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TagsBY WARREN BOROSON
NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM
The best private health-plan insurance for residents of New Jersey, according to the nonprofit National Committee for Quality Insurance, is: Aetna (New Jersey) – Southern New Jersey.
That plan received "above average" ratings for both consumer satisfaction and for treatment, and an "average" rating for prevention. It ranked 56th among the 227 plans evaluated.
Not far behind was Cigna HealthCare of New Jersey, which received "above average" ratings for consumer satisfaction and prevention. It ranked 70th among the plans evaluated.
The lowest ranked plan open to New Jersey residents was AmeriHealth HMO (Pennsylvania), which received three "worse than average" ratings and a ranking of 184th. Horizon HMO was slightly higher, receiving two "worse than average" ratings and one average, and ranking 157th.
The rankings, published in Consumer Reports November issue, encompass 49 measures, including colon-cancer screening and mental-health care.Not all HMOs were evaluated – some don't submit data, for example.
The highest-ranked health plan in the country was Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, which received three better-than-average ratings.
Other New Jersey plans rated, with their rankings, included Oxford Health Plans (NJ), 123; Aetna Health (New Jersey) – Northern New Jersey, 130; UnitedHealthCare of New Jersey, 137; AmeriHealth HMO (New Jersey), Health Net of New Jersey, 139; and Health Net of New Jersey, 141.
The same issue of Consumer Reports attempts to identify the very worst credit card, and that dishonor goes to First Premier Bank Mastercard. Among its alleged sins: It charges an annual $75 annual fee – and an APR of 23.9 percent to 59.9 percent on purchases and cash advances (the percentage varies – it depends on when you visit the card's website). "So," the magazine writes, "you could face a minimum of $100 or a maximum of $170 in fees in the first year for a card with only a $300 initial credit limit."
Runner-up: Platinum Zero Secured Visa from Applied Bank.
The magazine lists seven desirable cash-back cards, best for people who pay off their balances every month. The first is Amazon.com RewardsVisa – but it's first only because the seven cards are listed in alphabetical order.
Who are they trying to kid?