Short-Term Health Insurance in New Jersey (2026)
Need coverage for a few months? Here’s what short-term health insurance looks like in New Jersey right now, and the alternatives that usually work better.
Short-term coverage in New Jersey
Short-term plans are not effectively available in New Jersey
New Jersey prohibits the sale of short-term limited duration health plans, and the state insurance department has said federal rule changes do not override that ban. Federal regulators said in 2025 they would not prioritize enforcing the 2024 four-month limit, but that has no effect in New Jersey because state law blocks these plans entirely.
Short-term health plans cannot be sold in New Jersey. The state has blocked them since its individual market rules took effect in 1993, and its insurance department has said federal changes do not override that ban and that it will take action against anyone marketing them here.
If someone offers you a short-term plan as a New Jersey resident, treat it as a warning sign. The state has warned about limited plans sold as if they were full coverage, which people sometimes discover only after a claim is denied.
Instead, look at an ACA plan through Get Covered New Jersey during open enrollment or a special enrollment period, state continuation or COBRA if you just left a job, or NJ FamilyCare if your income is low. A licensed agent can help you compare these.
What short-term plans are, and aren’t
Short-term plans are not ACA-compliant health insurance. Where they’re sold, insurers can ask about your health, decline to cover pre-existing conditions, and leave out benefits like maternity care, mental health care or prescriptions. They don’t qualify for premium tax credits.
They can make sense for a healthy person filling a short, known gap. For anyone with an ongoing condition, or who might qualify for subsidies, a Marketplace plan is usually the better choice.
New Jersey questions
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No. Short-term limited duration plans cannot be sold in New Jersey, and the state insurance department has said federal rules do not override that ban. It will act against carriers or brokers that market them to residents.
Not in New Jersey. Federal agencies said in 2025 they would not prioritize enforcing the four-month limit from the 2024 rule, but New Jersey law prohibits these plans regardless of federal policy.
Look at a Get Covered New Jersey plan through a special enrollment period, state continuation or COBRA from your last job, or NJ FamilyCare if your income is low. Each of these counts as coverage for the state mandate.
Sources
Reviewed October 2026. Rules and prices change every year; a licensed agent will confirm what applies to you.
- N.J.S.A. 17B:27A-27, small employer continuation (FindLaw)
- NJ DOBI: Short-term limited duration plans cannot be sold in New Jersey (Oct 31, 2018)
- Groom Law Group: Non-Enforcement Relief for Short-Term Limited Duration Insurance
- NJ Department of Human Services: NJ FamilyCare for Adults
- Get Covered New Jersey: When Can I Buy Health Insurance?
- NJ DOBI: Order against Aliera and Trinity Healthshare, consumer warnings (Dec 23, 2020)
