A New Jersey insurance carrier withdrew its application to become a for-profit organization, saying the conversion was not in the company’s best interests in light of the health care reform and new business activity.

Increased “cost pressures” facing health insurers could mean that an effort to free insurance agent and broker commissions from the grip of the federal health reform law might not lead to restored payments.

William J. Marino, president and CEO of Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, isn’t resting in the months leading up to his retirement.

William J. Marino, the longest serving CEO of a Blue Cross Blue Shield affiliate, is retiring as chairman and CEO of Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, effective March 1, 2001, the company announced.

New Jersey opened NJ Protect, a state program to cover about 21,000 uninsured residents with pre-existing medical conditions.

While state officials have already scheduled a hearing on the matter, one of New Jersey’s representatives in Congress also wants a closer examination into the compensation package for executives at Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield.

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield was bilked out of more than $16,000 by a Bellmawr, N.J., woman who allegedly called in at least 285 phony prescriptions for herself and her family members while employed at several doctors’ offices.

Newark-based Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey announced a new deal, giving it sole ownership of AtlantiCare Administrators, a third-party administrator already serving 200,000 of the insurer’s members.

Officials in Cumberland County, N.J., have renewed their contract with Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey for another year.

A group of 35 registered nurses from New Jersey and Pennsylvania are suing Horizon Blue Cross and Blue Shield, accusing the insurer of underpaying them by $4.5 million over the last few years for their work as surgical assistants.