Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina Blue Options HSA is a plan that gives you more control over your health care dollars.

Saves more money with low monthly premiums
Enjoy tax savings with a health savings account
HSA funds can be used tax-free to pay for eligible medical expenses
Combine a high-deductible health plan (HDHP) with a health savings account (HSA) and you can potentially reduce your monthly premium significantly and save money
Coverage for preventive care and catastrophes
The money you contribute to your HSA is tax-deductible
When you need to pay for medical services, you can pay for them with your HSA funds.
Your HSA rolls over from year to year. That means you keep what you put into it. It’s your HSA – it’s your money.

Get your free rate quote today through BCBSNC

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). You may qualify for a 15% healthy lifestyle discount if you are in excellent health. Call us for details.

As we begin to look towards health care reform, it will be important for you to decide whether to keep your grandfathered Blue Cross Blue Shield plan or to switch to a new Non Grandfathered plan.

You have flexibility. If you like your current plan, you ca stay with it.   For may people, this will be the best course of action because it may be the least expensive option.

You may qualify for a premium tax credit that can be applied to health insurance premiums; however, premium tax credits cannot be applied to your current grandfathered plan.  It may still be in your best interest financially to stay with your grandfathered plan.

Before moving forward, you should take the time to evaluate both the benefits of staying with your current grandfathered plan and the benefits of 2014 BCBSNC health care reform compliant plans.

The choice is yours. Remember, avoid the penalty and keep a plan.  It is important to note: once you leave a grandfathered plan, you cannot go back to it.  If you have questions, we’re here to help.

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). You may qualify for a 15% healthy lifestyle discount if you are in excellent health. Call us for details.

The information in this article was taken from “Health Care Reform is Coming” from BCBSNC on April 2013.

NEW YORK — About 550,000 people in Oregon do not have health insurance, and Aaron Karjala is confident the state’s new online insurance exchange will be able to accommodate them when enrollment under President Barack Obama’s healthcare reform begins on October 1.

What Karjala, the chief information officer at “Cover Oregon,” does worry about, however, is what will happen if the entire population of Oregon — 3.9 million — logs on that day “just to check it out,” he said. Or if millions of curious souls elsewhere, wondering if Oregon’s insurance offerings are better than their states’, log on, causing Cover Oregon to crash in a blur of spinning hourglasses and color wheels and an epidemic of frozen screens.

Multiply that by another 49 states and the District of Columbia, all of which will open health insurance exchanges under “Obamacare” that same day, and you get some idea of what could go publicly and disastrously wrong.

Obamacare, formally known as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), could fail for many reasons, including participation by too few of the uninsured and a shortage of doctors to treat those who do sign up. But because its core is government-run marketplaces selling health insurance online, the likeliest reason for failure at the opening bell is information technology snafus, say experts who are helping with the rollout.

(more…)

Health care reform is on many of our minds.  After all, the Affordable Care Act (ACA), will be in full swing by January 2014. But many people
still have questions about what the ACA is and how it will affect them.

We’re going to walk you through the ACA and help you understand how  it could affect your premiums, your health insurance coverage and costs.
And we’ll discuss your options for finding a plan that’s right for you or your small business.  Health care reform is on many of our minds.

Watch our informative Video and learn more about the Affordable Care Act and how it will impact you, your family and your business.  Our agency will help you make a plan selection through Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC or Blue Cross products through the exchange.  Keep in mind, if you qualify for a subsidy, you will need to select a plan offered by BCBSNC through the exchange and we will be here to guide you through that process.

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). You may qualify for a 15% healthy lifestyle discount if you are in excellent health. Call us for details.

Health insurance can seem a bit overwhelming, so we thought a few terms defined might be helpful as you consider your current policy or look to purchase a new one!

Coinsurance is the percentage of covered medical expenses that you pay after you’ve met your deductible. Coinsurance is usually listed as a percentage. For example, if your plan lists coinsurance at 20% of covered medical expenses after you’ve met your deductible, then the plan pays 80% of covered services, and you pay 20% until you reach your coinsurance maximum.Coinsurance maximum The coinsurance maximum is the total amount of coinsurance that you’re required to pay for covered medical services in a plan year. Once you reach the coinsurance maximum, your plan usually covers 100% of all covered services for the remainder of the benefit period. Under a traditional health plan, you would continue to pay any copayments for covered services, such as office visits or prescription drugs. Under a high-deductible health plan, your covered medical services would be paid 100%.

Out-of-pocket maximum

Your out-of-pocket maximum is the maximum amount you would be required to pay in a plan year for covered medical expenses. With a high-deductible health plan, this amount is usually the total of your deductible plus your coinsurance maximum. Knowing the definitions of some common terms associated with health insurance may help you make better decisions about choosing a plan that’s right for you.

(more…)

Health care reform will be different for everyone, so it’s important to know your options.  We’re here to help.

One of the first things you will need to do is determine if you have a grandfathered plan (which refers to health insurance plans that were in effect prior to March 23, 2010.  If you are not sure, we will be able to find that information for you.

If you DO NOT have a grandfathered plan:

We will automatically move you to a 2014 BCBSNC health care reform compliant plan that most closely matches your current plan.  Your new plan will look a lot like what you have today.  You always have the option to change this plan during the annual open enrollment period. You will want to determine if you are eligible for a premium tax credit.  If you are, this can be applied to your new plan to lower your monthly premiums.

Remember, avoid the penalty and keep a plan!

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). You may qualify for a 15% healthy lifestyle discount if you are in excellent health. Call us for details.

The information in this article was taken from “Health Care Reform is Coming” from BCBSNC on April 2013.

Another benefit of having a high-deductible health plan is that it makes you eligible for a health savings account (HSA) that enables you to pay for qualified medical expenses tax free.

The funds you contribute to your HSA, up to the annual contribution limit, are not taxed. That means you can save up to $300 on taxes for every $1,000 you contribute. When you use your HSA funds to pay for qualified medical expenses, such as office visits, prescriptions, lab tests, hospital stays, medical procedures and much more, the withdrawals are also not taxed. For a list of qualified medical expenses visit www.irs.gov and reference Publication 502.

(more…)

We want to make you aware of the Healthy Outcomes program offered by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina to our currently enrolled customers. You can earn a $50 gift card by spending only 15 minutes of your time completing a health assessment. Simply log in or register at www.mybcbsnc.com and click on the “Wellness” tab. From there you can continue earning rewards, including up to a $125 premium credit on your December 2013 bill. The amount of premium credit you can earn is based on the number of years you have been enrolled.

This convenient online program is available to all current BCBS members and provides valuable educational health information. The Healthy Outcomes Program will end on September 30th so act today and start earning your premium credit and $50 gift card!

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). You may qualify for a 15% healthy lifestyle discount if you are in excellent health. Call us for details.

Health care reform mandates that all new 2014 compliant plans include 10 Essential Health Benefits.

Have a look. Some of these benefits already existed, so new or expanded benefits are listed in bold:

• Ambulatory patient services
• Emergency Services
• Hospitalization
• Maternity and newborn care now automatically covered
  
• Increased benefits for mental health and substance use disorder services including behavioral health treatment
• Prescription drugs
• Rehabilitative and habilitative services and devices
• Laboratory services
• Preventive and wellness services and chronic disease management
• Pediatric services, including oral and vision care

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). You may qualify for a 15% healthy lifestyle discount if you are in excellent health. Call us for details.

The information in this article was taken from “Health Care Reform is Coming” from BCBSNC on April 2013.

Already a Blue Cross Blue Shield individual member? We know you have questions about how to prepare your family for Health Care Reform.  Jerry Ballard & Associates has the perfect personalized tool for you…. BLUE MAP!

Blue Map is on online tool created by BCBSNC to help address your 2014 Health Insurance options.  This tool will help you find the right solution.  Just answer a few simple questions, and get a personalized recommendation based on your member profile that will outline your options.  This interactive, easy-to-use web application is designed to provide you with personal options, explaining the choices you have in choosing a plan.  Check out Blue Map today as you begin to prepare for your 2014 Health Insurance needs.

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). You may qualify for a 15% healthy lifestyle discount if you are in excellent health. Call us for details.

The information in this article was taken from “Health Care Reform is Coming” from BCBSNC on April 2013.

As you begin to prepare for 2014, you will need to be familiar with the following terminology…

Affordable Care Act (ACA)– The law intended to address issues with our health care system by increasing access to health insurance, introducing reform and improving quality  also referred to as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA).

Health Insurance Marketplace– An online insurance marketplace where individuals can compare, shop for and buy qualified health insurance plans.  Also known as an “Exchange”.

Federal Poverty Level (FPL)– A measure of income level (by family size) that determines eligibility for premium tax credits.  For example, a family of four that makes less than $94,200 a year may be eligible for help.

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). You may qualify for a 15% healthy lifestyle discount if you are in excellent health. Call us for details.

The information in this article was taken from “Health Care Reform is Coming” from BCBSNC on April 2013.

Terminology that you will need to understand as you begin to prepare for the Affordable Care Act.

Premium Tax Credits- These will be made available to low and middle income Americans and applied to health insurance premiums.  Cost Sharing Reductions will limit a plan’s maximum out-of-pocket costs.

Grandfathered- Refers to health insurance plans that were in  effect prior to March 23, 2010 and that have not undergone specific changes.  The ACA allows grandfathered plans to be exempt from some ACA requirements.

Health Care Reform (HCR)- The changes that will occur on January 1, 2014 as a result of the comprehensive health care reform law known as the AFFORDABLE CARE ACT.

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). You may qualify for a 15% healthy lifestyle discount if you are in excellent health. Call us for details.

The information in this article was taken from “Health Care Reform is Coming” from BCBSNC on April 2013.