Best Health Insurance in New Jersey (2026)

Key Takeaways

Oscar leads New Jersey's Silver-tier rankings for 2026 with a $551 average monthly premium for 40-year-olds, the lowest of the five carriers in the state, per MoneyGeek's analysis.

New Jersey has its own individual mandate: residents without coverage pay a state tax penalty. Compare on MOOP, not just premium. Oscar's $551 monthly premium comes with a $9,357 MOOP, while AmeriHealth's $758 premium comes with a $7,930 limit.

We analyzed every 2026 health insurance plan available in New Jersey across five carriers, evaluating policyholders at ages 18, 26, 40 and 60.

The spread between the lowest and highest average monthly premium across Silver-tier EPO plans for a 40-year-old is $207, from Oscar's $551 to AmeriHealth's $758. That's a difference of $2,484 per year for the same metal tier. But the cheaper carrier carries a $1,427 higher MOOP. For anyone who uses coverage regularly, that gap costs more annually than the premium savings.

Oscar, AmeriHealth and WellCare are the best health insurance companies in New Jersey for 2026. New Jersey has its own individual mandate: residents without coverage pay a state tax penalty. The state also offers state-based subsidies through GetCoveredNJ to make coverage more affordable for eligible residents.

Best Health Insurance Companies in New Jersey

Oscar is the best health insurance company in New Jersey, though AmeriHealth, WellCare, Blue Cross Blue Shield and UnitedHealthcare may be better for your specific needs and budget. Differences in network size, plan flexibility and out-of-pocket costs affect your total health care spending, making it important to compare options carefully before enrolling.


Oscar	$551	$9,357	$2,050	4.7	Silver 1750 Off Exchange
AmeriHealth	$758	$7,930	$2,400	4.3	IHC Silver EPO AmeriHealth Advantage 40%/40%
WellCare	$630	$9,740	$2,000	4.3	Elite Silver $0 Medical Deductible + $0 Virtual 24/7 Care Visits
Blue Cross Blue Shield	$624	$8,400	$2,350	4.2	OMNIA Silver Choice
UnitedHealthcare	$656	$9,800	$2,400	3.7	UHC Silver-X Value ($0 Virtual Urgent Care, No Referrals) (Off-Exchange Only)

*Our picks reflect the best companies for 40-year-olds seeking Silver-tier plans. Rates vary by age and coverage level.

The most striking pattern in our New Jersey data is the MOOP spread. Oscar's $9,357 average out-of-pocket maximum is $1,427 higher than AmeriHealth's $7,930, even though Oscar's premiums are $207 per month lower. For a healthy enrollee who rarely files claims, Oscar wins on monthly cost. For someone managing a chronic condition or planning a procedure, AmeriHealth's lower MOOP ceiling may cost less by year-end.

Oscar

MoneyGeek Rating

4.7/ 5

5/5Affordability

4.7/5Deductible

3.7/5MOOP

Average Monthly Rate
$551
Average MOOP
$9,357
Average Deductible
$2,050

pros
- Low premiums consistently below state averages
- Gold plans feature low $1,750 deductibles
- Bronze, Silver, Gold and Catastrophic metal tiers
cons
- Limited to EPO network structure only
- Bronze plans have higher deductibles from $3,000 to $4,650
Oscar earns a 4.7/5 MoneyGeek score, the highest among New Jersey's five marketplace carriers. It's the only carrier in the state offering Bronze, Silver, Gold and Catastrophic tiers. Its Gold plan costs $775 monthly with a $1,750 deductible. Its Silver plan runs $491 monthly with a $2,500 deductible and is HSA-eligible. Two Bronze options are available at $473 monthly: a standard plan with a $3,000 deductible and an HSA plan with a $4,650 deductible.

Our analysis found Oscar's pricing advantage is most pronounced at the Silver tier, where its $491 monthly rate is $139 per month below the next-cheapest Silver EPO in New Jersey. That gap narrows at the Gold tier, where the premium difference drops to under $20 between Oscar and WellCare. If you're choosing between Silver and Gold, the math shifts depending on which carrier you're comparing.

Oscar's digital platform includes virtual doctor visits and automated care recommendations, which sets it apart from carriers that require in-person or phone-based care coordination. In our analysis, Oscar's Silver EPO premium of $551 for a 40-year-old leads every other carrier in the state at the same tier and age.

Oscar health insurance plans in New Jersey:

Data filtered by:


Bronze 3000 Off Exchange	$473	EPO	Bronze	$10,600	$3,000	No
Bronze Classic	$470	EPO	Bronze	$9,300	$3,300	Yes
Bronze 6000 HSA Off Exchange	$476	EPO	Bronze	$8,300	$6,000	Yes

Oscar's EPO structure covers no out-of-network care outside of emergencies. At a $9,357 average MOOP on Silver-tier plans, it carries the fourth-highest annual out-of-pocket exposure on this page, behind Blue Cross Blue Shield's $10,050, UnitedHealthcare's $9,800 and WellCare's $9,740. Policyholders managing ongoing conditions with established care teams outside Oscar's network will pay the full cost of those visits. AmeriHealth's $7,930 MOOP is $1,427 lower and is the stronger choice for anyone who expects to use coverage heavily each year.

AmeriHealth

MoneyGeek Rating

4.3/ 5

4.2/5Affordability

4/5Deductible

5/5MOOP

Average Monthly Rate
$758
Average MOOP
$7,930
Average Deductible
$2,400

pros
- Offers EPO and HMO plans
- Low $850 deductibles on Gold EPO policy
cons
- Higher than average premium rates
- Bronze plans feature high $5,250 deductible
AmeriHealth earns a 4.3/5 MoneyGeek score and carries the lowest average MOOP of New Jersey's five marketplace carriers at $7,930 for Silver-tier plans. It's the only carrier in the state offering HMO plans, though those are available only at the Gold tier at $1,266 monthly with a $2,200 deductible. Its Gold EPO plan runs $1,480 monthly with an $850 deductible, the lowest Gold EPO deductible among New Jersey carriers.

Bronze EPO plans average $511 monthly with HSA eligibility and a $5,250 deductible. Silver EPO plans average $698 to $758 monthly. The most useful finding in our analysis isn't AmeriHealth's premiums, which are the highest among the five carriers. It's the MOOP: at $7,930, AmeriHealth's out-of-pocket ceiling is $1,427 lower than Oscar's and $1,870 lower than UnitedHealthcare's.

AmeriHealth health insurance plans in New Jersey:

Data filtered by:


IHC Bronze EPO HSA AmeriHealth Advantage $25/$50	$451	EPO	Bronze	$8,450	$6,000	Yes
IHC Bronze EPO HSA AmeriHealth Hospital Advantage $50/$75	$485	EPO	Bronze	$8,450	$6,000	Yes
IHC Bronze EPO HSA Local Value 50%/50%	$521	EPO	Bronze	$8,450	$6,000	Yes
IHC Bronze EPO Local Value $50/$75	$588	EPO	Bronze	$10,600	$3,000	Yes

The premium gap is the clearest reason to look elsewhere first. AmeriHealth's average monthly rate of $758 for Silver EPO coverage is $207 more than Oscar's Silver EPO, a difference of $2,484 per year for the same metal tier. Unless your specific doctors are in AmeriHealth's network only, or you need HMO structure for cost management reasons, that gap is hard to justify on cost alone. AmeriHealth's Bronze deductibles at $5,250 are also among the highest in the state, which makes the Bronze tier a poor fit for anyone who expects to use their coverage.

WellCare

MoneyGeek Rating

4.3/ 5

4.6/5Affordability

5/5Deductible

2.7/5MOOP

Average Monthly Rate
$630
Average MOOP
$9,740
Average Deductible
$2,000

pros
- Gold plan deductible of $950
- Silver plan deductible of $2,000
cons
- EPO network only (no out-of-network coverage)
- Silver and Gold tiers only, no Bronze option
WellCare offers EPO plans in Silver and Gold tiers. Gold costs $756 a month with a $950 deductible and $7,750 out-of-pocket maximum. Silver costs $630 a month with a $2,000 deductible and $9,740 out-of-pocket maximum.

No Bronze option is available, which means better cost-sharing but higher monthly premiums than budget-tier plans. WellCare fits New Jersey residents who want lower deductibles and are comfortable staying within the EPO network.

WellCare health insurance plans:

Data filtered by:


Elite Gold $0 Deductible + $0 Virtual 24/7 Care Visits	$812	EPO	Gold	$6,500	$0	No
Secure Gold + $0 Virtual 24/7 Care Visits	$700	EPO	Gold	$9,000	$1,900	No

Two metal tiers is the primary constraint. WellCare has no Bronze plans, so if your priority is the lowest monthly premium with a higher deductible, WellCare isn't an option. The Silver out-of-pocket maximum at $9,740 is also worth weighing for anyone with predictable high medical costs: you're accepting more annual exposure at the ceiling than you'd have with AmeriHealth. Enrollees managing ongoing conditions who expect to hit their MOOP should run the full-year math before choosing WellCare over a carrier with a lower cap.

Best Health Insurance in New Jersey by Category

Oscar's age-neutral cost structure is the most useful finding in the by-category data. Most health insurers raise deductibles and MOOP as policyholders age, but Oscar applies the same $2,050 deductible and $9,357 MOOP at age 18 and at age 60. For a 60-year-old, that consistency saves money compared to carriers that adjust cost-sharing upward with age.

By Age:

Teens (18): Oscar EPO ($394 monthly)
Young adults (26): Oscar EPO ($442 monthly)
Adults (40): Oscar EPO ($551 monthly)
Seniors (60): Oscar EPO ($1,171 monthly)

By Network Type (40-year-olds):

EPO: Oscar leads at $551 monthly with Silver-tier benefits
HMO: AmeriHealth is the exclusive provider of HMO plans, only available in Gold-tier coverage at an average of $1,266 per month

One pattern in our data worth calling out: AmeriHealth is the only carrier offering HMO plans in New Jersey, and those plans are only available at the Gold tier. Any New Jersey resident who prefers an HMO for its lower cost-sharing has no Silver-tier or Bronze-tier option. Every other carrier in the state is EPO-only below the Gold tier.

AmeriHealth doesn't appear in the by-age premium rankings because those rows reflect Silver-tier EPO plans and AmeriHealth's Silver EPO average of $698 monthly trails Oscar's $551 for all age groups. Its strongest position is in MOOP, not premiums. WellCare doesn't appear in the teen or young adult rows for the same reason: its $630 monthly Silver EPO rate is competitive for 40-year-olds but less so at younger ages where Oscar's premium advantage is larger.

Compare New Jersey Health Insurance Providers

Monthly premiums, deductibles and MOOP vary across New Jersey insurers. Filter by age, metal level, plan type and HSA eligibility to compare costs.

Data filtered by:


Oscar	$551	EPO	Silver	$9,357	$2,050	40	No
WellCare	$630	EPO	Silver	$9,740	$2,000	40	No
AmeriHealth	$698	EPO	Silver	$8,829	$2,500	40	No
Blue Cross Blue Shield	$722	EPO	Silver	$10,050	$2,092	40	No
UnitedHealthcare	$656	EPO	Silver	$9,800	$2,400	40	No

How to Choose the Best Health Insurance in New Jersey

Finding the right health insurance in New Jersey means comparing coverage needs, insurer reputations and enrollment options. These steps make the process manageable:

1
Assess your health care needs
Your age, medications and how often you see doctors all affect which plan makes financial sense. In MoneyGeek's analysis, Oscar's Silver EPO premium for an 18-year-old is $394 a month. A 60-year-old pays $1,171 for the same plan, a 197% increase. If you expect high care use, the MOOP is a more important figure to compare than the premium.
2
Compare quotes from multiple insurers
Within a single metal tier, premiums vary more than most people expect. The gap between the cheapest and most expensive Silver EPO plan for a 40-year-old in New Jersey is $171 a month ($2,052 a year) for the same type of coverage. Getting quotes from at least three carriers before you enroll is the single most effective way to avoid overpaying.
3
Confirm your doctors are in-network before enrolling
All five New Jersey marketplace carriers use EPO structures below the Gold tier. EPO plans have no out-of-network coverage outside of emergencies. An out-of-network visit costs the full amount out of pocket and doesn't apply to your deductible or MOOP. Confirm your doctors are in-network before you pick a plan, not after.
4
Look at deductibles and MOOPs together
The carrier with New Jersey's lowest 2026 MOOP — AmeriHealth at $7,930 — charges higher premiums than Blue Cross Blue Shield, which has the highest MOOP at $10,050. A low premium paired with a high MOOP can cost more in total than a higher-premium plan with a lower ceiling, depending on how much care you actually use.
5
Know which plan structures are available in New Jersey
New Jersey's 2026 marketplace has two plan structures:
- EPO: In-network care only, no referrals required, no out-of-network coverage outside emergencies. All five New Jersey carriers offer EPO plans.
- HMO: Requires network-only care and a primary care doctor to authorize specialist visits. AmeriHealth is the only New Jersey carrier with HMO plans, and only at the Gold tier.
6
Check subsidy and program eligibility
Subsidies can cut monthly costs substantially for qualifying households. If your income is low, you have a qualifying disability or you're 65 or older, look at Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement plans.

How Much Does Health Insurance Cost in New Jersey?

New Jersey health insurance costs vary based on plan type, metal tier, age and location. EPO plans start at $509 for Bronze coverage and increase to $671 for Silver and $1,018 for Gold plans. HMO plans are only available in the Gold-tier in New Jersey, averaging $1,266 monthly.

The jump from Silver to Gold is steeper in New Jersey than in most states we've analyzed. A 40-year-old moving from Oscar's Silver EPO to Oscar's Gold EPO goes from $491 to $775 monthly, a $284 increase per month, but the deductible drops from $2,500 to $1,750. Whether that trade-off makes sense depends entirely on expected utilization. For someone who hits their deductible every year, the Gold plan math can work. For someone who doesn't, paying $3,408 more per year to lower the deductible by $750 rarely does.


EPO	$509	$671	$1,018
HMO	No Data	No Data	$1,266

*Rates are averages for 40-year-olds in New Jersey. Your rates will vary based on your age and location.

WHAT AFFECTS YOUR TOTAL HEALTH CARE COST BEYOND THE PREMIUM

Monthly premiums are only one part of what you'll pay. In our analysis of New Jersey's 2026 plans, these four cost components affect your total annual spend more than the premium difference between carriers.

Deductible: The amount you pay before your plan covers most services. In New Jersey's Silver-tier EPO market, deductibles range from $2,000 at WellCare to $2,500 at AmeriHealth. A $500 deductible difference means $500 more out of pocket before coverage starts.
Maximum out-of-pocket (MOOP): The most you'll spend in a year on covered services. New Jersey's 2026 Silver-tier EPO MOOPs range from $8,829 at AmeriHealth to $10,050 at Blue Cross Blue Shield. Once you hit your MOOP, the plan covers 100% of covered costs for the rest of the year.
Co-insurance: What you pay per service after the deductible as a percentage of the bill. These rates vary by plan design. Compare the specific plan's cost-sharing schedule, not just the carrier's average.
Network restrictions: EPO plans cover no out-of-network care outside emergencies. All five New Jersey carriers use EPO structures below the Gold tier. Out-of-network visits are paid entirely out of pocket and don't count toward your deductible or MOOP.

Best Health Insurance in New Jersey: Bottom Line

Oscar earns the top ranking in our analysis because it holds the lowest premiums at every age group while keeping deductibles and MOOP consistent across age. For most 40-year-old New Jersey residents buying Silver-tier coverage, it's the right starting point. Its Bronze plans start at $473 monthly, the only entry-level option for budget-first buyers in the state.

AmeriHealth is the stronger choice for anyone who expects to use their coverage heavily. Its $7,930 average MOOP is the lowest on this page and $1,427 below Oscar's. The math works in AmeriHealth's favor once your annual care spending approaches your deductible. WellCare suits residents who want a mid-range Silver-tier plan with the lowest Gold-tier deductible at $950 and a $7,750 Gold MOOP, without comparing across a large plan menu.

Blue Cross Blue Shield and UnitedHealthcare rank fourth and fifth in our analysis. Neither leads on premium or MOOP relative to the top three. Policyholders with existing provider relationships in those networks should verify their doctors are in-network with one of the higher-ranked carriers before defaulting to a lower-scoring option.

Best New Jersey Health Insurance: FAQ

New Jersey residents often ask about enrollment periods, state insurance requirements and how multiple plans work together:

Is health insurance required in New Jersey?

New Jersey requires residents to have health insurance. Residents without coverage pay a state tax penalty on their annual return. The mandate applies to most residents, though exemptions exist for financial hardship, religious objections and short coverage gaps. New Jersey offers state-based subsidies through GetCoveredNJ to help make coverage more affordable for eligible residents.

When is open enrollment in New Jersey?

New Jersey's open enrollment period for 2026 health coverage begins November 1, 2025, and ends January 31, 2026. You must select a plan by December 31, 2025, for coverage to start January 1, 2026.

Can you get free health insurance in New Jersey?

Yes. Medicaid is available at no cost for residents who meet income requirements. Many others qualify for premium subsidies through the state marketplace that reduce or eliminate monthly costs. Middle-income families are often eligible for subsidies that bring premiums to near zero.

Our Review Methodology

MoneyGeek's ranking system evaluates New Jersey health insurance plans on three cost factors: premiums, deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums.

Scoring breakdown:

Monthly premium (60%): Plans with the lowest average monthly cost score highest.
Maximum out-of-pocket or MOOP (20%): The annual cap on what you pay for covered services beyond your premium. Lower MOOP earns a better score.
Deductible (20%): The amount you pay before insurance covers costs. Smaller deductibles score higher.

We normalized all scores within each filter group. For Silver-tier HMO options, the best-performing plan earns a 5.0 rating, with other plans scored relative to that top performer.

MoneyGeek evaluated every 2026 health plan offered in New Jersey for people ages 18, 26, 40, 50 and 60. Premium costs shown reflect 40-year-old rates unless stated otherwise. Our analysis covers all available metal tiers: Catastrophic, Bronze, Expanded Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum.

About Mark Fitzpatrick

Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty (P&C) Insurance Producer in Connecticut, is MoneyGeek's resident insurance expert. He has spent nearly a decade analyzing the market, first at LendingTree and now at MoneyGeek, where he has produced original research on hundreds of carriers and millions of rates across auto, home, renters, health and life insurance.

He writes about economics and insurance on MoneyGeek so people can make coverage decisions with confidence. His insurance insights have been featured in The Washington Post, The New York Times and NPR, among other media outlets.

Like all MoneyGeek analysts, he draws on independent cost and consumer experience data, and no insurance company partnership influences his recommendations.

Fitzpatrick earned his degrees from Johns Hopkins University (M.A. Economics and International Relations) and Boston College (B.A.). He began his career in financial risk management at State Street. He's also a five-time Jeopardy champion!

Read Full Bio »

Best Health Insurance in New Jersey (2026)

Best Health Insurance Companies in New Jersey

Oscar

AmeriHealth

WellCare

Best Health Insurance in New Jersey by Category

Compare New Jersey Health Insurance Providers

How to Choose the Best Health Insurance in New Jersey

How Much Does Health Insurance Cost in New Jersey?

Best Health Insurance in New Jersey: Bottom Line

Best New Jersey Health Insurance: FAQ

Is health insurance required in New Jersey?

When is open enrollment in New Jersey?

Can you get free health insurance in New Jersey?

Our Review Methodology

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