On Wednesday, September 9, 2009 the AARP released its annual national ranking of “The Best Employers for Workers Over 50,” that acknowledges companies and organizations whose best practices and polices for addressing aging workforce issues are roadmaps for the workplaces of tomorrow.

 “Workers over 50 have a tremendous amount of experience and knowledge – in many cases they are the leaders of our company,” said Deborah Gingher, Director Human Resources, Enterprise Initiatives at Horizon BCBSNJ.  “Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey has put into place a number of programs that help workers over 50 achieve their future financial goals while at the same time using the experience of these employees to help train our less tenured employees.”

“We are delighted that five employers from New Jersey have been selected for this year’s AARP Best Employers List for Workers 50 and Over,” said AARP Senior State Director Jim Dieterle. “They all offered a number of progressive programs in their approach toward older workers. For example, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of  New Jersey offers its employees over 50 a phased in retirement program that helps employees into the next phase of life while providing training to Horizon BCBSNJ’s future leaders. Twenty-four percent of their employees are ages 50+ and we congratulate Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey for being number 32 on AARP’s list of Best Employers.”

Benefits provided by Horizon BCBSNJ to its employees:

• A full health risk assessment with incentives for participation as well as health counseling and education.  Access to on-site health center, lab facility, pharmacy and fitness center.
• Tuition reimbursement, in-house classroom training, on-line training, and certification classes. 
• Full- and part-time employees working 20+ hours per week receive individual and family medical coverage, individual and family prescription drug coverage, individual and family vision and dental insurance, individual and family long-term care insurance, and short- and long-term disability.
• Horizon BCBSNJ offers a 401(k) plan with employer match and a pension plan to its full- and part-time employees.  Employees receive financial planning information from the firm that administers their 401(k) plan. 
• Horizon BCBSNJ offers alternative work arrangements such as flex time, compressed work schedules, job sharing, telecommuting, and a formal phased retirement program to its full- and part-time employees working 20 or more hours weekly.

About Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey
Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey is the oldest and largest health insurer in the state serving over 3.6 million members. Horizon BCBSNJ is New Jersey's only not-for-profit, health services corporation and is headquartered in Newark with offices in Wall, Mt. Laurel, and West Trenton.

Horizon BCBSNJ provides a broad array of health and dental insurance products and services for individuals and small and large companies, including national companies headquartered in New Jersey.   Horizon BCBSNJ is committed to improving the health care experience for all the communities we serve as well as helping our members become and stay healthy.

About the AARP
AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization that helps people 50+ have independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial and affordable to them and society as a whole. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to either political campaigns or candidates. We produce AARP The Magazine, the definitive voice for 50+ Americans and the world's largest-circulation magazine with over 33 million readers; AARP Bulletin, the go-to news source for AARP's 39 million members and Americans 50+; AARP Segunda Juventud, the only bilingual U.S. publication dedicated exclusively to the 50+ Hispanic community; and our website, AARP.org. AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. We have staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.