With the holidays just around the corner, the last thing on your list may be health insurance, but Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina wants to remind you that Open Enrollment 2015 is in full swing and in order to ensure that your health coverage begins January 1st, your application must be completed by midnight, December 15th.

This is the season for giving and one of the nicest things you can give yourself or the people you love is peace of mind.  A BCBSNC health plan offers just that.  Providing health plans that cover preventive care at 100% and a large network of providers across the state of North Carolina, a Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC health plan will give you the confidence of knowing your family is covered for all of their health care needs.

We understand this is a busy time of year and that is why we are committed to helping you get into an affordable health plan as quickly as possible.  Negotiating Open Enrollment 2015 can be tricky and we don’t want you to get lost in the process.  At Jerry Ballard and Associates, we understand your time is valuable and never more than during the holidays.  We know you don’t have hours to waste being stuck on hold or being unable to speak with a live person and that’s where we come in!

The holidays are rapidly approaching, but don’t be caught off guard.  As you are marking your calendar with all sorts of important holiday plans, don’t forget… in order to receive an effective date of January 1st, your application must be completed by midnight, December 15th!  Start the New Year out right by joining BCBSNC and experience the benefits that come from being a Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina member.

For more information on Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina 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 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.

As you may be aware, the Annual Enrollment Period for health insurance will begin on November 15th. If you a currently enrolled in a BCBSNC plan, you might be unsure what steps you need to take, if any, during the Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) if you want to keep your plan or change your plan for 2015.  That is why Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC has created Blue Map.

Blue Map is a tool created especially for BCBSNC members who purchased individual plans to help guide them through the renewal process. If you are enrolled in a plan through BCBSNC and it is not through an employer and you’re not enrolled in Medicare, then you are likely on an individual plan. Your steps during AEP are based on several different factors and Blue Map can help you determine which steps you should take when Annual Enrollment begins .

Members can access Blue Map through the BCBSNC website. You will be prompted to answer the following questions and, based on your answers, Blue Map will help guide you in the right direction. Here is a preview of what questions to expect through Blue Map:

1. Are you currently a member?

2. Do you get your health insurance through work?

3. Are you enrolled in a Medicare plan?

4. Do you have a Grandfathered Plan? (If you enrolled in your plan on or before March 23, 2010 and no changes have been made, you are likely on a Grandfathered plan)

5. Do you have a Transitional Plan? (If you enrolled in your plan between March 24, 2010 and October 1, 2013, have not made any changes, and did not move to a new Affordable Care Act plan, you are likely on a Transitional plan)

6. Do you get a subsidy (tax credit) from the Health Insurance Marketplace for your monthly health insurance bills?

Your answers to these questions will determine what your next steps should be. Blue Map is a simple, straight forward tool that can help members understand exactly what they will need to do, if anything, to ensure they keep their plan or move to a new plan in 2015.

For more information on Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina 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 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.

Did you know if you are a Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC member your health plan covers you across the United States and around the world through Blue Card?  All you need is your membership ID card!

So, how does Blue Card coverage work?

In an emergency, go to the nearest doctor or hospital. In emergency situations, services will be processed at in-network rates, even when services are received from an out-of-network provider.

For non-emergency care in the US visit a participating Blue Card doctor or hospital for the highest level of covered benefits. You may visit a non-participating Blue Card doctor or hospital, but your out-of-pocket expenses will be higher, except in the case of an emergency. When you arrive at the doctor or hospital you are visiting, you will simply present your BCBSNC membership ID card. To find a Blue Card doctor in the area you are in, you can search the “Find a Blue Card Doctor” tool online or call the customer service phone number on the back of your ID card.

Coverage varies outside of the US, therefore for non-emergency care outside the US, you simply contact BCBSNC Customer Service prior to your trip for specifics on the country you will be visiting.  Also, visit Blue Cross Blue Shield Association Worldwide online to print a list of doctors in the country you will be visiting.

As always, don’t forget to bring your BCBSNC membership card when you travel!

For more information on Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina health 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.  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.

It’s Saturday night and your baby has a fever. How serious is it? Who can you call?

Call Health Line Blue! One of the many advantages of being a BCBSNC member is having the luxury of contacting Health Line Blue 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

As a member, you don’t have to wait until Monday morning to find out answers to your health questions. Health Line Blue nurses are available around the clock to help you. No more frustrating web searches or nights and weekends spent wondering what the answers are to your health concerns.

So, what exactly is Health Line Blue? Health Line Blue is a 24-hour health information line available to many BCBSNC members. It also includes the Dialog Center, an online resource that includes a variety of tools, including an online encyclopedia of medical information, a health risk assessment survey and more! Members have access to an online video about Health Line Blue as well, simply by logging in to your My Member Services account.

From illnesses and injuries to evaluations of treatment options and health coaching, Health Line Blue is a no-cost service designed to help members make informed medical care decisions.

*In a recent survey of members, the 24-hour nurse line program was voted as the top resource that would increase satisfaction with health plans.

For more information on Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina health 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.  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.

*2014 Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems results

If you did not get health coverage previously under the Affordable Care Act, you can enroll in a plan for next year starting Nov. 15. And if you are already covered, you can change or renew your plan for next year. If you don’t sign up by Feb. 15, 2015, you will be without coverage until January 2016 unless you have a qualifying life event .

There are at least three key components to choosing an ACA plan that is right for you and your family: Benefits, premiums and the network of doctors and hospitals.

Benefits:

All ACA plans are required to cover “essential health benefits” as described in the law. And all individual plans must cover preventive health benefits entirely.

Beyond these requirements, consumers have choices when it comes to how much they pay out-of-pocket for covered services. Plans are broken into four categories — bronze, silver, gold and platinum. As these names suggest, bronze plans have the highest deductibles and co-payments, platinum the lowest.

When shopping for a plan, look for the “Summary of Benefits and Coverage” which describes what the plan covers. Also be sure to review each plan’s prescription drug formulary to see what drugs are covered. Or call the plans you’re considering and ask about any specific services you think you might use in the coming year.

Premiums

Health plans across the nation have been preparing customers for changes in rates from current plans for the new ACA enrollment period.  Generally speaking, the higher your out-of-pocket costs, the lower your premiums are. This tradeoff between rates and out-of-pocket costs is an important element to consider when shopping for coverage, CLICK HERE FOR YOUR NEW 2015 RATE.

Federal subsidies help consumers pay for coverage through the ACA. If your household income is between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level, you do not have coverage through an employer, and you meet certain other requirements, you will be eligible for a federal subsidy to purchase a plan through the exchange.

Networks

Another important consideration for consumers is whether their current physicians and hospitals are in-network. Going outside the plan’s network typically results in higher charges — sometimes significantly higher. And some plans don not cover services provided outside their networks.

If you have had coverage before, or have a current plan, do not automatically assume your doctors will still be in-network for a new or renewed plan. It is best to check each time you go through an open enrollment period. All ACA plans are required to tell consumers which providers are in the plan’s networks. When shopping, look for the link to the provider directory.

For more information on Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina 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 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.

A reminder of those summer nights by the campfire.  A great dessert we found from “How Sweet It Is”  s’mores jar cakes have buttery graham crusts covered with fluffy double chocolate chip cake and pillowy marshmallow toppings that are so perfectly browned and bubbly you can taste the campfire and smell the midnight July breeze.

makes 4 16-ounce mason jar cakes

for crust:

1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs; 1/2 stick butter; pinch of salt; Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Melt butter and mix in graham crumbs and salt. Mix until moistened. Spray 4 mason jars with non-stick spray and press graham crust into jars. I began by adding a tablespoon to each, and repeating until graham crumbs were gone. They don’t need to look perfect. I pressed the crumbs down firmly with the flat bottom of a clean screwdriver.

for cake: 1 1/8 cups all purpose flour; 1/4 cup dark cocoa powder; 1 1/4 teaspoon baking soda; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 3/4 cup brown sugar; 1 egg; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 1/2 cup milk; 1/2 cup + 1 tablespoon heavy cream; 1/2 cup butter, melted; 2 tablespoons sour cream

for topping: 1 bag of large marshmallows

In a bowl, whisk egg and sugar until smooth and no lumps remain. Add milk, cream, butter and vanilla, and mix until combined. Stir in sour cream. Sift dry ingredients together and add to wet mixture. Mix until batter is smooth. Using a 1/4 cup measure, add batter to mason jars one scoop at a time. You only want to fill them up about half way, and the batter should work evenly for 4 jars. Again – don’t worry if it is perfect. Place mason jars in a baking dish and add about 1 1/2 cups of water to the bottom. Bake for 30 minutes, or until cake is set.

Remove cake from the oven and press large marshmallows down on top, being careful not to burn yourself. There is no set number of marshmallows to use, I pressed down as many as I could, about 4-5 each. Heat the broiler on your oven and watching carefully, brown marshmallows for about 1-2 minutes, or until golden brown. Do not take your eyes off them! Serve immediately.

These days it seems like everything is getting more expensive.  The price of gas will often increase overnight with almost no explanation.  For that reason and because our members deserve to be informed, Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina wants you to understand why you may see a rate increase in your health insurance premium for 2015.  As the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) second Annual Enrollment Period begins on November 15th, there are some overall trends that have contributed to premium rate increases for ACA plans, grandfathered plans and transitional plans alike.

There are a number of factors that have contributed to this increase, including:

• Lower enrollment of younger, healthier customers in ACA plans to help offset risk and medical costs
• The introduction of new, expensive medical treatments that are being used heavily by ACA plan customers
• Expansion of mental health benefit coverage for ACA plans
• Two closed plans (grandfathered and transitional), which do not allow new, younger and healthier customers to enter.  There is a greater increase in the transitional group because many of the healthier customers have left this group at a rate higher than we expected

The Affordable Care Act has brought not only a change in the way consumers purchase insurance, but also a change in the demographic of the insured.  These changes have required that Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina make some necessary adjustments.  Although you may see an increase in your premium rate in 2015, it is not without benefit to you.  BCBSNC is offering the largest choice of networks and plans for customers and is still the only insurer offering plans in all 100 North Carolina counties on the Health Insurance Marketplace.  In addition, these plans do not require gatekeepers or referrals when you find yourself in need of a healthcare specialist and benefits have been expanded in some areas of medical coverage.

Understandably, rate increases are a delicate subject and Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC understands that our consumers have not only healthcare concerns, but budget concerns as well.  That is why BCBSNC offers 35 plan options, allowing you the flexibility to choose the level of coverage you want at a price you are willing to pay.  As we welcome in a New Year, we want to remind you that Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina is committed to quality health coverage at an affordable price.  Despite the 2015 rate increases, a Blue Advantage, Blue Select or Blue Value health plan offers you coverage you can count on all year long.  With the largest network of providers in North Carolina, preventive care covered at 100%, and emergency coverage without added complications, see why a BCBSNC health plan is still your very best option.  To get your free 2015 rate quote, click here.

For more information on Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina 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 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.

Open Enrollment 2015 is just around the corner and Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina is ready!  

Open Enrollment begins November 15th and runs through February 15th, so if you are currently uninsured, you will be able to apply and obtain coverage very shortly.  Although Open Enrollment will not begin until mid-November, you can begin getting prepared even now.  In fact, there are a number of questions you can ask yourself, as well as some important pieces of information you can gather so that you are as ready as BCBSNC to successfully navigate Open Enrollment 2015.

As you are considering applying for health insurance, there are a few important things to consider:

• Are you looking for a policy for yourself or are you including family members on your policy?
• Do you think you will qualify for a government subsidy? (Subsidies are based on your Modified Adjusted Gross Income and the number of people in your household)
• What kind of Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC health plan are you looking for?  Do you prefer a high deductible plan or something with co-payments?
• How important is the size of the network when it comes to health providers in your area?

Also, remember that if you are applying for a government subsidy, in order to secure an effective date of January 1st, you must complete your application by December 15th.

The Affordable Care Act has created a lot of change and because of that you may have a lot of questions.  Don’t let Open Enrollment overwhelm you.  BCBSNC wants to put you and your family members into a health plan that will offer you a large network of providers, preventive care covered at 100% and coverage you can count on in case of emergencies.  Finding the perfect plan is important and BCBSNC offers a variety of health plan options to best fit your family’s needs.

For more information on Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina 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 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.

Very likely you’ve seen the breast cancer awareness slogan that says, “FIGHT LIKE A GIRL!” and Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina wants you to know that when it comes to fighting breast cancer BCBSNC is in your corner, offering preventive care, including mammograms, covered at 100%.  Much like boxing, or any sport for that matter, the key to victory is a successful game plan and according to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, having a preventive plan in place is the key to reducing risk.

A good breast cancer preventive plan includes self breast exams, as well as having clinical exams performed by a health care professional on a regular basis.  For women over 40 and women under 40 with high risk factors, an annual mammogram is also very important.  In addition to these medical preventions, however, there are other daily habits that can help in your fight against breast cancer.

Reducing your Risk Involves the following daily habits:

• Maintain a healthy weight
• Stay physically active
• Eat fruits and vegetables
• Do not smoke
• Limit alcohol consumption

These daily habits as well as a good medical prevention plan are the key to success in the fight against breast cancer.  Also, as you “fight like a girl,” remember that Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina is in your corner.

Before starting any weight loss program, always consult your doctor first and get his/her clearance for physical activity and find out if there are any issues that would affect you participating in a new nutrition and fitness program.

For more information on Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina 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 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.

One of the main focuses of Health Care Reform is making it easier for consumers to compare plans as they shop for health insurance. Therefore, health insurance plans have been separated into metallic levels (bronze, silver, gold and platinum) to indicate the level of coverage and insurance benefits in each plan.

•BRONZE: Medical costs are covered at approximately 60%. Ideal for people who want lower monthly premiums and don’t expect to need a lot of medical services.

•SILVER: Medical costs are covered at approximately 70%. Ideal for those who want to keep their monthly premiums and out-of-pocket medical costs more balanced.

•GOLD: Medical costs are covered at approximately 80%. If you receive medical services regularly, and you’re okay with paying a higher monthly premium to have more of your health care costs covered, this level of plan is one to consider.

•PLATINUM: Medical costs are covered at approximately 90%. If you receive medical services frequently, and  you’re willing to pay more each month for the lowest health care costs, consider this plan level.

All health insurance plans must fall within these metallic levels in 2014, except for the catastrophic plans for people under 30 or that meet certain hardship requirements. Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC catastrophic plans, however, do meet bronze level requirements.

All plans have an out-of-pocket (OOP) limit of $6,350.1 This includes costs such as prescription drugs, copayments, etc. Your OOP limit does not include premiums or costs not covered by BCBSNC. Family plans have a higher OOP limit of $12,700. (You may, however, have a plan with a lower OOP limit.)

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 professional agents. Our agency provides coverage for health insurance in North Carolina through Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC). It would be our pleasure to help you navigate through the Health Care Reform changes in accordance with the new regulations of Obamacare. Call us for details.

Having a baby is stressful enough without added financial pressure and that is why Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina is proud to offer maternity care at no additional charge.   In the past, many insurance companies could turn a woman down if she applied for coverage while she was pregnant and many health plans considered pregnancy a pre-existing condition. Under the Affordable Care Act, however, all qualified health insurance plans now cover pregnancy and childbirth and this is true even if your pregnancy begins before your coverage takes effect.

What this means is that BCBSNC will not increase your premium based on your sex or health condition, including conditions such as pregnancy.  Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC is committed to Women’s Health and that is why covering the basics of pregnancy and childbirth at no additional cost is a fundamental part of essential coverage.

Once your baby is born, breastfeeding and Primary Care Interventions to promote breastfeeding are also covered at 100%, including certain breast pumps.  In addition, a Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina health plan will cover your baby’s wellness visits and vaccinations at 100% so that you can be sure your post pregnancy health needs are also met.  Because Blue really does love babies, a BCBSNC individual health plan includes pediatric dental and vision coverage, up to age 19 so that you can not only have your baby, but raise your baby with confidence that his or her health needs are covered.

Babies make the world a nicer place to live and a Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina health plan makes having a baby a nicer experience.

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 professional agents. Our agency provides coverage for health insurance in North Carolina through Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC). It would be our pleasure to help you navigate through the Health Care Reform changes in accordance with the new regulations of Obamacare. Call us for details.