Like adults, children should be physically active most, if not all, days of the week.

Experts suggest at least 60 minutes of moderate physical activity daily for most children which could include walking fast, bicycling, jumping rope, dancing fast, and playing basketball. These are all good ways for your child to be active.

As children spend more time watching TV and playing computer and video games, they spend less time being active. Parents play a big role in helping kids get up and get moving.

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WHY EXERCISE – WHY NOW?

Even if you’re losing weight on a diet, you should start an exercise regimen. Exercise is more important than you might think. The benefits of regular physical activity impact every aspect of your daily life.

Exercise helps with ease of movement, builds strong muscles, improves your posture, makes your joints more stable, decreases chronic pain and leads to better sleep patterns and emotional well-being.

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For information on how to reduce your health insurance premiums when you quit smoking, call our toll free number at 888-765-5400.  We offer health insurance through Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) and under the Blue Advantage plan, you can qualify for a discount in your premium if you fall within their preferred guidelines.  To see if you qualify, contact our office for a rate quote and on-line application or visit our website www.nchealthplans.com.  The following article on  on “How to Avoid Weight Gain When you Quit Smoking” came from a post from the American Heart Association.

How to Avoid Weight Gain When Quitting Smoking

If you’re going to quit smoking, you need to know about situations that may tempt you to gain weight. There are some common situations and practical solutions for each. This information is based on the real-life experiences of many people.

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 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.

1. Have your spouse portion your food, or portion it yourself. Put away extra food so it’s hard to have second helpings. (more…)

QUIT SMOKING – YOUR HEALTH COVERAGE THROUGH BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF NC (BCBSNC) CAN BE RATED AS MUCH AS 30% HIGHER IF YOU SMOKE.  IF YOU QUIT SMOKING, NOT ONLY DO YOU GAIN THE HEALTH BENEFITS, BUT YOU ALSO PAY LOWER HEALTH INSURANCE PREMIUMS.  Call our agency for more details about healthy lifestyle discounts and how to reduce your premiums – 888-765-5400.  The following article on Nicotine Addition came from a a post from the American Heart Association. (more…)

Second-Hand Smoke Fact Sheet

Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC (BCBSNC) offers prescription drug coverage through our Blue Advantage products.

Getting prescription medications is simple. The following is a brief overview of a standard pharmacy benefits plan.

• Visit a participating pharmacy with your prescription and your BCBSNC ID card.
• A copayment or coinsurance amount is required for a prescription, unless the copayment or coinsurance is waived. Copayments are the amounts paid for each prescription. Copayments or coinsurance are determined by the tier classification for a medication.
• Claims are filed electronically. No paperwork is required. (more…)

An Eye Exam Every Year? Under Blue Advantage, Plan A offered through Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) routine Eye Exams are covered with only a co-payment.

Yearly eye exams are a good idea. Some people actually have concerns that warrant exams or office visits more often than once per year. One must understand that an eye examination is not only a simple vision check. A comprehensive eye examination is a fairly complicated series of tests that not only checks your eye sight, but also neurological function, eye pressure, eye muscle coordination and health of the external and internal eye structures.

Kids and Eye Exams

At around six months and again at 3 years of age, most pediatricians screen children for potential eye problems. If you are concerned about something or have a family history of childhood eye problems, then (more…)

Amanda Morrow is the customer service representative for Jerry Ballard and Associates.  She resides in Morehead City, NC with her husband and 2 sons.  Amanda is responsible for communicating with the applicants and enrolled clients of Jerry and Cathy.  She informs applicants of their application status, assists them with the application process, and continues to support them once enrolled.   Customer service is just a phone call away for your Blue Advantage, Blue Options HSA, Dental Blue, and other health insurance needs.

In her spare time, Amanda enjoys boating, reading, and taking trips to the mountains.  After attending UNC-CH and ECU, Amanda received her Bachelor of Science degree in 1998.  She taught elementary school for several years before entering the medical and health world.  Amanda was a pharmaceutical sales representative for AstraZeneca and St. Jude Medical.  She began working for Jerry and Cathy Ballard in 2007.  Amanda looks forward to working with each and every one of our clients.

 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 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.

Apply for Dental Blue® Coverage Now!

1. When does my Dental Blue® coverage begin?

A: If your application is received on or before the 20th of the month, your coverage will be effective on the first day of the next month. If your application is received after the 20th, coverage will take effect on the first day of the following month. For example, coverage for an application received May 19th will begin on June 1st. Coverage for an application received May 21st will begin July 1st. (more…)

Health Insurance North Carolina: Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina® (BCBSNC®). The easiest to understand BCBSNC® health insurance North Carolina quotes available on-line….INSTANTLY!

Many people in North Carolina do not have access to Group Sponsored Health Plans. Get the most up to date, accurate BCBSNC® quotes to enable YOU to make not only a well-informed decision, but also the one that is best for YOU! (more…)

There is no better time than right now to make plans to ensure your family’s financial security in the event of your death with an affordable, term life policy. Jerry Ballard & Associates, your North Carolina agent, is pleased to introduce you to the term life insurance plans of several top insurance companies, all with A to A++ ratings from independent industry analysts A.M. Best, Fitch, Moody’s, and Standard & Poor’s.

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  • Banner Life Insurance Company
  • Transamerica Occidental Life Insurance Company
  • Lincoln Benefit Life
  • Lincoln National Life

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Healthy on the Job

As a follow-up to last year’s research with employers, this year we went straight to the source. So we surveyed employees about their attitudes and actions regarding workplace wellness programs. We found that many of the things that employees want are easy to do and don’t cost a lot of money.

Programs with the highest participation rates, when offered, are:
Paid time off for doctor’s visits or health care needs: 78%, Purchasing healthy café or vending options: 67%, Attending health fairs: 67%, Participating in physical activity during work hours: 67%, Completing a health risk assessment: 66%
• The following programs had a high participation rate but were among the less
frequently offered by employers:Healthy café or vending machine options, Participating in physical activity during work hours, Completing a health risk assessment
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