Number of uninsured NJ residents expected to reach new low

The number of uninsured residents in New Jersey is expected to reach a new low following the third annual sign-up for health coverage through the Affordable Care Act.

The Record reports that NJ FamilyCare, a program providing Medicaid coverage for the state's poorest residents, now covers 428,000 more people than it did prior to its expansion three years ago.

Federal officials say 288,573 New Jersey residents chose a health plan on HealthCare.gov as of Feb. 1, the end of the three-month open-enrollment period. That figure represents a 13 percent increase over the same period last year.

HealthCare.gov CEO Kevin Counihan says 700,000 people signed up for coverage during the last week before the deadline.

Overall, 12.7 million people nationwide chose a health plan or were automatically reenrolled.

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