Advocate for Adjunct Health Care

Background

Working with our adjunct faculty union colleagues across the state, we’ve compiled a detailed report for lawmakers and other interested parties based on the recently completed statewide adjunct healthcare survey. You can read the full report here.

Key findings from the healthcare survey are:

  • Nearly half of all respondents (48%) indicated that they had postponed or skipped healthcare treatments, or chosen cheaper treatments than recommended. 
  • 7% reported cutting pills in half or skipping doses of prescribed medications.
  • Almost 5% had no health insurance during the previous 12 months, and about 9% had a gap or were uninsured. This rate among NJ’s adjunct faculty is higher than the AFT national survey in 2022, which showed 3.1% of adjunct faculty were uninsured.
  • 41% of those with insurance indicated that their overall coverage was either “Difficult to Afford” (28%) or “Very Unaffordable” (13%).

Our suggested amendments aim to substantially change the credit threshold at which adjunct faculty would be eligible for state health benefits—down from 24 credits to 12 credits.

Call Your Elected Officials

Call your legislators and urge them to amend S177/A3118 to increase fair healthcare access for adjuncts in NJ.

Senator Joseph Cryan

Office: (908) 624-0880

​​https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/legislative-roster/406/senator-cryan

Assemblyman Craig Coughlin 

Office: (732) 855-7441

https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/legislative-roster/319/assemblyman-coughlin

Governor Phil Murphy

Office: 609-292-6000

Talking Points for Calling Legislators:

1.  Introduction:

Hello, my name is [Your Name], and I am an adjunct faculty member at Rutgers University. I am calling to urge you to amend and pass S177/A3118, the bill for affordable adjunct healthcare.

2.  Key Issues:

  • Nearly half of all adjuncts in New Jersey have postponed or skipped healthcare treatments due to cost.
  • Almost 5% of adjuncts had no health insurance last year, with 9% experiencing gaps in coverage.
  • 41% of insured adjuncts find their coverage difficult or very unaffordable.

3.  Proposed Solution:

Amend S177/A3118 so the credit threshold for adjunct faculty healthcare eligibility is lowered  24 credits to 12 credits per year.

4.  Impact on Quality of Education:

  • This change will make healthcare accessible to many adjuncts who currently cannot afford it.
  • Affordable healthcare for adjuncts will ensure we can focus on providing quality education without worrying about our health. Healthier faculty means more consistent and effective teaching for our students.

5.  Budgetary Choices:

  • The failure to offer affordable health insurance is a budgetary choice, not an inevitability.
  • Investing in adjunct faculty healthcare is an investment in the quality of education and the well-being of educators.
  • Adjunct Faculty working at multiple state and county colleges already meet ACA thresholds for coverage from their employer(s) but do not receive health insurance benefits 

6.  Call to Action:

I urge you to amend and pass S177/A3118 in this legislative session. Adjunct faculty deserve the same access to healthcare benefits as full-time faculty.

7.  Closing:

Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to your support for this essential legislation.

Call Script:

Hello, my name is [Your Name], and I am an adjunct faculty member at Rutgers University. I am calling to urge you to amend bills S177/A3118 for affordable adjunct healthcare.  Nearly half of all adjuncts in New Jersey have postponed or skipped healthcare treatments due to cost. Affordable healthcare for adjunct faculty  will ensure we can focus on providing quality education without worrying about our health. Retain the talent before it’s too late. I urge you to prioritize and pass adjunct healthcare in this legislative session! Adjunct faculty deserve the same access to healthcare benefits as full-time faculty. Thank you for your time and consideration.

If you want to get more involved in our Legislative Committee, email Thomas Paul Raggio at tomraggio@gmail.com, or indicate your interest by filling out our interest form here.