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Away From Home Care Program

Access to care for members who are away from home

Horizon BCBSNJ offers the Away From Home Care Program at no additional cost for members enrolled in certain Horizon HMO, Horizon EPO and OMNIA Health Plans. The Away From Home Care Program gives eligible members in-network access to participating doctors, facilities and other health care professionals throughout the country.

Who is eligible?

The Away From Home Care Program is for members who will be outside the state of New Jersey for at least 90 consecutive days, but no more than 180 days. Eligible members include those who are:

  • Students living away from home1
  • Long-term travelers
  • Families living apart

You must renew after 6 to 12 months, depending on your eligibility.

Who is not eligible?

  • Members who are traveling or living outside the United States
  • Members with health plans that include out-of-network benefits or BlueCard coverage
  • Medicare Advantage members
  • Medicare Supplement members

There is no additional cost to participate in the Away From Home Care Program.

How to Apply for the Away From Home Care Program

Eligible members must apply for participation in the Away From Home Care Program by submitting a completed application within 30 days before the effective date. You can submit your application by:

Email:    Awayfromhomecare@HorizonBlue.com

            Mail:      Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey
                          Away From Home Care Program
                          Three Penn Plaza East, PP-08F
                          Newark, NJ 07105-2200

            Fax:       1-973-274-4275

Please remember to include:

  • The full name of the member who will be living outside of New Jersey. This may not be the subscriber of the policy.
  • The complete physical address on the application, including the student’s room number or suite number. We do not accept PO Boxes.

What happens next?

Away From Home Care is not a guaranteed benefit and is only available if the local Blue plan participates. Members can call Horizon BCBSNJ’s dedicated Away From Home Care Program team at 1-973-466-8091, Monday through Wednesday and Friday, from 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Eastern Time (ET) and Thursday, from 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., ET, to find out if the state you or your dependent is going to participates in the program

Once we receive the completed and signed application, the member’s information will be sent to the other state’s Blue Plan² for processing. It generally takes about 10 business days for the application to be processed. The member will then get a member ID card and other welcome materials from that state’s Blue Plan (Host Plan).

Your coverage
Once enrolled in the program, the member may be required to select a Primary Care Physician (PCP) from the local Blue Plan’s network.

Benefits provided through the Away From Home Care Program are only for medical care and may not be exactly the same as the member’s Horizon BCBSNJ benefits. Members should read all Away From Home Care materials provided.

Read our FAQs for more information.

In New Jersey temporarily?
If you’re traveling to New Jersey, and will be hosted by Horizon BCBSNJ, you can read our Away From Home Care member handbook..

¹ College students will be approved on a school year basis and will be required to re-enroll each year.
² Not all states and counties participate in the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association’s Away From Home Care Program.