The state Insurance Commissioner on Monday refused to halt sales of OMNIA health plans by Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, saying it “would “immediately trigger chaos” in the health-insurance market. He denied a request filed Nov. 19 by 11 hospital systems.
Consumers already have started signing up for the plans, which offer lower premiums than other Horizon plans and lower cost-sharing if consumers seek care from preferred hospitals and doctors, according to the order by Richard J. Badolato, acting commissioner of the Department of Banking and Insurance.
Halting the plans’ sales “would cause significant disruption in the healthcare market, especially for those who have already chosen to enroll or are considering enrolling in a plan using the OMNIA network,” the order said.
Horizon is by far the largest health insurer in the state, providing coverage to 3.8 million people.
Daniel Luzer is GOVERNING's news editor.
