Obtaining Health Care or Medical Insurance coverage in New Jersey |
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To obtain coverage, we suggest you follow these steps:
Since coverage applied for during November as part of an Open Enrollment Period application does not take effect until the following January 1, the payment of the first premium either by check, or pre-authorized checking account deduction, may be delayed until December, even though you are applying in November. Upon receiving your application and premium payment, your carrier will send you an identification card and a policy or contract which will indicate the effective date of your coverage. (Check the enrollment materials regarding the effective date of coverage. The effective date of coverage generally depends on the date of receipt of the completed application materials and premium payment.) If the ID card is not provided prior to the effective date of coverage, the carrier may suggest that you use a copy of your application as evidence of coverage. You cannot be covered under two individual plans at the same time. If you currently have individual coverage, you must notify the current carrier, within 30 days after the new coverage takes effect, that you want to terminate the current coverage. The current coverage will be retroactively terminated as of the day before the new coverage takes effect. You cannot be covered under both an individual plan and a group plan. If you are currently covered under a group plan and are applying for an individual plan during the November Open Enrollment Period, that individual coverage takes effect on January 1. You must terminate the current group coverage no later than December 31. |