Health insurance in Essex County, New Jersey

Reviewed September 4, 2026 · 2024 Census data

Source: US Census Small Area Health Insurance Estimates, 2024 release. Income bands are measured against the federal poverty level.

How many here a premium tax credit would reach

Essex County has 46,224 uninsured residents earning inside the premium tax credit range, 49% of its uninsured total. That is near the 51% national median. Within that income band itself, 18.2% are uninsured — roughly one in 5 of the people the credit was designed for.

Coverage is worse here than across the state

13.2% of Essex County's 719,107 under-65 residents have no health coverage — 94,796 people. That is well above New Jersey as a whole at 9.0% — 4.2 points above its own state, and puts Essex County in the top quarter of the 3,143 counties measured nationally (742nd).

Who falls under the Medicaid line

31,031 of Essex County's uninsured — 33%, close to the 31% typical nationally — earn under $22,025 a year, which in New Jersey is Medicaid territory rather than marketplace territory.

Older residents here are better covered

15,112 people aged 50 to 64 in Essex County have no coverage, a rate of 9.5% — lower than the 13.2% across all under-65 residents here, which is the usual pattern — people in their fifties and early sixties tend to be more settled in employer coverage. Age-rated premiums make this the most expensive group to cover before Medicare.

Essex County against New Jersey

Essex County is the 2nd largest of the 19 New Jersey counties we publish. Its uninsured rate runs 4.2 points higher than New Jersey overall and its subsidy-band share matches the state. Coverage among 50 to 64 year olds is worse here than across New Jersey.

Counties of a similar size

With 18% of the subsidy band still uninsured here, how the credit is calculated is the useful place to start. Other New Jersey counties.