TL/DR –
U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer has announced new measures to protect families in New Jersey from rising healthcare costs and the potential lapse of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. Gottheimer revealed an online portal for residents to report increased insurance premiums, and plans to write to congressional leaders to highlight the impact of expiring Affordable Care Act premium tax credits and the government shutdown. He also urged the Trump administration to use funds from SNAP’s contingency fund to ensure food assistance for November, and called for negotiations to reopen the government, fund SNAP, and stop expiration of ACA credits.
Gottheimer Announces New Action to Protect Families from Rising Health Care Costs and Preserve SNAP Benefits
On October 31, 2025, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5), at Rock Ridge Pharmacy in Glen Rock, highlighted the approaching deadlines for health care and food assistance. Gottheimer detailed new initiatives intended to prevent a government shutdown and defend Jersey families from escalating costs.
With both healthcare insurance open enrollment starting and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits at risk of termination, Gottheimer’s scheme aims to preserve essential food aid and make healthcare costs more manageable by reducing premiums.
The average New Jersey family signing up for insurance through the Affordable Care Act will face an 18% increase in their health insurance premiums this year end. However, for 466,000 New Jersey individuals relying on premium tax credits, the boost will average 175%.
New Measures to Extend ACA Tax Credits, Safeguard SNAP, & Reopen the Government:
- New Online Portal to Report Health Insurance Premium Increases: Gottheimer launched an online portal allowing North Jersey families to communicate how the shutdown and climbing health care costs are impacting them.
- Requesting Congressional Leadership to Address This Crisis: Gottheimer will be writing to congressional leadership to highlight the impact of the crisis on North Jersey families.
- Urging the Trump Administration to Keep SNAP Running: Gottheimer is pushing the Trump Administration to use available funds from SNAP’s contingency fund to guarantee food assistance resources are available for November.
- President Trump & Congress Must Negotiate a Deal: Gottheimer is asking the President to immediately engage with bipartisan leaders in Congress to discuss a deal to reopen the government, fund SNAP, and prevent the expiration of the ACA credits.
Watch today’s press conference here.
At the conference, Gottheimer was joined by Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco, NJ Assemblywoman Lisa Swain (LD-38), Glen Rock Councilman Seth Rosenstein, NJ Department of Banking & Insurance Commissioner Justin Zimmerman, Kerry McKean of the New Jersey Hospital Association, and Rock Ridge Pharmacy owner Vishnu Patel.
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