30:4D-6e. Uninsured, ineligible persons may purchase health care coverage

a. Any person who is not eligible for medical assistance pursuant to P.L.1968, c.413 (C.30:4D-1 et seq.) who is employed full-time or part-time and does not have health insurance coverage provided by his employer or by his spouse's employer, if any, or who cannot afford to purchase health insurance coverage that may be offered by his employer or his spouse's employer, if any, shall be eligible to purchase health care coverage through the Garden State Health Plan operated by the Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services in the Department of Human Services.

b. A small employer, as defined by the Commissioner of Human Services, who has not provided or offered to provide health insurance coverage anytime during the 12-month period immediately preceding the effective date of coverage pursuant to this section, shall be eligible to purchase health care coverage for its employees through the Garden State Health Plan operated by the Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services in the Department of Human Services.

c. The Commissioner of Human Services shall design one or more plans of benefits for employees and small employers who wish to purchase health care coverage through the Garden State Health Plan. The commissioner shall establish a schedule of premiums for enrollment in the plan, which shall ensure that the premiums charged are adequate to fund the costs of the benefits provided by the plan to persons not otherwise eligible for medical assistance under P.L.1968, c.413 (C.30:4D-1 et seq.).

d. The commissioner shall make the purchase of health care coverage through the Garden State Health Plan available to employees and small employers within one year of the effective date of P.L.1991, c.187 (C.26:2H-18.24 et al.).

e. Nothing in this section shall be construed to include the Garden State Health Plan as a health maintenance organization in any other provision of law regarding the offering or availability of coverage by a health maintenance organization.

L.1991,c.187,s.45.