The New Jersey Community Healthcare Town Hall Was This Month. Here's What You Should Know:
Five Wards Media is your source for all things community. Find our recap of the New Jersey Black Empowerment Coalition's "Where Do We Go From Here?" Healthcare Town Hall below. We've got the topics covered, as well as resources shared from the event that every Newarker should have.
Here's what you missed:
The Greater Newark Health Care Coalition (GNHCC) provided community members with informational packets and resources, announcing the NJ Family Caring Housing Supports Program and offering reminder flyers to assist with NJ Family Care renewals. The Housing Supports Program is designed to support Medicaid recipients who are at risk of homelessness or experiencing housing instability. The initiative aims to improve health outcomes by helping members find and maintain stable housing, as well as fostering a stronger connection between the housing and healthcare ecosystems.
The GNHCC is a non-profit organization dedicated to achieving health equity for all residents in their service area of East Orange, Irvington, and Newark.
To update your contact information, at 1-800-701-0710.
Housing Support Program
80 Main Street, Suite 210, West Orange, NJ 07052
P: 973-322-0361 | E: info@greaternewarkhcc.org
Essex County Prosecutor's Office of Victim-Witness Advocacy provided Sexual Violence Prevention pamphlets discussing the myths and facts about Sexual Violence, the dangers of rape drugs, the difference between consent and coercion, dating and domestic violence, and recovery.
If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual violence, sexual discrimination, or sexual harassment ,contact the Essex County Prosecutor's Office of Victim-Witness Advocacy for support.
Essex County Prosecutor's Office of Victim-Witness Advocacy
P: 973-621-4689 | 50 West Market St, 3rd Floor| njecpo.org
Food Insecurity Resources | Find Food Near You!
New Jersey Citizen Action | Changes to Your Healthcare in New Jersey You Should Know
- Up to 350,000 will lose coverage in New Jersey
- As of July 4, 2025
- Cuts to Reproductive Health after a one-year pause, implementation restarts in 2026
- Cap on new Provider Taxes
- January 1, 2027
- Work requirements – mandate enrollees to work 80 hours a month, 80 hours of volunteer work, or enroll in School (for enrollees without children and parents with children over 13 years old)
- Eligibility reviews every 6 months for the Medicaid Expansion Population
- Retroactive Coverage: 30 days for expansion, 60 days for traditional
- October 1, 2028
- $35 copay requirement for doctor visits for the expansion population
GetCoveredNJ/ACA Marketplace Changes
- 454,000 Premiums increase 110%
- As of August 25, 2025
- DACA recipients are ineligible to enroll in GetCoveredNJ/ACA marketplace Coverage
- 500 DACA recipients will be terminated from their ACA Marketplace plans
- Pauses year-round enrollment for low incomes < 200% Federal Poverty Level (restarts Aug 2026)
- January 1, 2026
- Removes eligibility for certain Lawfully Present Immigrants & Refugees
- Gender-affirming care is no longer covered as an essential benefit
- Eliminates Income Change Qualifying Life Event of Special Enrollment Period
- November 1, 2026
- Open Enrollment Period Cut to 9 weeks (Nov 1st - Dec 31st)
- New Income Verification Requirement
Medicare 50% of Seniors to Pay More for CarePrescription Drugs
- July 4, 2025
- Moratorium on minimum staffing standards for Long-Term Care Facilities (restarts Oct 2034)
- Moratorium on certain Medicare Savings Programs eligibility and enrollment provisions
- July 4, 2027
- Medicare coverage limitations for immigrants take effect
Immigrant Access To Health Care: More Than 1.5 Million At Risk
- Pending— HHS Ban on Undocumented Individuals Accessing Health Care at Federally Qualified Health Centers
- October 1, 2026
- Up to 25,000 Refugee FamilyCare Victims of Trafficking & Domestic Violence will lose NJ FamilyCare
FEDERAL DOLLARS FUND THE MAJORITY OF THESE PROGRAMS. ANY CUTS TO FEDERAL FUNDING WILL BE DETRIMENTAL!
Emergency Rescue Mortgage Assistance | Mortgage Assistance is Available
The Emergency Rescue Mortgage Assistance [ERMA] program provides financial assistance to eligible homeowners who have experienced a significant decrease in income or an increase in expenses due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Program Overview:
- Up to $35,000 per household for expenses, which may include:
- Mortgage reinstatement
- Escrow shortages
- Delinquent property taxes
- Municipal or property tax liens
- Mortgage payments, including principal, interest, taxes, and homeowners' insurance
Eligibility:
- To qualify for assistance, a homeowner must:
- Own and occupy an eligible one-to-four unit primary residence
- Have experienced a COVID-19-related financial hardship, and have been unable to remain current on mortgage and property taxes as of January 2020
Next Steps:
- Visit www.njhousing.gov
- To apply for the ERMA program
- To find a housing counselor near you for free counseling and ERMA application assistance
- If you need additional assistance, call 1-855-647-7700
ERMA is a federally-funded program administered by the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency.
A Better Life Wellness Center | Community Wellness Center
This community wellness center team is trained to provide person-first, recovery-focused, and wellness-driven support to all center members to help maintain an inviting and supportive environment for all who utilize these services.
At Better Life, you can join meetings with the following organizations, to name a few:
- Domestic Violence Ends Today
- Pool School
- Employment Training
- Narcotics Anonymous
- Let's Talk About It
Better Life supports medical and mental health services, legal aid, ID applications, and social services benefits. Their own services include:
- Innovative Wellness Groups
- Individual Peer Support
- Links to local social services
- Wellness and Recovery Education
- Community building events
- Leadership and cultural diversity training
- Peer employment support
Ask a wellness mentor for an application for membership the next time you pass the center!
101 14th Ave, Newark, NJ, 07103 | P: 862-229-1400
Follow the community advocates and panelists featured in the Healthcare town Hall on Instagram: @ambarellabeauty , @njcainc , @niahopecenter , @perinatal_equity , @njdeptofhealth
Thanks to the New Jersey Black Empowerment Coalition for hosting an informative, FREE, and comprehensive Healthcare Town Hall.
New Jersey Black Empowerment Coalition | NJBEC
"Civic Education, Policy Education, and Vote Education Rooted in Racial Justice"
Their mission is to educate key stakeholders and the broader public about racial policies in order to increase civic and voter participation in achieving sustainable change.
www.njbec.org | social@njbec.org