Bill is first step toward health insurance for everyone

With the passage of S-1557, the New Jersey Legislature took a big first step toward health care reform in New Jersey.

S-1557 mandates that New Jersey's children have health insurance and sets forth market reforms that will bring younger people into the individual insurance market. The bill will expand the New Jersey Family Care health insurance to help cover more children and their families.

Thanks to two important amendments, this bill ensures that health coverage will still be affordable for our state's low-income families.

The first amendment creates a financial hardship exemption from Family Care premiums for families who cannot afford them.

The second amendment expands an insurance premium rate cap to older individuals in the health insurance market.

We thank this bill's prime sponsors, Sen. Joseph Vitale (D-19), assemblymen Louis Greenwald (D-6), Herb Conaway (D- 7) and Neil Cohen (D-20) and all New Jersey legislators for taking the initial leap and addressing the pressing issue of health care reform.

S-1557, however, is only the first step of many. Individuals, businesses and elected officials must continue to cooperate and work together to reach our ultimate goal: affordable, comprehensive health insurance for all.
Sy Larson
AARP New Jersey State President
Princeton