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Are There Better Health Insurance Options for Freelancers in New Jersey?
Freelancers in New Jersey — designers, writers, developers, photographers, musicians — usually buy whatever Get Covered New Jersey shows them in November and move on. There's often a better fit.
If your income is modest or variable
The marketplace is probably right, and you may qualify for a larger subsidy than you think once expenses are deducted. Medicaid is expanded (NJ FamilyCare) in New Jersey.
If you've grown past the subsidy line
Successful freelancers hit the 400% cliff and suddenly pay full price. If you're healthy, a private shared-network PPO on MagnaCare and Cigna PPO is priced on your health, not your 1099s — usually 30–50% less, with a national network that travels with you.
If you work across state lines
Marketplace HMOs are local. A national PPO covers you in-network in every state, which matters for freelancers who split time between New Jersey and somewhere else.
If you have a pre-existing condition
Stay on the marketplace. Private plans underwrite; the marketplace doesn't.
The New Jersey picture
New Jersey does not allow short-term medical plans, so the private alternatives here are the shared-network PPO plans rather than short-term coverage. New Jersey has a progressive state income tax, so a self-employed health premium deduction is worth more here than in a no-tax state.
Check your options — we'll show you both.