888-765-5400BCBSNC’S ACCOUNTABILITY
Each year, BCBSNC rates are adjusted based on what is believed what medical trends will be overall, as well as how it will be distributed within the portfolio. Example, rating for male customers between the ages of 35-39 who live in the Triangle area of our state are currently less than females aged 50-54 that live in the eastern part of our state. In general, females submit more claims, and generally so do people as they get older, and the cost of care in the east is generally more than in the Triangle. As any of those factors shift relative to one another for those groupings of customers they will be adjusted, so that the low-cost customers are not unfairly burdened by the purchases and practices of the higher cost customers.
While high rate increases garner all the headlines, consumer -driven health plans continue to see lower medical trend. The good news is that in January, 3O% of new Individual customers chose HSA products. We need to continue to tell the utilization story, something that the current debate on reform continues to ignore. To personalize this, just this week a family was at the doctor, and they asked whether the next wellness visit for their very healthy 12 year-old should be every two years or every year, and the physician replied, “Every two years is fine, unless it is covered by your insurance, in which case you may as well take advantage of it.”
Consumerism and personal accountability are the most powerful tools we have in the fight against higher medical costs. Consumer driven health plans incent both. It requires effort and understanding by the customer, the doctors and those who market the products, but it is the opinion, they will certainly be worth that effort. The more customers buy these products, and feel good about exercising their right to understanding what procedures cost, the more it will become a normal part of how care is delivered.
For more information on health insurance coverage in North Carolina, please visit our website at www.nchealthplans.com or call our toll free number 888-765-5400 and speak with one of our qualified agents. Our agency provides coverage for health insurance in North Carolina through Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC). You may qualify for a 15% healthy lifestyle discount if you are in excellent health. Call us for details.