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Following in the footsteps of states like Vermont, Massachusetts, and Maine, a bi-partisan group of legislators unveiled a proposal this week aimed at converting New Jersey health insurance to a universal health care model.

The New York Times reports that the proposal would require all residents to have health care coverage within three years. Due to the state's own budgetary concerns, alongside what some call an impending recession, the universal New Jersey health insurance plan would avoid adding to the budget, and would instead try to redistribute federal and state dollars in a more efficient way.

With almost 1.4 million uninsured state residents in New Jersey - about 20% of the population - there is clearly the need for some kind of health care reform throughout the state.

However, not everyone has greeted the plan with open arms. Some fear that by making New Jersey health insurance mandatory, without lowering actual health care costs, employers will be forced to drop coverage for their employees completely.

But even if the legislation makes the July 1st deadline for the new state budget, it won't be until 2011 that the full impact of such a move can be ascertained. Until then, state residents need to keep shopping around for the best insurance they can afford.