Meridian, Aetna roll out new tiered health plan

Feb. 03--Aetna will sell a new insurance plan to employers beginning July 1 that will offer lower prices to Monmouth and Ocean County consumers who use Meridian Health's hospitals and doctors, the two companies said Wednesday.

Company executives said the partnership will allow them to provide patient care more efficiently.

"It's really about how health care is changing, and we want to hopefully be a part of that change," said Patrick Young, executive vice president of Meridian.

Wall-based Meridian is the Shore's biggest employer. It owns Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, Bayshore Community Hospital in Holmdel, Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank, Ocean Medical Center in Brick and Southern Ocean Medical Center in Stafford. It also has 1,300 doctors who are admitted to practice at some of its hospitals.

The agreement is part of a health care landscape that is changing fast. New Jersey insurers are partnering with hospitals and doctors, creating so-called tiered networks. Their customers who use Tier 1 health care providers have lower out-of-pocket costs. They can still visit providers in Tier 2, but would pay more.

They have touted it as a way to stem the tide of rising health care costs and improve the health of their customers. But it hasn't been universally embraced, particularly among Tier 2 hospitals who fear customers will gravitate to the lowest prices.

More and more, Meridian is finding itself in the top tier of hospitals at the Shore. It is in Horizon's Omnia network. And it is the Tier 1 provider for AmeriHealth New Jersey's Advantage plans that the insurer began selling to businesses and individuals last year.

The plan with Aetna is called Aetna Whole Health -- Meridian Health. Young said the companies expect about 4,000 members in Monmouth and Ocean counties will sign up in 2016. Raritan Bay Medical Center's hospitals in Middlesex County aren't included.

Watch the video to find out what's next for Meridian Health.

This is a breaking news story. Check back later on app.com for more information.

Michael L. Diamond; 732-643-4038; mdiamond@gannettnj.com

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