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New Jersey will have the tools to tackle its health care problem as a result of the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the Affordable Care Act, as the attached analysis by New Jersey Policy Perspective shows.

“All New Jerseyans scored a major victory today. For the first time, everyone now has a right to high quality, affordable comprehensive health coverage and will no longer have to worry about going bankrupt to pay for medical bills,” said Raymond Castro, senior policy analyst for New Jersey Policy Perspective. “Many New Jerseyans who don’t have health insurance will now be able to get it, while people who already have employer-based insurance will no longer have to worry about losing health coverage if they lose their job, as so many have. It also greatly benefits New Jersey’s small businesses, which increasingly have been dropping unaffordable insurance plans for their employees.”

Nearly 1 million New Jerseyans in every county (see breakdown in report) will receive Medicaid and federal subsidies to make health insurance more affordable; those subsidies will reduce the number of uninsured by nearly 800,000 in New Jersey – a number that could be substantially higher if the state does a good job with outreach and consumer assistance. As of 2010, there were over 1.3 million New Jerseyans without health insurance; that number has been growing at a much greater rate here than it has nationally (55% v. 35% since 2000).

New Jersey’s economy will also benefit from the Court’s decision. New Jerseyans will receive about $41 billion in federally funded Medicaid and federal subsidies over eight years, creating a ripple effect of economic growth that will create new jobs and opportunities for many New Jerseyans.

NOTE:

The author of the analysis, NJPP senior policy analyst Raymond Castro, will also be available to discuss the data, as well as the broader impact of the Supreme Court decision. Let me know if you'd like to speak with him.

In addition, he will be part of a conference call organized by the NJ for Health Care coalition at 1 p.m. Details for that call are below:

WHO:

Congressman Frank Pallone (NJ-6); Jeff Brown, NJ Citizen Action; Raymond Castro, NJ Policy Perspective; Kelly Conklin, Owner, Foley-Waite Associates; Main Street Alliance Member

WHAT:

Conference Call to discuss Supreme Court's ruling on the Affordable Care Act

WHEN:

Thursday, June 28 at 1 p.m.

CONFERENCE LINE: 866-740-1260

ACCESS CODE: 9663091