Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey Rolls out Lower Premiums and Virtual

One-On-One Assistance for 2021 Open Enrollment

Premiums for 2021 reduced for some of Horizon’s popular plans

(Newark, NJ, October 29, 2020) – Consumers shopping for coverage during the 2021 Open Enrollment period will find that premiums for Horizon BCBSNJ’s OMNIA Silver plans – in which nearly 80 percent of the company’s Individual Market members are enrolled – are, on average, nearly unchanged compared to 2020 rates. For 2021, the OMNIA Silver Value product is 2.3 percent lower.  And for consumers with the next most popular Horizon metallic plan – OMNIA Bronze — premiums are 2.1 percent below current rates. For approximately 300,000 New Jersey consumers who purchase health insurance on their own each year, the annual open enrollment period begins on Sunday, November 1. This year’s sign-up window extends to January 31, 2021, and also features supplemental financial assistance from the State of New Jersey that can significantly reduce monthly premiums.

For 2021, Horizon BCBSNJ offerings will include its most popular metallic products, including OMNIA Silver, OMNIA Silver Value, and OMNIA SILVER HSA, as well as OMNIA Bronze and OMNIA Gold. Horizon BCBSNJ also offers two broad network Advantage plans for the 2021 enrollment year, as well as a Catastrophic product.

The vast majority of consumers qualify for financial assistance. In 2020, 87 percent of consumers who bought their coverage through the federal marketplace received some amount of financial assistance that lowered their premium.  For those getting help, the average premium was less than $100 a month.  This year, a new law enacted by Governor Murphy extends additional financial assistance from the State to many of these same consumers.

“Consumers are seeing some of the lowest premiums from Horizon and most helpful financial assistance from the government since Affordable Care Act plans were first introduced in 2014,” said Michael Considine, Vice President, Consumer, Small Group Market & Mid-Size Markets for Horizon BCBSNJ. “Horizon is offering these rates in combination with quality coverage, benefits and service that is unrivaled by any other company in the New Jersey market.”

For the third time in four years, Horizon received the J.D. Power Award for the highest member satisfaction ranking among Commercial Health Plans in New Jersey. According to J.D. Power’s 2020 U.S. Member Health Plan Study, Horizon BCBSNJ received the highest ranking in New Jersey for the key factors of coverage and benefits, costs, provider choice and customer service.

To ensure that consumers get the attention and service they need to make an informed coverage decision – and do so safely in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic – Horizon is offering virtual and personalized counselling. Consumers can schedule a one-on-one virtual appointment with a customer service by visiting HorizonBlue.com/MeetOnline or calling 1-800-224-1234.

New Jerseyans are reminded that coverage isn’t optional.  In 2018, New Jersey enacted an “individual mandate” – requiring almost every state resident to have health insurance. This requirement remains in place, so if coverage isn’t gained through an employer or a resident doesn’t qualify for Medicare or Medicaid, they must select a health plan during open enrollment or pay a penalty when paying filing New Jersey State income taxes.

About Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, the state’s oldest and largest health insurer is a tax-paying, not-for-profit health service corporation, providing a wide array of medical, dental, vision and prescription insurance products and services. Horizon BCBSNJ is leading the transformation of health care in New Jersey by working with doctors and hospitals to deliver innovative, patient-centered programs that reward the quality, not quantity, of care patients receive. Learn more at www.HorizonBlue.com. Horizon BCBSNJ is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association serving nearly 3.6 million members.

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