GLEN ROCK, N.J. (Bergen County) — Standing at Rock Ridge Pharmacy on Thursday, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) warned that New Jersey families face “critical deadlines” for health care and food assistance as open enrollment begins and federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits are set to lapse Friday. Gottheimer announced new steps to push for an end to the federal government shutdown and to protect families from surging health care costs.
“With both open enrollment for health insurance starting and federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits set to lapse tomorrow, my new action will help ensure families can continue to receive critical food assistance and afford health care costs by lowering premiums,” Gottheimer said.
According to Gottheimer, families purchasing health insurance through the Affordable Care Act marketplace will see an average 18% increase in premiums next year. Roughly 466,000 New Jersey residents who rely on federal premium tax credits could face a 175% average increase, with a Bergen County family of four paying over $20,000 more annually. Seniors, he added, will see costs rise by an average of $1,860 per year.
Nationally, more than 4 million Americans — including 180,000 in New Jersey — risk losing their health care entirely if the tax credits expire. SNAP benefits, which support more than 800,000 New Jersey residents and nearly 42 million people nationwide, are also in jeopardy as the shutdown stalls federal funding.
Gottheimer’s New Actions
To address these challenges, Gottheimer announced several steps aimed at providing relief and urging federal action:
- Launching a new online portal: North Jersey residents can report how rising health care costs and the shutdown are affecting them at gottheimer.house.gov/shutdownsurvey.
- Calling on congressional leadership: Gottheimer said he will write to both House and Senate leaders to stress how North Jersey families are being impacted by the expiration of Affordable Care Act premium tax credits and the government shutdown.
- Urging the Trump administration to act: He called on the administration to use available funds from SNAP’s contingency reserve to continue providing food assistance for November.
- Pushing for bipartisan negotiations: Gottheimer called on President Trump to meet with congressional leaders “to negotiate a deal to reopen the government, fund SNAP, and stop the expiration of the ACA credits.”
“Families are struggling enough — they shouldn’t have to choose between putting food on the table and paying for health care,” Gottheimer said. “It’s time for Washington to get its act together and protect the people we serve.”
