As thousands of New Jersey residents face losing coverage or finding themselves under-insured due to sweeping federal policy changes and rising premiums, the New Jersey for HealthCare Coalition is pointing residents toward a vital online resource: a comprehensive, free-to-use health care database.
Available at njforhealthcare.org/NJHealthAccess.html, the searchable tool connects uninsured and under-insured individuals with local healthcare options statewide.
Finding accessible care statewide
The database includes information on community health centers, free clinics, Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), and hospital charity care programs. Users can easily navigate the platform without creating an account or subscribing, filtering options by county and specific service types—including primary care, pediatrics, OB/GYN, and mental health services. Access is available regardless of a patient’s citizenship status.
“Countless New Jerseyans are losing healthcare through no fault of their own,” Laura Waddell, Healthcare Program Director for New Jersey Citizen Action (NJCA), which convenes the coalition, said. “But they can find free or low-cost care available through this database, which covers our entire state. We urge anyone who has lost insurance or had to settle for less robust coverage to explore the options here.”
A growing health care crunch
The rollout of the database comes as New Jersey experiences a sharp rise in the number of residents lacking adequate coverage. State reports indicate that tens of thousands of residents have dropped coverage since January amid skyrocketing premiums.
Additional regulatory pressures threaten coverage for hundreds of thousands more. State officials estimate that thousands of noncitizens could lose NJ FamilyCare/Medicaid access, while up to 300,000 residents face potential coverage termination due to stringent new federal requirements mandating at least 80 hours a month of work, school, or volunteering. Furthermore, specific groups of lawful refugees, noncitizens, and humanitarian parolees face impending cuts to healthcare coverage heading into 2027.
While pointing to the database as an immediate lifeline, Waddell stressed that long-term legislative solutions are urgently required to combat the crisis.
To help residents navigate these complex regulatory shifts, NJCA is hosting a free informational webinar on Sept. 30 at 7:00 PM focusing on what the new federal work requirements mean for NJ FamilyCare and Medicaid beneficiaries.
Residents looking to access the database or learn more about the New Jersey for HealthCare Coalition’s advocacy can visit njforhealthcare.org/NJHealthAccess.html.
