Active NJEA members in SEHBP districts, along with retirees and their dependents who are not eligible for Medicare, now have access to twice as many health plan options with the introduction of a new Aetna medical plan for each corresponding Horizon medical plan. The NJDPB is currently holding a special Open Enrollment period for the entire month of April to allow eligible active and retired NJEA members the option of switching from their current Horizon plan to a new Aetna plan. Below is important information regarding this special Open Enrollment period and the new Aetna medical plans. The available Horizon plans remain the same.
Special Open Enrollment Period
This special Open Enrollment will begin on April 1, 2024, and conclude on April 30, 2024. Plan changes will take effect on July 1, 2024, for all members. The addition of dependents or changes to dental plans will not be permitted. Enrollment will be limited to current SEHBP enrollees; members who have previously waived coverage will not be able to enroll at this time.
New Aetna Medical Plans
The new Aetna plan options will have the same plan design and rates as the available Horizon plans for the current Plan Year 2024. Details regarding plan design, summaries, comparisons, and rates for the new plans will be available on the NJDPB web pages:
https://www.nj.gov/treasury/pensions/hb-active-sehbp.shtml
Aetna Special Open Enrollment
- PPO Plans – Aetna New Jersey Educators Health Plan; Freedom 10*; Freedom 15*
(The Garden State Health Plan, administered by Aetna, will remain available to members.)
*Members hired prior to July 1, 2020.
Split contracts no longer available
Currently, many retirees with a spouse/partner or children on their medical benefits have split contracts. A split contract means people within the same family have different carriers. Typically, this happens when one member of the family is Medicare-eligible, and another is not. Most retirees who are under 65 select the NJ Educators’ Health Plan, which is currently only offered with Horizon. If their spouse is Medicare-eligible they were placed into the Aetna Medicare Advantage 10 plan. This will no longer occur, since the NJ Educators plan is now being offered by both Aetna and Horizon. Effective July 1st, all members in a family must use the same carrier. Therefore, if a non-Medicare retiree wants to continue with Horizon, their Medicare-eligible dependent will default to the Horizon 15/25 supplemental plan.
Online enrollment through mynjbenefitshub
All plan changes must be submitted online through the mynjbenefitshub portal which can be accessed through your myNewJersey account or via mynjbenefitshub.nj.gov
This special Open Enrollment period is an important opportunity for employees to log into their mynjbenefitshub account to review their current plan selections to determine if another plan better meets their needs, as well as to review and update their mailing address and email contact information.
Helplines and additional information
Aetna will have a dedicated special Open Enrollment helpline at 833-398-0768, available from March 12, 2024, through July 1, 2024. This helpline is to assist members with any questions regarding the new Aetna plan options or the Aetna network of providers. Members who have enrolled in an Aetna plan may call Aetna Member Services at 1-877-StateNJ (1-877-782-8365) after July 1, 2024.
Horizon plan options, plan designs, and rates will remain unchanged for Plan Year 2024. Members may contact Horizon directly through their toll-free number at 800-414-SHBP (1-800-414-7427) if they have any questions regarding the Horizon plans.
If you have questions regarding any of the information provided in this letter, contact the NJDPB’s Office of Client Services at (609) 292-7524, or email the NJDPB at: pensions.nj@treas.nj.gov