New Jersey’s health status

New Jersey is, according to the United Health Foundation, the 18th healthiest state in the country. It’s good news for the residents of this state, that last year had peaked at an all-time-low ranking in America’s Health Rankings, in 21st spot. Up three places, New Jersey has managed to work and improve some of the issues that were dragging them down. In the past year, the percentage of children in poverty decreased from 12.5 percent to 10.7 percent of persons under age 18. Also, public health funding was increased, which has helped tremendously.

Other strengths for this state are the low infant mortality rate (at 5 deaths per 1,000 live births, it’s the second lowest in the nation), a high rate of high school graduation (with 85.1% of incoming ninth graders who graduate within four years), a low percentage of children in poverty at 10.7 percent of persons under age 18 (now the third lowest in the US), a low occupational fatalities rate (at 3.6 deaths per 100,000 workers) and ready access to primary care with 142.9 primary care physicians per 100,000 population. Cardiovascular-related deaths and Cancer-related deaths have also lowered slightly, which is good news for this state.

There is still room for improvement with this state. Challenges include a high incidence of infectious disease (at 22.2 cases per 100,000 population, this rate lowered but continues to be one of the worst in the nation), a high rate of preventable hospitalizations with 83.9 discharges per 1,000 Medicare enrollees (unchanged from 2007), and a high rate of uninsured population at 15.6%, a percentage that continues to go up, as it has increased 0.6% in the past year, and 2.5% in the past five years. Poor Mental Health Days and Poor Mental Physical Days have also increased in the past year.

New Jersey is at a good spot nationwide in health terms, and despite a few issues that need to be worked on, the outcome seems to be good for this state. As long as they continue to work the way they have been, and they regain accessibility of its system by lowering the percentage of the people in New Jersey that lacks Health Insurance, things will continue to be this good, if not better.

New Jersey health insurance information

In New Jersey, 84.4% of the citizens in New Jersey have Health Insurance. Despite the improving government funding, this percentage is dropping (it was 86.5 in 2003), which means that although New Jersey has worked hard towards offering an accessible health plan to its citizens, they need to revise their plans and access, because with 15.6% of the population in New Jersey having no Health Insurance, a percentage that seems to be increasing, things are in need of improvement. The percentage of employers offering health insurance to employees is good, with 69.3% percent of employers offering health Insurance plans, and this percentage has been going up since 2003, a good thing. About 78.6% of workers take the Health Insurance plans offered by their employers.

Despite the average public health funding in New Jersey, the state has a excellent rate of primary care physicians for the population, with 146.2 physicians per 100,000 population. New Jersey’s health care system is in a good position within the country because not only it’s accessible, but also effective and adequate. The percentage of the New Jersey population that could get medical care when needed is 88.1%. The patients served by FQHCs as a percent of population under 200% FPL stands at 15.1%.

If coverage has been denied for you, there are still some options you can check:

Best health plans in New Jersey (according to US News)

The prestigious US News ranks yearly the best Health Plans in the country, polling and evaluating consumer assessment, prevention, and treatment offered by all plans. They gather information and rank the results, nation-wide and state-wide, showing on their results the best plans available for New Jersey as well. The Rankings reflect results of consumer surveys and success in preventing and treating illness compared with average health plan.

Not only they rank Commercial Plans, they also rank Medicare or Medicaid plans, covering and evaluating as many plans as possible. If you want to browse their list of best-of, please go to the US News Health Plans Search site.

Get involved

If you are concerned about New Jersey’s health care issues and want to speak out, your safest bet is to contact your federal official, either via phone or fax. Postal Mail is not recommended, since it takes too long, and e-mail might not be seen. Also, make sure you communicate with the right Member of the Senate and/or Congress.

If you want more guidance and tips on how to contact and communicate with your representatives, there are various sites on the internet that can help on how to contact your elected officials.

Contact the White House PHONE: toll free 1-800-671-7887 (ask for the Comment Line) FAX: 1 202-456-2461 E-MAIL:comments@whitehouse.gov State officials: New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine PO Box 001 Trenton, NJ 08625 PHONE: 609-292-6000 Senator Frank Lautenberg PHONE: 202-224-3224 (DC office) FAX: 202-228-4054 (DC office) Web Form: Contact Form Senator Robert Menendez PHONE: 202-224-4744 (DC office) FAX: 202-224-228-2197 (DC office) Web Form: Contact Form Official New Jersey health insurance information New Jersey Health and Human Services — Health Insurance section Provides information health insurance for citizen’s of New Jersey. NJ FamilyCare Low cost or no cost health insurance program from the State of New Jersey kids and certain low-income parents.		Recent New Jersey health insurance news Health Insurance is always a hot topic for discussion, since it involves the citizens of New Jersey and their welfare. Here are some of the latest news and updates on the current issues and news related to Health and Health Insurance for New Jersey: