) and to calculate premium and cost sharing subsidies for individuals.