Interactive Map: Health Insurance Coverage

By Collean O'Dea, NJ Spotlight

Mapping Health Insurance Coverage

Click for NJ Spotlight's interactive map of health insurance coverage across New Jersey.

Earlier this week, the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments on the groundbreaking national healthcare reform law signed by President Obama in 2010. Many provisions have already taken effect, including greater coverage for pre-existing conditions, insurance coverage until age 26 under parents’ plans, and free preventive care -- including mammograms and colonoscopies. The most wide-reaching and controversial aspect, requiring most people to buy basic insurance, is set to become effective January 1, 2014.

The law’s impact will be felt in New Jersey, where 14.4 percent of people under age 65 -- senior citizens are covered by Medicare -- had no health insurance in 2009, the most recent year for which statistics were available, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The percentage of those uninsured more than doubles, to nearly 3 in 10, for those with incomes at or below 200 percent of the poverty level, or $21,700 for an individual.

Lower-income Hispanics are even most likely to be uninsured, with a rate of more than 60 percent for adult males living at 200 percent or less of the poverty level.

The rate of those insured also varies widely by county with, not surprisingly, wealthier counties having higher rates of insured residents. In Hunterdon County, about 93 percent of residents had health insurance, while in Hudson County, only 77 percent did.

Click on a county to see its overall health insurance coverage rate, as well as the rates for different incomes.