30-Day Moratorium on Horizon OMNIA Plans Will 

Allow for Public Vetting

News Release 9/24/15

TRENTON – Senators Nia H. Gill and Joseph F. Vitale today sent a letter to Horizon BCBSNJ requesting a 30-day moratorium on the release of the newly-announced OMNIA Alliance insurance plans into the state’s marketplace. The delay will allow for a public vetting of the plans at the joint hearing of the Senate Health and Commerce committees scheduled for Oct. 5.

The request by the senators, sent in a letter to Robert A. Marino, Horizon Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, comes after increasing questions about the proposed insurance plans by consumers, health care providers and elected officials.

“The proposal to dramatically change the insurance plans offered by the largest insurer in New Jersey, and the manner in which it was announced, has caused a great deal of confusion and anxiety in consumers and members of the health care community,” wrote Senators Vitale and Gill. “Despite the release by Horizon of public relations documents related to the plan, far too many questions remain about how the alliance was developed, the impact the new plans will have on residents and hospitals around the state, and the hidden costs to health care consumers.”

“…We request that Horizon suspend for 30 days the release of the new plans into the state’s insurance marketplace. A moratorium on the proposal will allow consumers to hear from Horizon on the overhaul of the insurance plans and to get a clearer understanding of their options. The extra time will also provide health care providers with information on the criteria used to select hospitals and about the future plans for the alliance.”

The senators’ full letter is available at www.amboyguardian.com.