Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that requires every resident of New Jersey to have a minimum level of health coverage required by the state.

Highlights:

• Requires every resident of New Jersey to obtain a “minimal essential” health coverage by January 1, 2019 (Secs. 3 and 11).

• Requires individuals to pay a tax penalty for not having the minimum coverage, an amount of which will be determined by the State Treasurer (Sec. 4).

• Specifies that state average premium rates will be used when calculating the tax penalty as opposed to national average premium rates, which were used under the Affordable Care Act (Sec. 3).

• Requires insurance companies or employers that have provided insurance to an individual who is no longer receiving the minimum coverage to provide the State Treasurer information about the individual if the State Treasurer requests it, which may include coverage history and demographic information (Sec. 8).

• Prohibits imposing a tax penalty on an individual for any month if that individual’s taxable income for the year is below the state’s minimum threshold, which is determined by the State Treasurer (Sec. 4).

• Prohibits imposing the tax penalty on an individual who is a resident of another state (Sec. 4).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that requires every resident of New Jersey to have a minimum level of health coverage required by the state.

Highlights:

• Requires every resident of New Jersey to obtain a “minimal essential” health coverage by January 1, 2019 (Secs. 3 and 11).

• Requires individuals to pay a tax penalty for not having the minimum coverage, an amount of which will be determined by the State Treasurer (Sec. 4).

• Specifies that state average premium rates will be used when calculating the tax penalty as opposed to national average premium rates, which were used under the Affordable Care Act (Sec. 3).

• Requires insurance companies or employers that have provided insurance to an individual who is no longer receiving the minimum coverage to provide the State Treasurer information about the individual if the State Treasurer requests it, which may include coverage history and demographic information (Sec. 8).

• Prohibits imposing a tax penalty on an individual for any month if that individual’s taxable income for the year is below the state’s minimum threshold, which is determined by the State Treasurer (Sec. 4).

• Prohibits imposing the tax penalty on an individual who is a resident of another state (Sec. 4).

Full Bill Text