The state says many residents lost health coverage after higher monthly bills came due following the expiration of enhanced federal tax credits. Officials say the shift is also pushing more people into lower-premium plans with higher out-of-pocket costs.
MORRIS COUNTY, NJ – Nearly 70,000 New Jersey residents who signed up for 2026 health coverage through Get Covered New Jersey have dropped that coverage since the end of open enrollment, according to the state Department of Banking and Insurance. As of April 15, 2026, total enrollment stood at 440,362, down 68,830 people from the 509,192 enrolled when open enrollment ended on January 31.
State officials say the main reason is cost. New Jersey said many residents lost coverage because they did not pay the higher 2026 premiums after the enhanced federal premium tax credits that had lowered costs in recent years expired at the end of 2025. KFF says that beginning in 2026, marketplace consumers again face the older subsidy structure, with help no longer extended above 400% of the federal poverty level and many enrollees seeing sharply higher premiums as a result.
The state says the loss of affordability is also changing the kind of coverage people keep. Among shoppers who actively selected plans, Silver plan enrollment fell from about 83% in 2025 to 68% in 2026, while Bronze plan selections rose from 16% to 31%. That matters because Bronze plans usually come with lower monthly premiums but higher deductibles and other out-of-pocket costs. The share of consumers getting coverage for $10 a month or less dropped from 48% in 2025 to 11% in 2026.
For Morris County residents who still need coverage, regular open enrollment is over, but the marketplace is not entirely closed. New Jersey says residents may still qualify for a Special Enrollment Period after major life events such as marriage, pregnancy, moving, or losing job-based coverage. The state also says uninsured or underinsured residents can indicate interest in coverage when they file their state tax return through the New Jersey Easy Enrollment Health Insurance Program.
State subsidies also remain in place for some households through NJ Health Plan Savings. New Jersey says in 2026 those subsidies are available to qualifying households with incomes up to 600% of the federal poverty level, including individuals earning up to $93,900 and families of four earning up to $192,900. The department says eight in 10 people enrolling through Get Covered New Jersey still qualify for some kind of financial help.
The bigger issue is what this means going forward. If coverage keeps getting more expensive, some residents will go uninsured, while others may keep plans that cost less each month but leave them exposed to bigger medical bills later. That is a statewide story, but it also has direct local consequences for families trying to manage doctor visits, prescriptions, preventive care, and emergency costs in Morris County.