Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina is committed to the health and wellness of all its members and this fall, BCBSNC in conjunction with the North Carolina State Park system is encouraging NC residents to get out and hike!  This community initiative, appropriately named Hike NC!,  is at aimed  getting North Carolinians off the couch and into the great outdoors.  The Hike NC! campaign consists of more than 60 guided hikes through North Carolina nature preserves and state parks.  Led by hiking and nature experts and totally free, these hikes are intended to help improve the overall health of Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC members. (more…)

The Annual Enrollment Period for Medicare has officially begun and will continue through December 7, 2017 and Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC offers a variety of Medicare plans.  This period allows Medicare recipients to enroll in new Medicare plans and Part D Prescription plans or make changes to existing coverage.  At NC Health Plans we strive to make the Enrollment Period as simple and stress-free as possible and offer a variety of Medicare Supplement plans through Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina.  Your application can be submitted right from the comfort of your home and our licensed NC health insurance agents are available to help you make changes to your existing plan, compare plans or enroll in new NC Medicare supplemental coverage.

If your current Medicare plan is not working for you or you are new to Medicare, please visit our website at www.nchealthplans.com or call 888-765-5400 to request a quote and see new 2017 Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC Medicare plans and pricing.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina is a big supporter of preventive care maintenance, offering preventive benefits covered at 100%. This flu season BCBSNC encourages its members to get a flu shot to help maintain optimal health.  A yearly flu vaccination is the best way to protect yourself against the influenza virus and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends you get a flu shot once a year.  The flu vaccine can help reduce your risk of contracting the illness, which in turn will help reduce absences from work or school, doctor’s visits or even potential hospitalizations.  While the vaccine is not a guarantee against getting the flu, it can be a big deterrent and can also reduce your symptoms should you become ill.

In addition to protecting yourself, the flu vaccine can help protect the people around you, some of whom may be more vulnerable.  The elderly, as well as infants  and those with chronic illnesses, can suffer serious, even life-threatening flu symptoms.  According to the CDC, a recent study showed that the flu vaccination reduced children’s risk of flu-related hospitalization by 74% during flu seasons from 2010-2012.

Getting a flu shot is just plain smart, which is why Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina encourages its members to get vaccinated.  With winter just around the corner, taking this critical step can help ensure that you and your family have the healthiest flu season possible. 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.

Open Enrollment is the yearly period when people in the United States can enroll in individual or family health insurance plans. 2016 Open Enrollment ended January 31, 2016 and Open Enrollment for 2017 begins November 1, 2016 and will last until January 31, 2017.  This is a very important time period because if you miss Open Enrollment, you may not be able to enroll in a health insurance plan unless you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.  To qualify for a Special Enrollment Period you must have a Qualifying Life Event, some of which include losing employer-sponsored coverage, having a baby, or getting married.

Since Open Enrollment 2017 is just around the corner, now is the time to begin considering your NC health insurance options. 2016 has brought significant changes to the insurance marketplace.  Both United Healthcare and Aetna announced this year that they will be pulling out of North Carolina for 2017.  This means that Blue Cross Blue Shield NC may very well be the only company offering health plans in all 100 counties in North Carolina.  Cigna has filed for plans in a few select counties throughout the state as well.

The Open Enrollment Period offers residents of NC the opportunity to enroll in health insurance or make changes to their current policy.  New rates for 2017 health plans will be available by November 1st and at that time, you will be able to submit an application for coverage.  Keep in mind that plans will not be effective until January, 2017 so if you are currently uninsured, you may want to consider temporary coverage until the end of December, 2016.

Under the Affordable Care Act, federal subsidies will also be available for 2017 health plans for NC residents who qualify and will be based on the Federal Poverty Level Chart.  NC Residents who fall between the 100% and 400% federal poverty level and who do not have employer coverage available to them can apply for a subsidy to help reduce the cost of their health insurance.

Open Enrollment is an important time of year to obtain the health coverage you need for you and your family for 2017. 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.

Blue Cross Blue Shield NC, in conjunction with Blue Prime, recently announced a new alliance with Walgreens, one of the nation’s largest drugstore chains.  This alliance initiates a 10-year retail pharmacy agreement based on a “simple, low-cost approach” intended to provide savings to clients and BCBSNC members.  This agreement will be in effect as of January 1, 2017 and will include a Prime and Walgreens home delivery for prescription medications.  The agreement is not exclusive, meaning BCBSNC members will still have access to other pharmacies in addition to Walgreens.

The good news for North Carolina residents is that Walgreens has more than 260 store locations throughout the state and over 8000 locations nationwide.  That means more convenient access to the prescription drugs you need at a cost you can afford.  Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina continues to partner with health care providers such as Walgreens to help ensure members have the quality healthcare they deserve.

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.

The Medicare Annual Enrollment Period begins in two short weeks and new Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC plans and rates have been released!  For more information, you can request a quote and compare plans through our website nchealthplans.com.  At NC Health Plans we are committed to helping our Medicare customers understand and enroll in Medicare supplemental coverage as easily as possible.  Not only can everything be done from the comfort of your own home, a licensed agent is simply a phone call away.

Keep in mind, the Medicare Annual Enrollment period does not officially begin until October 15th and you cannot submit an application until that date, but now is the time to begin comparing plans and choosing what best suits your needs for the coming year.  The Enrollment period will end December 7th.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina has been serving NC residents for over 80 years and is a name you can trust when it comes to your Medicare needs.  For more information on North Carolina Medicare 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.

“In every [life] phase, you’ll be confronted with something that scares you. And you have to go into it being as fearless as you can.”

-Rebecca Minkoff

If you are Medicare eligible and moving or have recently moved to North Carolina, welcome! North Carolina is a beautiful state with a diverse landscape, a rich history and much to offer individuals of every age.  North Carolina is well-known as a great state for retirees and boasts one of the largest populations of military verterans in the country.  We think you will love NC, but let’s face it, moving is a big deal.  As a military spouse of 20 years, I’ve made my fair share of moves and it’s always an ordeal.  In addition to learning a new place and new people, there are a lot of logistics that require time and attention.  Health insurance is one of those logistical issues that can be overwhelming when you move, but we at NC Health plans are here to help.

As a Medicare recipient you have some important things to consider when moving.  If you are newly retiring and new to Medicare, you should begin researching your NC Medicare options.  You will want to get enrolled in Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) through the Social Security office.  Next, you will need to determine what kind of supplemental policy is best for you.  Keep in mind that Medicare Advantage plans are NC county specific so you will need to determine what is available in the county to which you are moving.

If you are already a Medicare recipient, your move to North Carolina opens an important window for you in which you are able to enroll in new supplemental coverage.  It’s important that you do not wait too long after your move to secure NC Medicare supplemental insurance as there are strict rules regarding application deadlines and your ability to enroll your plan with guaranteed issue.  Understanding these important time frames can save you a big headache down the road and make your transition to North Carolina much easier. (more…)

Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina announced today that they will be offering individual health insurance plans on the federal Marketplace for 2017!  This is good news for North Carolina residents and comes as a sigh of relief for consumers in the wake of Aetna’s announcement earlier this summer that they would no longer be participating in the ACA in NC.  Aetna was the second major health insurance company to pull out of the Market, following United Healthcare’s similar announcement in April.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC’s decision to participate in the Marketplace reaffirms the North Carolina-based company’s commitment to providing quality, sustainable health insurance to the residents of North Carolina.

For 2017, BCBSNC will be the only health insurance company offering Affordable Care Act (ACA) plans in all 100 counties of North Carolina, meaning the company will absorb over 250,000 more customers than originally anticipated.  In light of this news, Blue Cross Blue Shield NC announced they will be revising their initial rate filings, with new rates being public sometime in October.

Over the past two years, Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina has weathered Marketplace changes, reporting $405 million in losses on Affordable Care Act plans alone. These losses have played a major role in BCBSNC’s debate over whether to participate this coming year in the ACA and similar losses are what Aetna and United Healthcare cited as their reasons for exiting the market in 2016.  Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina reiterated today that they are “doing everything [they] can to make the ACA work for North Carolina.”  Without Blue Cross Blue Shield NC’s participation in the Marketplace, 600,000 residents of NC would be at risk of losing their coverage, which is not something the company was willing to risk.  “This is our home too,” says Brad Wilson in an article released by BCBSNC earlier today, “and it’s important that our families, friends and neighbors – our customer – have access to the coverage they need.”

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.

As many North Carolina residents are aware, Blue Cross Blue Shield NC experienced one of the toughest years to date in terms of customer service and problematic technical issues.  Earlier this month, Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina signed a Voluntary Settlement Agreement with the Department of Insurance and were fined $3.6 million dollars as a civil penalty.  In accordance with the settlement, the disbursement of the record-breaking fine will go to benefit the public schools in North Carolina.  According to Assistant Director of Public Information for the North Carolina Department of Insurance Colin Day, this is “the largest fine ever issued to a single company by the department.”

Also in accordance with the settlement, BCBSNC customer premiums will not be impacted by the fine and Blue Cross Blue Shield has asserted that the fine will have “no bearing” on their decision to participate in the ACA for 2017.  Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC plans to announce by late September whether or not they will be offering individual health plans in NC on the Marketplace for the upcoming year.

Following the settlement agreement, Blue Cross Blue Shield NC released the following statement:

“We’ve reviewed the Department of Insurance’s Voluntary Settlement Agreement and have paid the amount for our technological problems. We have been actively addressing these issues, and expect to be stronger as a result of this process. We remain committed to our customers and the communities of North Carolina, and are deeply sorry for the challenges that this created for our customers and providers.“

With United Healthcare and Aetna exiting the Marketplace earlier this year, Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina may be the only company offering individual health plans to the residents of North Carolina in all 100 counties, with Cigna possibly playing a small role in a few select counties as well.  The voluntary settlement reaffirms BCBSNC’s commitment to the residents of North Carolina and their continued effort to remain a viable and trusted player in the NC health insurance market.

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.

With Open Enrollment 2017 just around the corner, you may be hearing a lot of talk about the Health Insurance Marketplace.  You also may be wondering exactly what a Health Insurance Marketplace is and how it will affect you and your ability to enroll in a health plan. Basically, a Health Insurance Marketplace, also called a Health Exchange, is an organization set up to facilitate the purchase of health insurance in each state under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare.  Some states have elected to run their own Marketplace or Exchange, while other states are a part of the federal Exchange.  North Carolina is a part of the federal Marketplace.

For North Carolina residents who do not have access to employer based insurance, the Marketplace (Exchange) provides access to individual health plans offered by private insurance companies.  As of September 1, 2016, the only company in North Carolina considering continuing offering health plans on the Marketplace in 2017 is Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC.  If you are applying for a federal subsidy or premium tax credit you are required to enroll a Marketplace plan.  All Marketplace plans offer ten essential benefits, including preventive care, and ask no health questions regarding preexisting conditions. (more…)

The NC Health Insurance landscape has changed dramatically since the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was signed into law in 2010 and implemented in 2014.  Otherwise known as Obamacare, the ACA was the single biggest change in health insurance history since Medicare took effect in 1965.  Over the last six years, North Carolinians have seen significant changes in how they purchase health insurance, what is available to them as consumers, how health insurance effects their taxes, and how much it will cost to insure themselves and their families.  In fact, in 2015 health insurance in North Carolina saw some of the biggest rate increases in history with the average cost of plans increasing over 25%.

As Open Enrollment 2017 approaches, North Carolina, as well as many other states across the nation, are experiencing a new upheaval as some of the largest insurance companies in the U.S are pulling out of the ACA Market altogether.  In April 2016, United Healthcare announced that it would pull out of most of the nation’s exchanges, including North Carolina, which was a big hit to the residents of the state, leaving only two companies offering individual health insurance plans.  A statement by UnitedHealth Group cited a “smaller overall market size and shorter-term, higher-risk profile within this market” as the reason the company chose to exit.

But that was just the beginning.   (more…)

If you are a Medicare recipient, the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) will begin October 15, 2016 and end on December 7, 2016. The Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) allows beneficiaries to enroll a plan, with coverage effective January 1st, 2017.  During Medicare AEP, Medicare beneficiaries may make any change to their Medicare benefits, including dropping, adding or changing Part D Prescription Drug plans. This period allows you to switch from one plan to another based on your current medical needs or because of changes to your current health plan that may require you to enroll in something new. The Annual Enrollment Period is important because if you miss it, you may not be able to make changes again until fall of 2017.

Keep in mind that although you are not allowed to submit an application prior to October 15th, now is the time to begin researching your NC Medicare options. Reevaluate your health care needs and see if your current plan is offering sufficient coverage benefits.  Your current Medicare plan may also make changes, such as an increase in monthly premium or availability in your area.  Make sure you are aware of any changes that might affect you so you are prepared on October 15th to make any necessary adjustments. (more…)