When it comes to torture, we could all learn a thing or two from kids. Who knows better than they how to extract most anything they want within minutes of applying the technique? I’m talking about whining, of course — that grating mewling that causes us to do anything (anything!) just to make it go away. But you can break the habit. And the rewards of victory can be rich for both of you.
Toddlers
Why they do it: Early talkers whine like babies cry. Some experts say that whining tends to peak in a child’s development when she’s feeling out of control and overwhelmed — emotions that pretty much sum up toddlerhood. She lacks the vocabulary to articulate her frustrations, and that whimpering is the natural default noise.
Certain triggers, such as hunger and fatigue, can also cause breakdowns (true for kids of all ages), so keep that in mind the next time you take your toddler grocery shopping close to naptime.
How to stop it: Patience becomes the first rule when confronted with these early bouts of whining. When her son, Matthew, who’s almost 3, melts down because he can’t wait ten more minutes for dinner, Rae Sullivan of Durham, North Carolina, gives him a little extra attention, like five minutes of lap or snuggle (more…)

CAN YOU PURCHASE A “CHILD ONLY” POLICY?

  As an agency, we receive many calls each day from parents who are looking to purchase private health insurance for their child and/or children.  Circumstances could vary from removing a dependent off an employee group health insurance policy to saving money in premium, a child reaching maturity, a new birth, marriage and an array of different circumstances.  The answer is YES… Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) provides health insurance beginning at birth.  To apply for private insurance for your child click here and complete the form with all information and we will immediately send you an email with the quote and on-line application for Blue Advantage.    The good news, child only policies are affordable and provide excellent insurance coverage. You can select from a variety of coverage that works in your budget, 100%, 80% or 70% plans.  With Blue Advantage, Plan A, you pay just a $15.00 co-payment to visit your primary care physician and only $30.00 to see a specialist, neither are subject to the deductible or co-insurance.   Prescription drug benefits are available under these Blue Advantage plans with only a $10.00 co-payment for generic drugs, $35.00 for preferred and $50.00 for non-preferred and 25% co-insurance for specialty drugs.  Plan B and C require a deductible before prescription co-payments begin, Plan A does not. (more…)

Pharmacists in North Carolina have been granted temporary authority to administer seasonal and H1N1 flu shots to patients 14 years of age and older beginning October 9, 2009.

The Pharmacy and Medical Boards passed an emergency amendment to the pharmacist vaccination rule authorizing pharmacists to administer seasonal and H1N1 influenza vaccines to patients age 14 and up. This authorization is expected to extend through July 2010.

Eligible members ages 14 and older may go to an in-network pharmacist or CVS MinuteClinic to receive a seasonal flu shot, as well as an H1N1 vaccine – when it becomes available.

To find in-network pharmacists, visit the Doctors, Rx and Hospitals section on our site, and search for “Pharmacist (Flu & Other Limited Injections)” under Specialty. To find a participating CVS MinuteClinic, search for “Convenience Care Center” under Specialty.

The above information is taken from a News Release from BCBSNC October 2009.

For more information on health insurance coverage in North Carolina and how to utilize My Member Services, please visit our website at www.nchealthplans.com or call our toll free number 888-765-5400 and speak with one of our qualified 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.

H1N1 Prevention, Symptoms and Treatment

Flu season is likely to start earlier and be more widespread this year. The 2009 H1N1influenza virus that triggered the April 2009 outbreak and caused only mild illness will likely be the major strain. Standard strains of the flu will also be circulating, and there is a chance that the flu (seasonal and 2009 H1N1) could cause more severe illness.

Flu symptoms include fever or chills and cough or sore throat. Symptoms may alsoinclude runny nose, body aches, headache, tiredness, diarrhea, or vomiting. It is hard to tell if someone who is sick has the 2009 H1N1 flu or seasonal flu.

Prevention will play a very key role this year. Prevention includes protecting yourself

and NOT spreading the disease to others. Here’s what you should do:

Prevent:

· A cough or sneeze may be the first symptom of illness. Therefore, every

time you cough or sneeze, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue and throw

used tissues in the trash.

· If you develop flu symptoms, make arrangements to go home as soon as

possible.

· Stay home until at least 24 hours after you no longer have fever (100

degrees Fahrenheit or 38 degrees Celsius) or signs of a fever (chills, feel very

warm, have a flushed appearance, or are sweating). Checking for absence of a

fever should be determined without the use of ibuprofen or acetaminophen.

(more…)

Provide incentives for employees to get active and eat right

Incentives can both support and motivate participation among employees. Consider both formal or company incentives and informal or program rewards and prizes from local resources to reinforce participation in workplace wellness programs. Either way, it is important to provide incentives that are attractive and meaningful to your employees.

(more…)

If you have a child, you’ve probably heard those familiar words, “Can we keep him?” Dog’s aren’t just a man’s best friend anymore; they’ve become the whole family’s friend. If you’re like any typical family, the children will probably spend the most time with your new dog. This is why it’s very important you teach your child how to take care of him. Here are a few dog rules to teach them:

1. Make sure you remember to feed the dog and give him fresh water each day. Explain that dogs, especially puppies, need nutrition each day for energy and proper growth. If you have an outside dog, it’s especially important that his water dish is changed everyday. Standing water is a breeding place for mosquitoes. Also dirt can get flung into their dish. It is equally important for small children to be supervised when dealing with this type of responsibility. Sometimes smaller children can be too eager to help. Explain to your children why we don’t feed dog’s certain foods such as sweets. Dog food is made to meet their dog’s nutritional needs and sweets can make their dog sick.

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Cold Versus the Swine Flu

Fever: Fever is rare with a cold. Fever is usually present with the flu in up to 80% of all flu cases. A temperature of 100°F or higher for 3 to 4 days is associated with the flu.
Coughing: A hacking, productive (mucus- producing) cough is often present with a cold.
A nonproductive (non-mucus producing) cough is usually present with the flu (sometimes referred to as dry cough).
Aches:Slight body a chest and pains can be part of a cold. Severe aches and pains are common with the flu.
Stuffy Nose Stuffy nose is commonly present with a cold and typically resolves spontaneously within a week. Stuffy nose is not commonly present with the flu.

Chills: Chills are uncommon with a cold. 60% of people who have the flu experience chills.

Tiredness: Tiredness is fairly mild with a cold. Tiredness is moderate to severe with the flu.

Sneezing: Sneezing is commonly present with a cold. Sneezing is not common with the flu.

Sudden Symptoms: Cold symptoms tend to develop over a few days. The flu has a rapid onset within 3-6 hours. The flu hits hard and includes sudden symptoms like high fever, aches and pains.

Headache: A headache is fairly uncommon with a cold. A headache is very common with the flu, present in 80% of flu cases.

Sore Throat:  Sore throat is commonly present with a cold. Sore throat is not commonly present with the flu..

Chest Discomfort: Chest discomfort is mild to moderate with a cold. Chest discomfort is often severe with the flu.

The above information is for general information only.  Always consult a doctor and seek medical attention if you are ill.

For more information on health insurance coverage in North Carolina and how to utilize My Member Services, please visit our website at www.nchealthplans.com or call our toll free number 888-765-5400 and speak with one of our qualified 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.

Chapel Hill (September 22, 2009) – Defying expectations in this time of economic stress, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) has been named among the 2009 Working Mother 100 Best Companies for its unwavering dedication to family-friendly benefits.

BCBSNC and the other winning companies lead the way in pioneering programs that support families with 100 percent offering flextime, on-site lactation and telecommuting; and 98 percent offering job-sharing and wellness programs-numbers that dwarf those seen nationwide. In addition, financial programs available to the 100 Best employees are on the rise, a much needed boost for families in today’s economy. These include tuition reimbursement, retirement planning and pre-tax FSAs for childcare.

Bob Greczyn, BCBSNC president and CEO said, “This is a great honor for our company to be recognized for third year in a row as one of the 100 best companies in the nation for working mothers. This ranking recognizes our strong commitment to attract and retain high quality employees by offering benefits that count. It shows that we’re listening to and responding to the needs of North Carolina’s working mothers and working families.”

By contrast, national numbers are significantly lower with just 25 percent of companies offering on-site lactation (vs. 100 percent of the 100 Best), 11 percent with stress reduction programs (vs. 96 percent of the 100 Best), 35 percent offering health insurance for part-timers (vs. 99 percent of the 100 Best) and 16 percent offering job-sharing (vs. 98 percent of the 100 Best).

“The Working Mother 100 Best Companies stand head and shoulders above the rest,” said Carol Evans, CEO, Working Mother Media. “For example, in the last year, we saw the number of companies nationwide offering flexible work arrangements diminish five percentage points, while the 100 Best Companies stayed steady at 100 percent. The 100 Best provide leadership where and when we need it most, furnishing a framework of support for working families during good times and bad. If all companies adopted these best practices, more families could weather the economic storm.”

Profiles of the 100 Best Companies, as well as national comparisons, are in the October issue of Working Mother and at workingmother.com ( http://www.workingmother.com/ ).

“Moms are increasingly becoming the sole breadwinners in many households as men lose their jobs at a higher rate than women,” said Suzanne Riss, Editor in Chief, Working Mother magazine. “Now more than ever, our readers and all working mothers need the support of their employers. By offering benefits like paid maternity leave, the ability to work from home and wellness programs, as well as programs that enhance financial well-being, our 100 Best are helping to reduce stress in the busy lives of working moms. These companies epitomize family-friendly support at its best.”

(more…)

Effective October 1, 2009, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina is revising our upfront member collection policy for members who have Blue Options HSA, Blue Options HRA and any Blue Options non-copayment plans.

Beginning October 1, 2009, for Blue Options HSA and Blue Options HRASM, as well as any Blue Options non-copayment plans, providers are no longer limited to collecting up to $50 for an office visit or up to $500 for services received at a facility. Providers may now collect the member liability based on the benefits of the member’s specific plan and the provider’s current fee schedules for elective or scheduled care.

Why are we making this change?
Collecting the patient’s share of the bill has become increasingly important in recent years as more cost has shifted to members. For the products designated above, many patients have higher deductibles than in the past and also pay a percentage of the remaining bill. This change to our collection policy allows us to leverage our technology and partner with our providers to reduce the administrative expenses that can add to the total cost of health care.

What’s required of the providers?
If a provider office maintains a policy to collect the estimated patient financial responsibility at the time of service, they are required to:
• Collect only according to negotiated network fee schedules in place at the time of service.
• Collect only an amount determined to be accurate with reasonable certainty through validation using BCBSNC provider tools.
• Refund any overpayment owed to the member as soon as identified, but no more than 45 days after they receive our payment for the service in question.
What does this mean for copayment plans?
Blue Care®, Blue Options, Blue Advantage®, and State Health Plan members should expect to pay their applicable copayment for office services as usual. When deductible and/or coinsurance apply, providers can use the above guidelines to request member liability prior to treatment.

Does this apply to emergency and urgent care?
For emergency services, providers cannot require any upfront payment from the member until the provider receives the BCBSNC Explanation of Payment (EOP).

For urgent care services, providers can use the above guidelines to require payment of member liability at time of service or after treatment.

(more…)

BCBSNC Launches New Online Application

On September 28th, Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina launched its new user-friendly Online Application.  The Online Application is now compatible with popular internet browsers such as Safari, Mozilla and Firefox.  In addition, the new application provides BCBS applicants navigation panel links, radio buttons for health questions, red text showing where an error occurred, the ability to change effective dates before accepting a final rate and plan, and the ability to view 2010 rates.  Dental effective dates will now coincide with health effective dates for applicants as well. 

Click here to request a Personalize Quote and Online Application for Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina!  It will be our pleasure to assist you with your health insurance needs!

For more information on health insurance coverage in North Carolina and how to utilize My Member Services, please visit our website at www.nchealthplans.com or call our toll free number 888-765-5400 and speak with one of our qualified 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.

Flu season is likely to start earlier and be more widespread this year. The 2009 H1N1 influenza virus that triggered the April 2009 outbreak and caused only mild illness will likely be the major strain. Standard strains of the flu will also be circulating, and there is a chance that the flu (seasonal and 2009 H1N1) could cause more severe illness. Blue Cross Blue Shield is making flu shots available to eligible members with preventive care benefits. (The flu shot is subject to any applicable copayment, deductible or coinsurance.)

H1N1 Prevention, Symptoms and Treatment

Flu season is likely to start earlier and be more widespread this year. The 2009 H1N1
influenza virus that triggered the April 2009 outbreak and caused only mild illness will
likely be the major strain. Standard strains of the flu will also be circulating, and there is
a chance that the flu (seasonal and 2009 H1N1) could cause more severe illness.
Flu symptoms include fever or chills and cough or sore throat. Symptoms may also
include runny nose, body aches, headache, tiredness, diarrhea, or vomiting. It is hard
to tell if someone who is sick has the 2009 H1N1 flu or seasonal flu.
Prevention will play a very key role this year. Prevention includes protecting yourself
and NOT spreading the disease to others. Here’s what you should do:

Prevent:
• A cough or sneeze may be the first symptom of illness. Therefore, every
time you cough or sneeze, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue and throw
used tissues in the trash.
• If you develop flu symptoms, make arrangements to go home as soon as
possible.
• Stay home until at least 24 hours after you no longer have fever (100
degrees Fahrenheit or 38 degrees Celsius) or signs of a fever (chills, feel very
warm, have a flushed appearance, or are sweating). Checking for absence of a
fever should be determined without the use of ibuprofen or acetaminophen.
• Hand washing protects yourself and others, so wash your hands often,
especially after you cough or sneeze, or:
o Before and after preparing food or eating.
o After using the restroom.
o Before and after touching your nose, eyes or mouth.
o After you’ve been in contact with commonly touched surfaces such as
doorknobs and handrails.
• Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
o Use alcohol-based hand cleaners if soap and water are not available.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth to prevent spreading germs.

Vaccinate:
• Get the vaccine for seasonal flu – usually available in October – to prevent or
decrease the severity of the flu.

(more…)

Blue Advantage health insurance through Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina is our most popular individual health plan in NC.  This is a traditional PPO plan with doctor office co-payments as low as $15 for your primary care physician and as low as $30 for a specialist.  BCBSNC allows you to build your own plan, selecting deductibles ranging from $250.00 up to $5000.00 with co-insurance starting at 50% up to 100%.  Blue Advantage Plans also allow an add on option of Dental Blue and/or maternity coverage as well.   (more…)