Unclaimed Property Due Diligence Letter

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey is required by law to contact members, health care professionals and vendors who have been issued checks but have not cashed them by sending a letter to the payee at his or her last known address. State law also requires that after attempting to contact the owners with a due diligence letter, all checks that remain uncashed for specific periods of time must be sent to the state's Unclaimed Property Office.

Below are answers to questions you might have about the unclaimed property due diligence letter you received.

Q1. What is unclaimed property or funds?

A1. For this purpose, unclaimed property consists of funds or checks that are uncashed or
uncollected by the owner for a number of years.

Q2. I received a letter about unclaimed property. What does it mean and what should I do?

A2. A recent audit conducted by Horizon BCBSNJ shows you may have not cashed a check issued to you under the check number indicated on the letter. The letter provides the steps you need to take to either request the payment to be reissued to you or to decline it:

Complete the information requested on the form sent to you.
Make a copy for your records.
Mail the original in the self-addressed envelope provided.

Q3. What if I don’t have the self-addressed envelope?

A3. If you are missing the self-addressed envelope, please return the completed form to the vendor assisting Horizon BCBSNJ with unclaimed property at the following address:

Horizon BCBSNJ
Attn: KPMG LLP
303 Peachtree Street, Suite 2000
Atlanta, GA 30308

Q4. When does the completed form have to be returned?

A4. The completed form must be postmarked by the date specified in your letter. If we do not receive your completed form by that date, we will not be able to process it for you as we are required by law to send the money to the state government. The process of sending this property to the state is called escheatment.

You will then need to claim your funds directly from the state they were sent to. Because the state must load the data received from various different reporting companies, you may have to wait several months before the state can process your request.

Returned forms with a postmarked date that is the same as the date in the letter will be accepted and re-issued as requested.

Q5. Does the letter I received about unclaimed property mean I owe money to Horizon BCBSNJ?

A5. No. This letter does not mean you owe money to Horizon BCBSNJ. Horizon BCBSNJ sent you the letter regarding unclaimed property or funds because our records show you have not cashed/deposited a check that we sent you on the date indicated in the letter.

Q6. Why am I just being notified about the payment?

A6. Horizon BCBSNJ initially processed the payment on the date listed on the letter. However, our records indicate that this payment was not cashed or deposited. We recently sent you the letter in an attempt to inform you and confirm if you have an interest in this property or these funds.

Q7. Why is my written response required?

A7. Your written response is required to prevent this check from being escheated (i.e., remitted to the state). As the owner, you must complete the requested information listed on the letter. An email or phone inquiry will not satisfy this requirement.

To ensure that this property is not remitted to the state, responses must be received in writing and delivered to the address listed on the letter and/or the self-addressed envelope by the date specified on your letter.

Q8. What if I never received the check?

A8. It is possible the original check was left uncashed because it was lost in the mail, had an incorrect address or was misplaced upon receipt. This notification is Horizon BCBSNJ’s final attempt to locate the owner and deliver these funds before they are sent to the state as required by law.

Q9. If my name has changed, how do I complete the form?

A9. If your name has changed, please send evidence documenting the name change, such as a marriage certificate, a divorce decree or an adoption record.

Q10. The payee is a business. How do I complete the form?

A10. When responding on behalf of a provider or business, please provide your name and title. If you are requesting an address change, please provide documentation, such as letterhead or a business card, and attach it to the completed form.

If the mailing address is different than what was on the letter, please select the “Check box if replacement check should be mailed to a different address” option on the letter and we will send the check to the new address indicated.

Q11. The payee is deceased. How do I complete the form?

A11. If the payee is deceased, you should request that we reissue the payment to the deceased payee. Then, present the reissued check to your bank with documentation that identifies you as the beneficiary or executor. You should bring a certified copy of the death certificate and a copy of one or more of the following documents: a will, trust, probate order, power of attorney or affidavit. If there is no estate, an affidavit can be obtained from your local Probate Court office.

Q12. What happens if I miss the deadline?

A12. We must receive your completed response postmarked by the date specified on your letter. If you submit a form postmarked after the date indicated in the letter, Horizon BCBSNJ is required by law to send the money to the state government. At that point, you will need to claim your funds directly from the state they were sent to.

Q13. Can you wire/electronically deposit the money due?

A13. No. We can only reissue a check. Please remember to return the completed form by the date indicated in the letter.

Q14. Can you overnight or otherwise expedite the payment?

A14. No. Once you return the completed form, please allow 10 to 12 weeks for a new check to be mailed to you.

Q15. Can a check be re-issued without the completed form?

A15. No. To have a check re-issued, the form must be mailed to Horizon BCBSNJ. If you are missing the self-addressed envelope, please return the letter to:

Horizon BCBSNJ
Attn: KPMG LLP
303 Peachtree Street, Suite 2000
Atlanta, GA 30308

Q16. I missed the deadline; can I still submit my form and have a new check re-issued?

A16. No. If you submit a form postmarked after the date indicated in the letter, Horizon BCBSNJ is required by law to send the money to the state government. At that point, you will need to submit a claim with the state that the original check was issued to. The state where the funds were escheated is the same state listed on the mailing address of the letter you received.

Q17. I have more questions. Whom can I contact?

A17. If you have further questions about the unclaimed property due diligence letter sent to you or if you need further details on a claim associated to this property, please contact the following:

Horizon BCBSNJ Member Services: 1-800-355-2583, Monday through Wednesday and Friday between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., Eastern Time (ET), or Thursday between 9 a.m. and
6 p.m., ET
Horizon BCBSNJ Member Services: Chat online by signing in to Member Online Services (Chat only available for current members. Not all members have access to all tools and features in Member Online Services.).
Horizon BCBSNJ Provider Services: Physician Services at 1-800-624-1110, Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Eastern Time (ET)

Y0090_EC001074A2_C

Horizon Insurance Company (“HIC”) contracts with CMS to offer HMO, HMO-POS, PPO and Part D Medicare plans. Enrollment in HIC Medicare products depends on contract renewal. Products are provided by HIC and Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, both of which are independent licensees of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. Communications are issued by Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey in its capacity as administrator of programs and provider relations for all its companies. The Blue Cross® and Blue Shield® names and symbols are registered marks of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. The Horizon® name and symbols are registered marks of Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey. © 2018 Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, Three Penn Plaza East, Newark, New Jersey 07105.