TRENTON, N.J. (AP) - A Democratic senator on Monday plans to unveil a proposal to make health insurance accessible to all New Jerseyans.

Sen. Joseph Vitale said his plan would require all residents to have health coverage within three years.

About 1.4 million New Jerseyans now lack health insurance.

Vitale's plan involves state-administered health coverage for the uninsured and efforts to cut the cost of private insurance for small businesses and individuals.

``We need to seek out better ways to fund New Jersey's most sacred obligations,'' said Vitale, D-Middlesex. ``The soaring costs of health care in New Jersey and around the nation are causing real hardships, not just for government-administered health care programs but also for private citizens who fear losing their health benefits more than being a victim of a terrorist attack.''

Vitale said the plan would be implemented in stages, with the first targeting children, low-income working parents and insurance reforms.

The Senate health committee chairman said the first phase would not involve any additional cost for the state. Instead, it would rely on money used for the Medicaid and NJ FamilyCare programs that provide health care for the poor.

The state is spending $3.5 billion per year on Medicaid and $535 million per year on NJ FamilyCare.

Vitale will be joined Monday by key lawmakers such as Assembly Budget Chairman Lou Greenwald, D-Camden, and Assemblyman Neil Cohen, D-Union, who chairs an insurance committee.

Democratic Gov. Jon S. Corzine has said he backs the concept, but questions whether the state can afford it and contends health insurance is a federal responsibility.

Massachusetts passed universal health insurance coverage in 2006. It requires all adults to obtain insurance coverage or pay a penalty, unless they prove they can't afford it, but bids for coverage there have come in far higher than expected.

The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, which tracks health trends, reports 15 percent of New Jerseyans lack health insurance. Of the 1.4 million residents without coverage, about 275,000 are children.

03/17/08 09:34 © Copyright The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained In this news report may not be published, broadcast or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.