It’s a battle of titans.

COVERAGE CONTROVERSY: Hacksensack Meridian Health says it will remove its 18 hospitals, including Southern Ocean Medical Center in Manahawkin, from the Horizon Hospital Network effective June 1. (Photo by Ryan Morrill)

The contestants are the largest health insurance company in the Garden State, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, and the largest not-for-profit healthcare organization in the state, Hackensack Meridian Health.

The former insures some 3.2 million New Jersey residents. The latter has 18 hospitals. It’s home to more than 36,000 team members, 7,000 physicians, and more than 500 patient care locations including ambulatory care centers, surgery centers, home health services, long-term care…