We are excited to announce the newest member of our team at Jerry Ballard and Associates, Emily McLaurin. Emily has just finished her appointment and licensing for her North Carolina Health Insurance License. In the short time she has been with Jerry Ballard & Associates/NC Health Plans Agency, we have gained respect and admiration for her loyalty and desire to help our clients with their customer service needs.

Emily previously worked in the banking industry and graduated from East Carolina University in Greenville, NC with a BS Degree in Clothing and Textiles, with a minor concentration in Business. She resides in beautiful Carteret County, North Carolina with her husband and son and also has two grown daughters and a son-in-law. Emily loves living along the Coast in Eastern North Carolina and spending time with her family.

Emily’s exceptionally positive attitude and bright spirit will enhance the experience for all of our Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina clients. She is delighted to help guide our existing and new clients through navigating the health insurance marketplace.  Her wonderful spirit is refreshing to all, but her compassion for the elderly makes it a delight when our seniors call in to go over their Medicare Supplement needs. At Jerry Ballard & Associates, we strive to provide the best customer service for all North Carolinians and Emily is excited to use her customer service background to help meet the needs of all of our clients.

For more information on North Carolina Health Insurance coverage, please visit our website at www.nchealthplans.com or call our toll free number 888-765-5400 or our local number 252-726-5400 and speak with one of our experienced and professional agents.

Savannah Clark is the newest member of our team at Jerry Ballard & Associates, Inc. and will be specializing in providing exceptional customer service to all our North Carolina customers.  Savannah graduated from the University of North Carolina Wilmington with a BS degree in elementary education and a concentration in the Arts.  She is also studying to acquire her North Carolina Life and Health Insurance License and looking forward to an exciting and long term career with our Agency.

A native of Eastern North Carolina, she was born and raised in Carteret County and absolutely loves it, and as she says, her roots are deep.  She attended St. Egberts Catholic school and graduated from West Carteret High School.  In the summer she loves spending time with family and friends boating and going to the beach.  She also enjoys painting as a hobby in her spare time.

Savannah brings excitement and enthusiasm to assist all of our Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina clients with their customer service needs.  She is patient, empathetic, and passionately communicative.  Her ability to place herself in the shoes of the customer and advocate for them when necessary makes her a pleasure to work with and a true asset to our team.

For more information on North Carolina insurance coverage, please visit our website at www.nchealthplans.com or call our toll free number 888-765-5400 and speak with one of our experienced and professional agents.  Our Agency can guide you through the complete application process, on or off the Marketplace for any plans offered, including, but not limited to, Bronze, Silver, and Gold Plans, Medicare Supplement Plans, Dental Blue and Short Term plans.

From all of us at Jerry Ballard and Associates, we want to give a shout out to the World’s Greatest Bosses, Jerry and Cathy Ballard.  In an industry that has experienced a lot of change and the inherent stress that comes with such change, we just want to thank you both for being an absolute pleasure to work for!  We hope you enjoy a relaxing and beautiful day!!

Between web generated quotes, online applications, automatic bill pay and the healthcare Marketplace, you may be wondering why in the world you would even need an insurance agent.  When so much can be accomplished right over the phone or online, is there really any benefit to contacting a BCBSNC health insurance agency and what can we possibly do to make purchasing insurance a simpler and more satisfying experience?  Although it may seem counter intuitive, the truth is that despite all of the technology and all the companies and agencies involved now in purchasing health insurance, the process is actually more complicated than ever.

The Affordable Care Act alone has added so many pieces to the insurance puzzle that it can leave your head spinning just trying to determine who is eligible to purchase health insurance and when, let alone who qualifies for a federal subsidy and what determines eligibility.  Open Enrollment, Special Enrollment, Qualifying Life Events, Premium Tax Credits, Subsidies, Tax Penalties, Cost Share Reduction Benefits and so on are only some of the new terms that now have a profound impact on your health insurance policy and how you go about applying for and purchasing it.

In addition, even though these terms can be researched online and applications completed through various websites and phone lines, the process of purchasing health insurance can be overwhelming even for the most well-versed among us.  We all know what a huge difference there is between knowing a fact and understanding how that fact impacts our lives on a personal and financial level.  That is the very reason we hire attorneys, accountants, doctors and contractors.  We rely on the expertise of those whose job it is to understand their various industry and guide us in making the best decisions based on their professional experience and understanding.  Health insurance is no different!  In fact, more than ever before it is important, if not imperative, to consult a health insurance professional before purchasing a health plan.

And that’s where Jerry Ballard and Associates can help.  The good news is that unlike hiring an attorney, accountant, doctor or contractor there is no fee associated with contacting our office.  In fact, having an insurance agent does not impact the cost of your health plan in any way.  All it does is allow you the opportunity to have a personal contact person at your disposal to help explain the process, discuss the plans and determine subsidy eligibility and how obtaining a federal tax credit can impact the cost of your health insurance premium.

At Jerry Ballard and Associates, it is our pleasure to provide the professional guidance you need when purchasing health insurance either on or off the federal Marketplace.  It is our desire to make the application process as painless as possible and help you determine whether a subsidized or unsubsidized plan is the best choice for you and your family.  We will discuss your options in detail, making sure you are 100% comfortable with the BCBSNC health plan you choose prior to enrollment and we will then follow up to make sure your plan is properly processed and that you know how and when to make your payment.

Having an insurance agent is important and Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina understands that personalized service is always in your best interest.  In truth, having an agent is one of the great benefits that is available to you when you purchase a BCBSNC health plan.  Don’t let health insurance overwhelm you and don’t make important decisions about your health coverage without fully understanding your choices and the implications of your choices.  At Jerry Ballard and Associates, we are determined to help you through the process from start to finish!

For more information on Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina health insurance coverage, the Marketplace and healthcare gov  to apply for your subsidy, please visit our website at www.nchealthplans.com or call our toll free number 888-765-5400 and speak with one of our experienced and professional agents.  Let us help you navigate through the Health Care Reform changes in accordance with the new regulations of The Affordable Care Act, also known as Obama care.