02 Jan My daughter’s health care is going from $0 to $699. What to do?

Q. I’m trying to help my adult daughter navigate the health care system. She just received a letter from AmeriHealth, her current provider through the Marketplace. Her premiums are going from $0 to $669 a month! I understand this is a problem for many. Do you have any suggestions of what to do?
— Concerned mother

A. We’re sorry to hear about that sudden increase in premiums.

There is a lot of uncertainty as federal subsidies end.

To start, she should work with AmeriHealth to understand why there was that large of a premium increase, said Matt Rembish, a certified financial planner with OneDigital in Boonton.

Are federal subsidies the sole reason? Was there a change in income which caused state subsidies to go away?

You can check if she qualifies for special New Jersey programs that can assist with cost. These include:

· New Jersey Health Plan Savings (NJHPS): It decreases the cost of premiums for individuals who make less than $93,900 per year or under $192,900 for a family of four.

· NJ Family Care: This is New Jersey’s Medicaid program. If your income is at or below 138% of the federal poverty level ($1,800/month or $2,433 for a family of two), then you qualify for this program. It’s a publicly funded health insurance program with free/low cost coverage.

If these programs are not an option, use the Get Covered NJ Shop and Compare tool to see other options available, Rembish said.

“Sometimes switching to a similar plan with a different network or deductible can cut costs,” he said. “When shopping plans, consider total cost, not just premium. If she is going to move to a lower premium plan, check deductible and out-of-pocket maximums to avoid surprises.”

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This story was originally published in January 2026. 

NJMoneyHelp.com presents certain general financial planning principles and advice, but should never be viewed as a substitute for obtaining advice from a personal professional advisor who understands your unique individual circumstances.