<P> It is a not - for - profit health service corporation with a 17 - member Board of Directors which governs the company for its members . There are no shareholders . Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey is best known for their managed care and traditional indemnity plans for individuals and employers . </P> <P> Horizon BCBSNJ traces its history back to 1932 when Associated Hospitals of Essex County, Inc. was formed as a multi-hospital prepayment plan . The company later became the nation's first Blue Cross Plan . </P> <P> The insurance provider has long been based in Newark, for many years occupying 33 Washington Street, and now owning its own building at Penn Plaza East . </P> <P> In January 2016, Horizon BCBS announced their newest endeavor to improve care quality and lower costs through their Omnia Health Alliance . The new Omnia health insurance plans provide access to all of Horizon's network hospitals with some of them being designated as Tier 1 with greater cost savings for consumers . </P>

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