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.

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

(more…)

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
(more…)

Obesity

The good news for those struck with puppy love – or any other pet connection — is that regular interaction with an animal will improve your health and reduce your medical bills.

Pet owners gain health benefits and visit the doctor 10 per cent less than those without pets. The health benefits dipped for those owners whose pets died during the survey and increased for those who acquired a pet.

People with pets are most often better off than people without them. When a pet dies people’s health can decrease; when they get a pet for the first time their health can improve—and it appears that it didn’t matter what sort of pet it was, from horses to goldfish or dogs and cats.  One would assume it would mainly be dogs who offered a health benefit because of the exercise that often comes with them, but it appears it has more to do with companionship.

An animal can also act as prevention against illness.  It also noted that pet owners visit the doctor less often, have lower blood pressure, experience less sleeping difficulties and are in better health than non-pet owners.

To own and care for a pet, particularly a dog, is to enjoy better physical and mental health.  Dog owners, compared to non-owners, are more physically active and report greater satisfaction with their physical fitness. They visit the doctor less often. Fewer take medication for high blood pressure, sleeping difficulties, high cholesterol or a heart problem.

HOW PETS KEEP YOU HEALTHY

Stroking a pet helps us relax and spending time with a pet can have a soothing effect as our heartbeats slow and blood pressure reduces. For people with high blood pressure having a pet is as beneficial to the condition as reducing salt or alcohol intake.

Pets can reduce the impact of grief. If you have a pet you’re more likely to recover from a heart attack than non-pet owners because of the blood-pressure reducing benefits of pet ownership and the extra companionship for those who live alone. Children with pets are often more self-reliant, more sociable and less selfish than those without a companion animal.

TEACHING RESPONSIBILITY
Pets teach children important lessons about responsibility and caring for another life. Many hospitals use pets as therapy for hospitalised children. Pets are loyal companions who can make people feel loved and needed. Pets can spark social interactions; if you’re walking a dog in the park it can be a good icebreaker.

Make your pet a part of your family.  Only bring a new pet into your home if you have the time, patience, finances and love to provide for that special addition.

For 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.

Credit for Prior Coverage: This is something that may or may not apply when you switch employers or insurance plans. A pre-existing condition waiting period met under while you were under an employer’s (qualifying) coverage can be honored by your new plan, if any interruption in the coverage between the two plans meets state guidelines.  Letters of creditable coverage are sent from previous insurance companies to the previously insured.  Newly enrolled customers for BCBSNC can fax their letters of creditable coverage to 919-765-7149.

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.

Explanation of Benefits: The insurance company’s written explanation to a claim, showing what they paid and what the client must pay. Sometimes accompanied by a benefits check.

COBRA: Federal legislation that lets you, if you work for an insured employer group of 20 or more employees, continue to purchase health insurance for up to 18 months if you lose your job or your coverage is otherwise terminated. For more information, visit the Department of Labor.

Waiting Period

This is the time one would have to wait until certain health insurance coverages are available.

Lifetime Maximum

This is the most amount of money the health insurance policy will pay for the entire life. Pay attention to individual lifetime maximums and family lifetime maximums as they can be different.

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.