PATERSON, NJ – Today, U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. urged all Americans to use this short six-week open enrollment period to sign up for their 2019 health coverage and offered resources for help to do so. The marketplaces will be open from November 1st to December 15th, 2018.

“Today marks the beginning of open enrollment for healthcare coverage,” said Rep. Pascrell. “I strongly urge all New Jerseyans and all Americans to get covered. It’s not a matter of if, but when you will need health insurance. Regardless of your health status, take this opportunity to proactively safeguard yourself and your family for both needed and preventive healthcare. Please make use of the free resources available to you, and do not hesitate to reach out to my office if you need additional help navigating these resources.”

Donald Trump’s administration cut the open enrollment period in half, from three months in 2016 to six weeks in 2017 and again 2018. The Trump White House then cut the advertising budget for the health insurance enrollment period by 90 percent. The administration has slashed funding for navigators who help Americans sign up for health coverage by 79 percent since 2016. This move resulted in a $1.5 million decrease to New Jersey’s 2018 outreach efforts.

Despite the Trump administration’s attempts to destroy our nation’s health law and virtually eliminate coverage assistance, Rep. Pascrell is fighting tirelessly to uphold protections created by the Affordable Care Act and ensure every American has access to healthcare. The State of New Jersey has taken bold steps to fight back against Trump’s healthcare sabotage by working to protect our residents from skyrocketing healthcare costs and safeguarding protections for those with pre-existing conditions.

Free help is available for renewing or signing up for coverage. Additionally, most people qualify for financial assistance and coverage is more affordable than you think – last year, 8 in 10 marketplace shoppers found less than $75 monthly premiums. For those who want to talk through their benefits or health plan options with a trained professional, HealthCare.gov has a toll-free Call Center 1-800-318-2596 open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. New Jersey residents can also meet with an in-person enrollment assister by visiting https://Localhelp.HealthCare.gov, plugging in your zipcode, and calling one of the various organizations they provide in your area to make an appointment.

Below are some additional resources to navigate this process:

https://navigatorguide.georgetown.edu/

https://familiesusa.org/initiatives/enrollment-assister-resource-center-tools