Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey announces premium payment extension for members who have enrolled for coverage beginning January 1, 2014

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey (BCBSNJ) announced today that it will, again, extend the time period for members, who enrolled for individual coverage beginning on January 1, 2014, to pay their first month’s premium and make their health insurance coverage effective. The current deadline for the payment of a member’s first month’s premium was today, Friday, January 10, 2014, but will be extended by one week to Friday, January 17, 2014. “Due to the extension of deadlines to purchase coverage and the significant increase in calls we are receiving, we want to provide our members purchasing individual coverage with additional time to make their first premium payment and make their coverage effective,” said Christopher M. Lepre, Senior Vice President of Market Business Units for Horizon BCBSNJ. “The rollout of the Affordable Care Act has been a challenge for consumers and with this extension of time to make their first month’s premium payment, we are trying to reduce stress on our members.” Horizon BCBSNJ noted that 56% of its enrollment from the federal Marketplace, which opened on October 1, 2013, took place from December 15 through December 24, 2013. This compressed time for enrollment has increased the call volume, in the past few weeks. Horizon BCBSNJ experienced its largest ever one-day call volume during the week of January 6, 2014. Horizon BCBSNJ members can make premium payments by mailing a check or money order to: Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, PO Box 10193, Newark, NJ 07101-3117, or by calling Member Services at 1-800-355-BLUE (2583), Monday through Wednesday and Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Members are also encouraged to go to HorizonViewPoints.com, the company’s blog, to obtain answers to frequently asked questions that may reduce the need to call Member Services. 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 services corporation, providing a wide array of medical, dental, and prescription insurance products and services. Horizon BCBSNJ is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, serving 3.7 million members with headquarters in Newark and offices in Wall, Mt. Laurel, and West Trenton. Learn more at www.HorizonBlue.com.