Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey has issued notices of termination of its contracts with the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and the University of Pennsylvania Health System (UPHS), which includes Pennsylvania Hospital, Penn Presbyterian Medical Center and the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.

Effective March 11, 2009, CHOP will no longer be a Horizon BCBSNJ network hospital. Beginning April 11, 2009, UPHS facilities will no longer be Horizon BCBSNJ network hospitals. This is big news.

• What does it really mean for those employers and their employees that have Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey?
• Will the termination apply to CHOP’s specialty care facilitates in New Jersey?
• What do members do if they are currently receiving treatment at CHOP or a UPHS facility?

Horizon BCBSNJ members generally incur lower out-of-pocket costs and realize maximum coverage benefits by using Horizon Hospital Network facilities. If members are currently receiving treatment at a CHOP or a UPHS facility for a condition requiring continuous treatment or for pregnancy, which they believe will extend beyond the hospital’s four-month contract extension period, they can continue treatment as long as they contact Horizon BDBSNJ member Services at the telephone number listed on their ID cards, and Horizon agrees to authorize the ongoing care at the hospital.

This termination of CHOP also extends to all specialty care facilities in New Jersey. They will be out of network on March 11, 2009. As always, in case of a medical emergency, members should go to the nearest emergency facility, without worrying about network affiliations.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN TO YOU AS AN EMPLOYER?
In the next few days, you and your employees will receive, at their house, a notice from Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey explaining this change. In any event, Corporate Synergies will, as always, be reviewing before open enrollment every alternative out there for you and your employees. We are aware that your employees health insurance is an important benefit and that the convenience of having local hospitals in network is meaningful to you and your staff. We will continue to make sure that we explore every possibility to control your costs, check the in-network hospitals, and protect your employee’s family.

WHAT SHOULD I DO NEXT?
If you have questions regarding this eCommunication, please contact Corporate Synergies at 1.866.CSG.1719 or click here to contact us today.