Weekend getaways, college visits, business trips, holiday travel — the fall and winter can actually be quite a busy season for journeys around the country, or abroad. People often get travel insurance when they go on a trip — but they don’t always think about their health insurance. But a medical emergency is just as likely as a travel disruption, so take time now to protect your health and your wallet. 

1. Check your Horizon® health plan

Does your Horizon plan cover everything you need, wherever you’ll be? Before you leave, use our online chat service or call the customer service number on the back of your membership ID card to ensure you understand how to get the most out of your benefits when you’re away from home.

2. Download the Horizon Blue App

With the Horizon Blue mobile app, you can access any telehealth option available with your healthcare plan. Before you travel, download the app and sign in so there’s no delay in getting access to your benefits. Download the app by texting “GetApp” to 422-272 or searching for “HorizonBlue” in the Apple® or Google® app stores.

3. Know what to do in the case of an emergency

If you need emergency medical treatment, call 911 or go to the closest emergency room immediately. Your health and safety are more important than anything. If away from home, but within the U.S, all emergency care is covered at your plan’s in-network benefits rate. That’s true whether the hospital providing emergency care is in- or out-of-network.

4. Have a plan for New Jersey travel  

No matter where you may roam in New Jersey – from High Point to Cape May – your coverage will be the same as in your hometown. Use the Horizon doctor and hospital finder to locate a nearby in-network doctor, hospital or urgent care center anywhere in New Jersey to help keep out-of-pocket costs to a minimum.

5. Have a plan for traveling in the other 49 states 

If your travels take you to any other U.S. state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands, you have lots of options depending on your specific Horizon plan:

• BlueCard^®
  Your plan may include BlueCard coverage. If so, you can access Blue Cross Blue Shield’s national network of doctors, hospitals, and urgent care centers whenever you need care. To find out if you have BlueCard coverage, look at the front side of your Horizon insurance card; if it displays a suitcase icon in the lower right corner, you’ve got it. Visit the Blue National Doctor and Hospital Finder, or call the member services number on the back of your membership ID card or 1-888-630-BLUE, to find a physician or health care facility included under the BlueCard umbrella.
• Out-of-network coverage 
  If your plan doesn’t include BlueCard but does include benefits for out-of-network care, get non-emergency care from any doctor, hospital or urgent care center per your out-of-network policy coverage terms. Check before you go, however, as some policies don’t include out-of-network benefits. Call if you’re not sure or use our out-of-network cost calculator, which will help you estimate how much you may pay when you get care from an out-of-network provider.
• Telehealth
  There are numerous of telehealth options available to you, including calling a provider, logging on to our website, or using the Horizon Blue app mentioned earlier.  
   
  • Horizon CareOnline℠ allows you to talk with a U.S. board-certified, licensed doctor via video, chat or phone, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You never need to make an appointment.
  • Horizon BCBSNJ’s Nurse Chat provides instant access, 24/7 support to all 50 states.

6. Prepare for an international trip 

In good times and bad (pandemic or no pandemic) health care systems and coverage in foreign countries can vary widely from those in the U.S. You might even face significant out-of-pocket expenses from a sudden and unexpected health emergency in an international destination. So plan ahead, review your coverage, and consider these other options available to you that could minimize your costs:

• Blue Cross Blue Shield Global Core 
  Do you have BlueCard coverage through your Horizon plan? If so, you are automatically enrolled in Global Core, which provides coverage for emergency and urgent care outside the U.S. 
   
• GeoBlue^®
  Need more coverage? You can purchase it through GeoBlue, whether or not you already have a Horizon plan. GeoBlue provides comprehensive, low-cost, high-quality coverage for individuals and groups traveling abroad.

7. Know the health risks of your destination

Health risks vary from country to country (and while COVID may be less of a factor in our daily lives, it’s still out there). When planning a trip outside the U.S., consult the CDC’s list of travel destinations to learn about health risks that may be present in the country you’re visiting.

On behalf of Horizon, we hope you enjoy your trip – whatever the destination!

This document is for informational purposes only and does not constitute a binding agreement. The information provided by this document is not intended to replace or modify the terms, conditions, limitations, and exclusions contained within health, dental or vision benefit plans issued or administered by Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey. In the event of a conflict between the information contained in this document and your plan documents, your plan documents shall control.

*There is no charge to download the Horizon Blue app, but Message and Data Rates may apply (from your wireless provider). Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey SMS/Texting Terms and Conditions

**Apple is a registered trademark of Apple Inc, and Google is a registered trademark of Google LLC.

***GeoBlue is the trade name for the international health insurance program of Worldwide Insurance Services (WIS), an independent licensee of Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. Blue Cross Blue Shield Association is an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies. Blue Cross Blue Shield Global® is a brand owned by Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. BlueCard® is a registered trademark of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.

*Horizon CareOnline℠ is a service mark of Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey. Not all members have access to Horizon CareOnline. Members should check with their benefits administrator or plan documents