Horizon BCBS of New Jersey

This retiree-friendly company employs consultants and temp workers

from: AARP, September 2011

Winning Years: 2011, 2009, 2008
Industry: Insurance
Location: Newark, N.J.
Website: www.horizonblue.com

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey's phased-retirement program is individually customized to benefit both the employee and the company. Employees in the program are offered alternative work arrangements to ease the transition from full-time work to retirement. Retirees are rehired through the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association Blue Bring Back Program.

Additional Policies and Practices:

Workplace Culture/Continued Opportunities: Employees working 15 or more hours per week are eligible for a tuition reimbursement benefit. Full- and part-time employees are offered in-house classroom training, online training and certification classes.

Long-service anniversaries are celebrated with announcements, parties and awards.

Horizon developed an online employee news center entitled 'Connections' because of requests from employees for more timely and consistent company and industry news.

Employees can work in temporary assignments in other departments, on team projects, and on cross-divisional task forces to gain new experiences and develop new skills.

Benefits/Health: Employees working 20 or more 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, as well as short- and long-term disability.

Health benefits for retirees include individual and spouse medical and prescription drug coverage, as well as individual life insurance or other death benefit coverage.

New hires are eligible for all of the above benefits upon retirement.

Flexible spending accounts (FSAs), health savings accounts (HSAs) and health reimbursement accounts (HRAs) are available to assist in covering out-of-pocket health care costs.