Open Enrollment officially ends January 31st, 2015 and after that date, you may not be able to enroll until the next AEP (Annual Enrollment Period), which will likely begin November, 2016.  If you have not yet enrolled in a health insurance policy for 2016, you still have time to do so, but don’t wait!  As the end of January approaches, it will become increasingly difficult to get through to the Federal Marketplace or submit applications online.  Due to high volume around effective date deadlines, very often these websites experience technical issues and you would be wise to complete your application a few days prior.

This is especially true if you are applying for a federal subsidy.  Due to the number of people trying to contact the Marketplace, you may have to wait on hold for hours at a time just to speak to a representative.  If you wait to submit your application, you could wind up in a situation where you miss your effective date altogether.

The good news for consumers is that the application for your federal subsidy can now be completed easily and efficiently!  It can be done online in less than ten minutes or you can call 888-765-5400 and one of our licensed and professional agents can assist you in submitting your application right over the phone.  Again, this process usually takes only a few minutes and the earlier you submit your application, the sooner you will have insurance cards in hand, giving you the peace of mind that comes from knowing you and your family are covered for 2016.

Keep in mind that although Open Enrollment does not officially end until January 31st, in order for your coverage to begin February 1st, you must submit your application by January 15th.  If you submit after that date, you will not have coverage until March 1st.

For more information on Blue Cross Blue Shield of 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.

If you are one of the many Americans who waited… and waited… and waited on hold with the Federal Marketplace trying your best to enroll in health insurance by the December 15th deadline, but were still unable to complete the process, we can help! Although the deadline has passed for a January 1st effective date, Open Enrollment is still happening and you can be enrolled in a Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina health plan starting February 1st in just minutes!  We offer a simple, straight-forward, and short application you can do online or over the phone with one of our experienced and professional agents and we are happy to help you choose a plan, submit an application and assist you through enrolllment. (more…)

As one of the ten essential benefits included in every Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina health plan, mental health and substance abuse disorder services (including behavioral health treatment) is one of the most important.  Mental and emotional health is paramount to being a healthy human being and let’s face it, it’s harder to stay physically sound if you are not mentally and emotionally well.  Stress can take a big toll on our bodies and we all know it’s important for us to do whatever we can to alleviate stress, but it seems almost impossible at times.  With all the hustle and noise and pressure that surrounds us, how can we possibly find ways to eliminate stress and still keep up with all the demands of our daily lives?  Especially around the holidays, it seems we are caught up in a whirlwind of activity that simply will not let up.

But here is one thing you can easily do to help alleviate stress and according to a recent study, it can help save you from potential heart failure. (more…)

Are you one of the many Americans who qualify for a federal tax credit under the Affordable Care Act?  If so, you can now complete and submit your application in less than ten minutes!  If you attempted to apply for a subsidy in past years, you may have encountered long wait times, confusing online applications and the frustration of poor communication regarding your application, payment deadlines and policy information.  But that is no longer necessary.  Through a simple, straight-forward, and fast online application, you can now easily enroll in health insurance through the federal Marketplace. (more…)

Christmas is just around the corner and if you have kids like I do, you may be looking for a sweet, healthy and fun holiday treat.  These Santa strawberries are not only adorable, they are also delicious and kids of all ages are sure to enjoy them!  Easy to prepare, these whimsical Santa strawberries can be served as either an appetizer or dessert and though they will surely satisfy, they won’t weigh you down.  All you need to complete this recipe is 5 simple ingredients:  strawberries, mascarpone cheese, powdered sugar, vanilla and mini chocolate chips.  The total preparation time is only about 30 minutes.

Check out this simple recipe from Giada De Laurentiis. (more…)

One of the benefits of being a Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina member is preventive care!  BCBSNC is a big supporter of preventive care maintenance and every Blue Cross Blue Shield NC health plan offers preventive care, including an annual wellness check-up, absolutely free!  As we rapidly approach the end of 2015 and the start of a new year, if you have yet to make use of your 2015 wellness check-up covered at 100%, now is the time!  Contact your primary care doctor, schedule an appointment before year-end and BCBSNC will pick up the bill.

As Mark Twain once said, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, which is why seeing your physician annually is extremely important, especially as you age.  Very often, more serious health problems can be avoided simply by making small adjustments to diet and exercise and your doctor can help you target specific areas that may need a little more attention.

Getting your wellness check-up can also help you be better prepared for the new year.  Knowing where you stand as far as your physical health can not only give you peace of mind, it can also help you focus as you make New Year’s resolutions and take steps to improve or maintain your health in 2016.

2016 is just around the corner and if you are still uninsured, take this opportunity to become a Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina member and make an investment in your health.  Not only will you have preventive care benefits covered at 100%, as a member you also have access to a 24 hour nurse hotline and can manage your health care goals and accomplishments through an easy and interactive online service called Blue Connect.  Nothing is as important as your health!  Don’t let 2015 come to a close without visiting your health care provider for an annual wellness check-up.

For more information on Blue Cross Blue Shield of 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.

Although the deadline for 2016 health coverage with an effective date of January 1st has already passed, Open Enrollment is not over yet!  In fact, this year’s Open Enrollment continues through January 31st, 2016 and you can still apply in as little as ten minutes.  If you have a Qualifying Life Event (QLE), you may still be able to get a January 1st effective date, but for most people, that effective date will no longer be available.  Here are the remaining important dates to keep in mind:

If you want your coverage to begin February 1st, you need to submit your application by midnight, January 15th.

If you want your coverage to begin March 1st, you need to submit your application by midnight January 31st.

The only thing that can change these effective dates is if you have a Qualifying Life Event (QLE) that makes you eligible for a Special Enrollment Period.  Qualifying Life Events include things like loss of minimum essential coverage through an employer or through Medicaid, a marriage, a move and more.  Check out the list of Qualifying Life Events, but keep in mind that your QLE must have occurred within the last 60 days in order for you to be eligible. (more…)

With the cost of health insurance on the rise and everyone scrambling to try and find a plan they can afford, more and more people are asking:  Is health insurance even necessary?  It’s a fair question and one that demands an answer.

First of all, it’s important to keep in mind that under the Affordable Care Act, you are now required by law to be enrolled in a health insurance plan.  If you go three consecutive months uninsured, you will incur a tax penalty and the tax penalty for 2016 has increased substantially. In addition to the tax penalty, however, you will also be responsible for any and all health care expenses you and your family have in a given year, which is really the important consideration.  Recently, in fact, I had an experience that got me thinking long and hard about the importance of being insured. (more…)

Open Enrollment 2016 is well underway and with all the changes in the health insurance industry, renewing your policy for 2016 can be more confusing than ever.  Updating or qualifying for a federal subsidy, changes in your local network or available plans, and deciding whether or not to keep your grandfathered plan or apply for an ACA plan can leave you feeling frustrated.  But that’s where we come in.  Having an agent can help ease the stress of renewing your insurance policy as we help guide you through the process of making any necessary changes.  We can discuss networks, benefits, deductibles, and out-of-pocket limits and help you decide which policy best suits the needs of you and your family for 2016. (more…)

Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina understands that choosing a health insurance plan can be an overwhelming prospect, especially if you don’t fully understand the terminology.  For instance, what is the difference between an HMO and a PPO and how will that affect you when it comes to using your health plan?  Let’s break it down. (more…)

At 6:30 this morning when I took my dog outside for her morning ritual and it was still dark and I could see my breath in the frosty air, I realized that once again, winter is coming… and with winter comes flu season.  Every year, people suffer from flu symptoms that cause children to miss school, parents to miss work and everyone in the house to feel miserable.  More importantly, not only is the flu inconvenient, it can also be dangerous.  In fact, according to Dr. Larry Wu, Regional Medical Director for Blue Cross Blue Shield NC, “Last year, thousands were hospitalized and more than 100 North Carolinians died from complications with the flu, with the most severe issues affecting people who have not had the flu shot.”

Because Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina is actively committed to promoting preventive care maintenance, they have in place a 2015 flu shot program to help members take advantage of the vaccine and stay healthy during this year’s flu season. (more…)

All of us at NCHealthPlans would like to wish you and your family a very Happy Thanksgiving!  If you are like me, you’re already planning your menu, buying your groceries and preparing to spend all day cooking your family’s favorite holiday dishes.  And, if you are like me, you will likely have more Thanksgiving leftovers than you know what to do with.  Because my family gets bored with leftovers, I am always looking for new and creative ways to make sure I don’t waste what we didn’t eat.

This recipe from California Cookbook called Roast Turkey and Winter Vegetable Chowder is not only a great way to use up all that leftover turkey, it’s also a delicious way to incorporate those hearty winter vegetables into your diet.  In addition, the recipe calls for ingredients you will likely already have around your post-Thanksgiving house, such as celery, onions and potatoes. (more…)