Quality Health Care for All Campaign
National Health Care Reform Passes in the U.S. House of Representatives!
Say Thank You To Congress for Passing National Health Care Reform!
CLICK HERE to find out more.
To make NJCA's Quality Health Care For All Campaign more readable, we have created a new page focused on the many activities of New Jersey Health Care for America Now (NJ HCAN).
NJ For Health Care Opposes Governor Christie’s Cuts to FamilyCare and Charity Care- New Report Shows How Much NJ Families Can Afford to Spend on Health Care
- Proposed Conversion of Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of NJ
- Additional Reports — What State & National Reform Means for New Jersey
- NJ For Health Care Campaign
- NJ Main Street Alliance
- Greater Disclosure of Preventable Medical Errors
- Support Children's Health Insurance — SCHIP
- NJ Prescription Drug Price Registry
TAKE ACTION to Win Health Care Reform in 2010!
NJ For Health Care Opposes Governor Christie's Cuts to FamilyCare and Charity Care
On Monday, March 8, 2010, members of the NJ For Health Care Coalition were joined by State Senator Loretta Weinberg (D-37), Chair of the NJ Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee and State Senator Joseph Vitale (D-19), Vice Chair of the NJ Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee at a Statehouse Press Conference to call on NJ Governor Chris Christie to stop cuts to NJ's FamilyCare and Charity Care programs which he enacted through Executive Order.
In addition to speakers from NJ Citizen Action, NJ Policy Perspective, the NJ Primary Care Association, the NJ Immigration Policy Network, and the Middlesex County Advocates, partners including the Health Professionals and Allied Employees, the Association for Children of NJ, AARP NJ, Legal Services of NJ, the Association for the Betterment of Citizens with Disabilities, and the NJ Catholic Conference attended the event.
- Press Release.
- Speakers.
- Statement of Eve Weissman, NJ Citizen Action.
- Statement of Raymond Castro, Senior Policy Anayst, New Jersey Policy Perspective.
- News Coverage: "Middle Class In New Jersey Becoming Uninsured Faster Than All Other Groups" (The Record / NorthJersey.com — March 18, 2010), "Christie Budget Calls For Sacrifice" (Courier-Post — March 16, 2010), "Budget Cuts Could Hit Low-Income New Jersey Residents" (Asbury Park Press — March 15, 2010), "Lawmakers: Health Care Cuts Will Hurt Economy" (NJBIZ — March 8, 2010), "Critics Warn Dropping Immigrant Health Care Coverage Could Backfire" (The Record — March 8, 2010), "Christie Pressured To Halt Funding Cuts To N.J. FamilyCare And Charity Health Care" (New Jersey Newsroom — March 8, 2010), "NJ's Latest Push for Healthcare Reform" (New Jersey Now / My9News — March 7, 2010 VIDEO NEWS SEGMENT).
New Jersey's Under 31 Insurance Law
The Patient Protection and Affordable Health Care Act allows young adults to obtain health coverage through their parents' insurance plan up to age 26. However, in NJ young adults can stay on their parents' insurance policies up to the age of 31 if they meet the flowing criteria.
Your Plan:
- must be through a group health benefits plan issued in New Jersey (or the State Health Benefits Plan); and
- must allow for the enrollment of dependents.
A Parent:
If the parent's employer offers coverage subject to the law, then the young adult's parent:
- must be covered under the employer's group health benefits plan subject to the DU31 law; and
- must provide coverage for all family members who meet the definition of a dependent under the group health benefits plan, or must have waived coverage for an eligible dependent because the dependent is covered under another group health plan or government-sponsored plan
A Young Adult:
If both the employer's plan and the young adult's parent meet the above requirements, the young adult may enroll if he or she:
- is younger than 31 years old, but older than the limiting age for dependent children stated in the group health benefits plan in which he or she wants to enroll;
- is a resident of New Jersey, or, if not residing in New Jersey, is a full-time student at an accredited public or private institution of higher education;
- has evidence of creditable coverage or receipt of benefits under a group health plan, a church plan, an individual health benefits plan or receipt of benefits as a Medicare recipient;
- is not covered under another group health plan, church plan, individual health benefits plan and is not entitled to Medicare as of the date that coverage under the parent's group health benefits plan would begin (note: a young adult can have other coverage upon the date the DU31 election is made, but not upon the date the DU31 coverage becomes effective);
- does not have any children; and
- does not have a spouse, civil union partner or domestic partner.
For a more information on the NJ Law visit the NJ Department of Banking and Insurance website.
New Report Shows How Much New Jersey Families Can Afford to Spend on Health Care
A new report by the NJ Consumer Voices for Coverage Leadership Team shows how much money New Jersey families can afford to spend on health care. New Jersey Consumer Voices for Coverage launched Making Health Care Affordable for New Jersey: Real Families, Real Stories to educate New Jersey residents, through community-based organizations, about the health reform debate going on around them, and to take a practical look at what families can, or cannot, afford to pay for their health care.
The aim of this project is to aid policymakers in understanding how much real families living in New Jersey can afford to spend on health care, based on real stories and household budgets of people living across the State. The stories and data presented in this report come from 648 families who attended over 40 community-based workshops throughout New Jersey. Their stories present numerous policy implications on the need to develop a reasonable standard of affordability for New Jersey families if health reform is going to succeed in reducing the number of New Jersey's uninsured.
Key Findings
- A majority of families cannot make ends meet and are operating in the red. 52.9% of respondents reported monthly expenses outpacing monthly income resulting in a negative cash flow by month's end.
- Families are delaying needed health care because of high costs. 46.4% of respondents report forgoing needed medical care due to cost or lack of insurance in the past year.
- Health care costs cause financial hardship for families. 13% of families reported having medical debt, the result of unpaid health care bills.
- Uninsured families report delaying care at high rates. 77.0% of families without health insurance report delaying needed care due to cost or lack of insurance in the last year.
- Many with health insurance also cannot afford needed care. 32.1% of insured respondents report delaying needed care due to cost in the past year.
- Those with chronic health conditions are more likely to delay care. 54.0% of those with chronic health conditions report delaying needed care due to cost or lack of insurance compared with 46.4% of total respondents.
Policy Recommendations
- Develop and implement a sliding scale affordability measure based on income to ensure that New Jersey families are not required to pay more for health care than they can afford.
- The affordability scale should provide full subsidies to cover the entire cost of health care for families up to 200% FPL and sliding scale subsides for families at least up to 399% FPL.
- New Jersey must collect more data to determine how much families above 400% FPL can afford to spend on health care.
Resources
- Full Report.
- Press Release.
- One-Page Report Summary.
- News Coverage: "Advocates: Health Care Will Still Elude Many In N.J." (Star-Ledger — December 2, 2009), "Report: New Jersey Families Struggling With Health Care Costs" (New Jersey Newsroom — December 2, 2009), "New Report Shows Health Care Affordability For NJ Families" (NewsBlaze — December 2, 2009), "Survey Claims New Jersey Health Care Costs Prevent Treatment For Many" (Press of Atlantic City — December 1, 2009), "New Report Shows Health Care Costs Cause Financial Hardship For NJ Families" (Radio News Source — December 1, 2009 — AUDIO NEWS).
Proposed Conversion of Horizon BCBS of New Jersey
Support S-2532 / A-3729 — Legislation to Ensure Necessary Transparency, Consumer Protection and Public Participation in the Conversion Process
On August 15, 2008, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, the State's largest, and only non-profit, health insurer, filed an application with the NJ Department of Banking and Insurance (DOBI) and the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) to convert to become a for-profit insurance company. Horizon's latest bid to convert raises numerous concerns relative to the health of NJ consumers and taxpayers.
NJ needs to know what impact conversion will have on the health status of all NJ residents including access to quality and affordable health care for underserved and vulnerable members of our communities, children, seniors, low and moderate income families, disabled residents and those with chronic illnesses.
S-2532 (Weinberg) and A-3729 (Vainieri-Huttle) protects consumers three important ways:
- Requires the State to hire an independent expert to conduct a fairness analysis evaluating the impact of the proposed conversion on the health status of all NJ residents. The fairness analysis allows the State to make a sound judgment regarding whether conversion is in the public interest as required by NJ law.
- Requires the State to hold a minimum of four public hearings, with at least one hearing each in the northern and southern regions of the State and at least two in the central region of the State, giving the public adequate opportunity to have a voice in the conversion process.
- Allows interested parties and those directly affected by the proposed conversion to apply for intervenor status so that concerns about the public health impacts and the protection of nonprofit assets are raised and addressed.
Take Action! CLICK HERE to Email Your Legislators and Urge them to Support and Co-Sponsor S-2532 / A-3729.
CLICK HERE for More About the Proposed Conversion of Horizon, the NJ Horizon Watch Coalition, and S-2532 / A-3729
The NJ Horizon Watch Coalition is a broad-based alliance of over 20 health care, consumer, labor, senior, faith-based, student, disability, civil rights and social justice organizations working to ensure that the proposed conversion of Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield, from a non-profit to for-profit insurer, takes place in accordance with both the spirit and full letter of the law.
The NJ Horizon Watch Coalition is also working to ensure that the public's interest is adequately represented, promoted and served, especially for low and moderate income individuals and families who are likely to have difficulty finding affordable health insurance.
JOIN the NJ Horizon Watch Coalition!
Additional Reports — What State & National Reform Means for New Jersey
State Practices in Health Coverage for Immigrants: A Report for New Jersey
On June 9, 2009 the NJ for Health Care Campaign held a TelePress Conference to release a new report by the Rutgers Center for State Health Policy (CHSP) titled "State Practices in Health Coverage for Immigrants: A Report for New Jersey" (June 2009).
Based on key findings in the Report, NJ For Health Care called on State policymakers to restore $1 million for outreach and enrollment funding for NJ FamilyCare in NJ's Fiscal Year 2010 State Budget and recommend that NJ implement more effective outreach and enrollment strategies based on successful practices in states such as New York and Massachusetts including more partnerships with local and community-based organizations, more investment of meaningful financial resources, and the creation of user-friendly one-stop website.
- Complete Report.
- NJ For Health Care's Policy Recommendations.
- Press Release.
- News Coverage:
- "Saving FamilyCare Right For N.J. Parents" (Asbury Park Press — July 9, 2009)
- "Advocacy Group: Health Insurance Companies Need More Competition" (NorthJersey.com — June 19, 2009)
- "37% Of Foreign-Born Kids Uninsured In N.J." (Courier Post — June 10, 2009)
- "Groups Want NJ To Restore Cuts To Immigrant Outreach" (Philadelphia Inquirer — June 10, 2009)
- "Report Says N.J. Immigrant Children Are Behind In Health-Care Benefits" (Star-Ledger — June 9, 2009)
- "Advocacy Groups Push For Immigrant Health Care Funding" (NJBIZ — June 9, 2009)
- "Statehouse Press Conf. Sen Vitale & Advocates Oppose State Budget" (NewsBlaze — May 12, 2009)
- "Vitale Statement On Health Care Cuts In FY 2010 Budget" (PolitickerNJ — May 12, 2009)
- "Sen. Vitale Joins Chorus Protesting Budget Cuts To Health Care" (NJBIZ — May 12, 2009)
- Additional Resources:
- "Falling Short: Time to Keep the FamilyCare Promise" — New Jersey Policy Perspective, May 2007
- "Coverage of Parents Helps Children Too" — Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, October 2006
- "An Advocate's Guide to the State Budget" — New Jersey Policy Perspective, 2005
Health Reform: The Cost of Failure
On May 21, 2009, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), along with New Jersey Citizen Action and the NJ Citizen Action Education Fund released a report, "Health Reform: The Cost of Failure."
It projects that if federal health care reform efforts are not enacted soon, within 10 years the cost of health care for businesses could double and the number of uninsured Americans could reach 66 million — with middle-income families hardest hit. The report was conducted by researchers from the Urban Institute in Washington, D.C.
Americans at Risk: One in Three Uninsured
The Uninsured: A Closer Look
State-Specific Report by Families USA
In March 2009, Families USA released a new report, "Americans at Risk: One in Three Uninsured", which was designed to provide a comprehensive picture of how many Americans were directly affected by the lack of health coverage in 2007-2008. That report contains national data, as well as a detailed discussion of the methodology.
On April 7, 2009 Families USA released a NJ State-Specific Report showing that:
- More than four out of five of New Jersey's uninsured, or 81 percent, were in working families, working full- or part-time.
- More than three out of five, or 60.2 percent, of those individuals and families in New Jersey with incomes below twice the poverty level — $42,400 of annual income for a family of four in 2008 — went without health insurance at some point in 2007-2008.
- In addition, almost one-quarter, or 23.6 percent, of those individuals and families in New Jersey with incomes at or above twice the poverty level — $42,400 of annual income for a family of four in 2008 — went without health insurance at some point in 2007-2008.
- While whites accounted for the largest number of uninsured in New Jersey, Hispanics/Latinos and African Americans were much more likely to be uninsured than whites: 58.1 percent of Hispanics/Latinos and 39.1 percent of African Americans went without health insurance in 2007-2008, compared to 22.7 percent of whites.
- News Release.
- The NJ Report (PDF of full report).
- News Coverage: "Report Finds Health Insurance Gap In N.J." (Star-Ledger – April 7, 2009), "An Unhealthy Crisis" (The Times of Trenton – April 7, 2009), "Report: More NJ Residents Lacking Health Insurance" (Forbes – April 7, 2009).
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Report "At the Brink: Trends in America's Uninsured 1994–2007"
This report looks at what has happened since the last significant reform effort ended in 1994 without any comprehensive congressional action. "At the Brink: Trends in America's Uninsured 1994-2007" chronicles state-by-state health coverage trends.
The report finds that over the last 15 years, nearly every state has seen increased numbers of uninsured residents, greater costs for workers while their incomes are flat, and significant erosion of private coverage.
- NJ Citizen Action Education Fund's Public Statement, distributed on Wednesday, March 25, 2009
- Complete Report.
"NEXT STEP: Health Care" NJ Report
NJ Health Care for America Now Coalition has released a new report, "NEXT STEP: Health Care," showing that we cannot solve New Jersey's economic and fiscal crisis without National Health Care Reform in 2009.
The report lays out exactly how skyrocketing health care costs are busting New Jersey's state and local government budgets, crippling businesses, and making it hard for families to afford the health care they need to make ends meet. "NEXT STEP: Health Care" was released on February 23, 2009, by NJ Citizen Action, the NJ Health Care for America Now (HCAN) Campaign, Rutgers AAUP-AFT, the Statewide Parent Advocacy Network, New Jersey SEIU and the Health Professionals and Allied Employees.
Without Reform, Health Costs Will Double
Economic Recovery Bill and Broader Health Reform Urgently Needed
Without action from Congress, premiums and deductibles for residents of New Jersey with employer provided insurance will nearly double by 2016, according to a new report released on January 28, 2009 by the New Jersey Public Interest Research Group (NJPIRG).
The report spotlights two important categories of wasteful health spending in New Jersey:
- $7,320,320,000.00 each year was spent on inappropriate, ineffective and uncoordinated care which can actually cause harm to patients.
- An estimated $1,360,368,000.00in red tape is created by bloated insurance company bureaucracy.
- Complete Report.
- Executive Summary.
National Survey Report: Taking the Pulse of Main Street
On January 15, 2009, at the Trenton Statehouse, the NJ Main Street Alliance released its national survey report, "Taking the Pulse of Main Street: Small Businesses, Health Insurance, and Priorities for Reform".
This report was conducted on nearly 1,200 small business owners and self-employed individuals in 12 states throughout the country. It focuses on small business owners' perspective on health care — their current health care experiences and preferred methods of reform.
New Jersey For Health Care Campaign
The NJ for Health Care Campaign is advancing a bold agenda for comprehensive statewide health care reform that will serve as a model for the nation. Read the Media Release.
The New Jersey for Health Care Campaign is made up of a broad-based alliance of health care, consumer, senior, student, disability, women's, labor, faith-based, civil rights and social justice organizations working to bring guaranteed, high quality, affordable health care to all New Jersey residents. See a complete list of organizations in the NJ for Health Care Campaign.
The NJ for Health Care Campaign continues to build strong alliances with other patient, health care, and social service agencies.
Download and Read:
- New Jersey for Health Care Core Principles.
- Media Release: NJCA's Response to Senator Vitale's Healthcare Proposal.
- Health Care for America by Jacob S. Hacker.
On Friday, October 10, 2008, the NJ For Health Care Campaign launched a new website — njforhealthcare.org — which will provide New Jerseyans with comprehensive information and resources on health care reform efforts at the state and national level, up-to-date news articles and press releases, a story-bank for New Jerseyans to share personal accounts of insurance company horror stories, opportunities to take action and the ability for both individuals and organizations to join the NJ For Health Care Campaign in working to make high quality, affordable health care a reality for all hard-working NJ families. Read the full Media Release — and visit njforhealthcare.org!
Take Action! Join the New Jersey For Health Care Campaign
Organizations: Sign the Endorsement Form.
Individuals: Sign the Health Care Voter Pledge Card.
Pledge your support for:
- Quality, affordable health care for all, without gaps in coverage or access;
- Care that is cost efficient and effective;
- Care that promotes wellness and prevention; and
- Financing that is fair and includes business, consumers, the health care industry and government.
Core Principles
New Jersey, like our country, faces a growing health care crisis, with more than 1.3 million residents uninsured and tens of thousands of others with inadequate coverage. The skyrocketing cost of coverage creates enormous pressure for families, businesses and our entire economy. New Jersey must address this crisis by taking bold action and setting an example for the nation.
The New Jersey Health Care Reform Campaign supports the creation of a state-wide universal health care system that incorporates the following principles.
- Guaranteed Access to Affordable, Comprehensive Health Care for All New Jerseyans.
- Improves the Quality of Care for All New Jerseyans.
- Shared Responsibility.
- Reduce and Contain Costs to Assure Affordable Coverage.
- Preventive Care
Download a copy of these Core Principles with additional details.
For more information, contact Eve Weissman at 856-966-3091 or eve@njcitizenaciton.org.
The NJ Main Street Alliance
The NJ Main Street Alliance brings together hundreds of small business owners who want real health care reform!
Small businesses are the heart of New Jersey's economy and the heart of our communities. No one knows as well as small business owners do how badly our health care system is broken. Small businesses are routinely left vulnerable to the premium hikes, benefit cuts, coverage denials and administrative nightmares that are commonplace in the health care system today.
Join united small business owners across the state coming together to fix the broken health care system. Learn more about the NJ Main Street Alliance.
Contact Crystal Snedden at 973-643-8800 or crystals@njcitizenaction.org for more information.
Greater Disclosure of Medical Errors
Nearly 100,000 Americans die each year from Preventable Medical Errors. In recent years, according to the NJ Department of Health, almost 100 died in New Jersey — but we don't know where. You can help!
Take Action! Call the AARP health care quality hotline at 1-800-844-2272 and urge Health Commissioner Heather Howard to make this important medical information public.
Preventable Medical Errors (PMEs) are avoidable mistakes that result in serious injury or even death. All too many New Jerseyans have experienced the terrible effects of preventable medical errors. However, in New Jersey, consumers are being denied the right to know where these errors are occurring.
For more information, read "Charlie Dent, Leonard Lance Among Moderate Republicans Opposed To Government-Run Health Care" (Express-Times – May 21, 2009), "Vitale-Sweeney-Weinberg Bill To Publicize Hospital Errors Approved In Assembly" (PolitickerNJ – May 21, 2009), the editorial "Don't Conceal Medical Errors" in the Asbury Park Press and view the AARP Video News Release, which sheds light on the horrors of PMEs and calls for Health Commissioner Heather Howard to release to the public each NJ hospital's safety record. Please take action today.
Support Children's Health Insurance – SCHIP
The State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), enacted with bi-partisan support a decade ago as part of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (BBA), is designed to build on Medicaid by providing insurance to low-income children who are uninsured, but ineligible for Medicaid.
New Jersey's SCHIP program is called NJ FamilyCare.
The NJ For Health Care Campaign supports full funding for SCHIP.
Feds Back Down on Bad Policy
NJ For Health Care fought against restrictive rules promulgated by the Bush administration through an August 17, 2007 directive issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) would have impeded New Jersey's ability to provide health insurance for thousands of low-income children have been put on hold.
New Jersey Citizen Action, New Jersey Appleseed Public Interest Law Center, Alliance for the Betterment of Citizens with Disabilities (ABCD), Alliance for Disabled in Action (ADA), BlueWaveNJ, Catholic Charities Diocese of Trenton, CWA Local 1034, CWA Local 1037, the Elder Rights Alliance of NJ, Family Voices of NJ, Health Care for All/NJ, Health Professionals and Allied Employees (HPAE), National Association of Social Workers (NASW) of NJ, National Organization for Women (NOW)—Morris County Chapter, Next Step (incorporated as People with Disabilities for Social and Economic Justice), the Statewide Parent Advocacy Network (SPAN), and the Workmen's Circle/Arbeter Ring NJ Region submitted an amicus brief in support of the State's Complaint. Read the amicus brief.
Resources
- PRESS STATEMENT: Coalition Calls on Legislature to Stop Cuts to NJ FamilyCare and Charity Care — February 17, 2010
- A Step Backward: How Federal Rules Would Deny Health Insurance to New Jersey Children, By Raymond J. Castro, Senior Policy Analyst, NJ Policy Perspective.
- News Coverage: "Christie Pressured To Halt Funding Cuts To N.J. FamilyCare And Charity Health Care" (New Jersey Newsroom — March 8, 2010).
- Here is more information about the NJ FamilyCare program.
NJ Prescription Drug Price Registry
The Rx Drug Registry, for which NJCA successfully lobbied, has officially been launched by the New Jersey Department of Consumer Affairs. Now consumers are able to easily search for drugs by entering the drug name, dosage, and their zip code.
With drug prices varying by as much as 25% from store to store, the registry will help those without prescription drug coverage, including those stuck in the "donut hole" of the new Part D prescription drug program. NJCA was instrumental in helping draft the legislation and lobbied on its behalf.
- Press Release.
- Search the Rx Drug Registry to find the most affordable prices.