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New Jersey’s Progress on Health Coverage Must Not Be Undone

The share of New Jerseyans with insurance has increased by 39 percent in three years.

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Published on Sep 12, 2017 in Health

More New Jerseyans are getting vital health coverage, thanks mostly to the Affordable Care Act, including the Medicaid expansion. In fact, the share of Garden State residents with insurance has increased by 39 percent in just three years, with 455,000 people gaining coverage since 2013, according to the latest Census data released today.

The share of New Jerseyans without coverage was 8 percent in 2016, down from 13.2 percent in 2013 before the ACA reforms went into place. That’s fewer than nationally, where 8.8 percent are insured.

It’s clear that the expansion of Medicaid under the ACA has been a key driver of low-income Americans receiving health insurance. According to the Census release, the uninsured rate was nearly twice as high (11.7 percent) in states that didn’t expand Medicaid as in states that did (6.5 percent).

This remarkable progress we’ve made must not be undone by continued efforts to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. Our Congressional representatives must continue to work to improve the ACA, not dismantle it.

Author

  • Ray Castro was formerly the Director of Health Policy for NJPP. In this role, he worked to improve the health outcomes of New Jerseyans by producing reports, testifying in legislative hearings and working with advocates, legislators and their staff, and other key stakeholders to change policy and boost families in need.

    Ray’s research interests include: the Affordable Care Act, universal health coverage, NJ FamilyCare, health care transformation, poverty, the social safety net, public assistance and working family tax credits.

    Before joining NJPP in August 2006, Ray worked for the New Jersey Department of Human Services for more than 30 years, mainly serving as the Director of the DHS Office of Legislative Services in the Commissioner’s office. He was closely involved with developing federal and state legislation relating to Medicaid, mental health, welfare reform, child protective services, child care and other work support programs, and helped develop the policy and legislative strategy that led to New Jersey’s state Earned Income Tax Credit.

    He received a BA in psychology from the University of California-Berkeley and holds a master’s in social work degree with a specialization in policy from Rutgers University.