“Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy.”  – Thich Nhat Hanh

There’s almost nothing sweeter than a beautiful smile, but almost nothing worse than teeth or gums that are causing you pain or discomfort.  Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC and Dental Blue can help.  Having a dental plan that provides for routine oral exams, teeth cleanings, fluoride treatments, and X-rays is an important part of oral maintenance and preventive care.  With a large network of dental providers, Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina is a trusted name when it comes to both health and dental insurance.

Although without a Qualifying Life Event you may not be able to obtain health insurance outside of Open Enrollment, under the laws of the ACA you can still get dental coverage.  Because dental insurance is not subject to the guidelines of Special Enrollment and Qualifying Life Events, you can enroll in a Dental Blue plan at any time during the year. (more…)

The final week of Open Enrollment has begun and with it, your final chance to enroll in Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina health insurance without experiencing a Qualifying Life Event.  If you are still uninsured, here are some very important things to keep in mind:

1. Under the Affordable Care Act, you are required by law to have health insurance.  If you do not have obtain health insurance for 2016, you will receive a tax penalty when you file your 2016 taxes, unless you have an exemption.  Tax penalties for 2016 have increased substantially.
2. In addition to receiving a tax penalty, if you are uninsured in 2016, you will be responsible for all of your routine and unexpected health care needs, which can quickly amount to thousands upon thousands of out-of-pocket expenses.
3. Applying for health insurance doesn’t have to be difficult.  We can help you choose a plan, discuss benefits and walk you through the enrollment process.  You can apply easily and quickly online or over the phone with one of our experienced agents.  Visit our website or call 888-765-5400.
4. Any coverage is better than zero coverage.  Even the least expensive plan available to you will provide you with coverage, including preventive care covered at 100%, and set a limit on your out-of-pocket expenses should you experience and illness or accident.  The least expensive Qualified Health Plan will also keep you from being penalized come tax time.
5. Don’t wait until the last minute!  The closer we get to the application deadline of January 31st, the more time-consuming and frustrating this process will become.  Deadlines often create technical issues and long wait times and can even keep you from submitting your application on time.
6. If you miss the January 31st deadline, you may not be able to enroll in health insurance until the next Open Enrollment, which will likely begin in November 2016.

For more information on Blue Cross Blue Shield of 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 of North Carolina, unlike many of the companies offering coverage through the health insurance Marketplace, provides plans that cover you both in-network as well as out-of-network.  Having out-of-network coverage when it counts can make an enormous difference in your out-of-pocket expenses.  It’s important, however, to find out ahead of time whenever possible whether or not your provider is in network with your plan.  Because you will pay more for out-of-network coverage, knowing which doctors and hospitals accept your plan is one of the best ways you can manage your health care costs. (more…)

Personally, I’m not crazy about winter and it’s mostly because I dislike being cold.  Even when there’s the slightest chill in the air, I struggle to stay active and highly prefer being snuggled up by the fire with a hot cup of tea and a good book.  Unfortunately, however, all that inactivity can leave me feeling lethargic.  Being active is an important part of living well and Blue Cross Blue Shield NC encourages preventive care all year long.  Below are a few ways to stay active this winter and keep yourself moving well into spring! (more…)

If you are like me, it probably seems like 2015 came and went in a flash!  Between the holidays and a new year, you may find yourself still not enrolled in health insurance.  If you missed the December 15th deadline for January 1st coverage and you also missed the January 15th deadline for February 1st coverage, you have yet another opportunity to enroll in health insurance for 2016! Open Enrollment will not officially end until January 31st and for the next 15 days, you can still submit an application and have coverage that will begin March 1st.  If you miss this deadline, however, you may be unable to enroll in a 2016 health insurance plan, which means not only will you be uninsured, you will likely incur a tax penalty.

Keep in mind that the 2016 tax penalty has increased to $695 per person or 2.5% of your annual individual income, whichever is greater.

The good news is you can still submit an application online in as little as ten minutes and if you are applying through the federal Marketplace, we are happy to assist you in submitting your application over the phone.  Give us a call at 888-765-5400.  We can assist you in choosing the plan that best suits your family’s needs and help you determine whether or not you qualify for a federal subsidy to help reduce the cost of your health plan.  Don’t let another year go by without obtaining health insurance for you and your family!

For more information on Blue Cross Blue Shield of 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.

If you are still uninsured and trying to secure health coverage for 2016, your application must be submitted by midnight January 15th in order to qualify for a February 1st effective date (some exceptions apply).  Although Open Enrollment will not officially end until January 31st, 2016, you do not want to miss this important deadline!  In fact, if you fail to submit your application by January 15, 2016, in most cases you will not be eligible for health coverage to begin until March 1st and you will remain without health coverage throughout the month of February. (more…)

Open Enrollment officially ends January 31st, 2015 and after that date, you may not be able to enroll until the next AEP (Annual Enrollment Period), which will likely begin November, 2016.  If you have not yet enrolled in a health insurance policy for 2016, you still have time to do so, but don’t wait!  As the end of January approaches, it will become increasingly difficult to get through to the Federal Marketplace or submit applications online.  Due to high volume around effective date deadlines, very often these websites experience technical issues and you would be wise to complete your application a few days prior.

This is especially true if you are applying for a federal subsidy.  Due to the number of people trying to contact the Marketplace, you may have to wait on hold for hours at a time just to speak to a representative.  If you wait to submit your application, you could wind up in a situation where you miss your effective date altogether.

The good news for consumers is that the application for your federal subsidy can now be completed easily and efficiently!  It can be done online in less than ten minutes or you can call 888-765-5400 and one of our licensed and professional agents can assist you in submitting your application right over the phone.  Again, this process usually takes only a few minutes and the earlier you submit your application, the sooner you will have insurance cards in hand, giving you the peace of mind that comes from knowing you and your family are covered for 2016.

Keep in mind that although Open Enrollment does not officially end until January 31st, in order for your coverage to begin February 1st, you must submit your application by January 15th.  If you submit after that date, you will not have coverage until March 1st.

For more information on Blue Cross Blue Shield of 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.

If you are one of the many Americans who waited… and waited… and waited on hold with the Federal Marketplace trying your best to enroll in health insurance by the December 15th deadline, but were still unable to complete the process, we can help! Although the deadline has passed for a January 1st effective date, Open Enrollment is still happening and you can be enrolled in a Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina health plan starting February 1st in just minutes!  We offer a simple, straight-forward, and short application you can do online or over the phone with one of our experienced and professional agents and we are happy to help you choose a plan, submit an application and assist you through enrolllment. (more…)

As one of the ten essential benefits included in every Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina health plan, mental health and substance abuse disorder services (including behavioral health treatment) is one of the most important.  Mental and emotional health is paramount to being a healthy human being and let’s face it, it’s harder to stay physically sound if you are not mentally and emotionally well.  Stress can take a big toll on our bodies and we all know it’s important for us to do whatever we can to alleviate stress, but it seems almost impossible at times.  With all the hustle and noise and pressure that surrounds us, how can we possibly find ways to eliminate stress and still keep up with all the demands of our daily lives?  Especially around the holidays, it seems we are caught up in a whirlwind of activity that simply will not let up.

But here is one thing you can easily do to help alleviate stress and according to a recent study, it can help save you from potential heart failure. (more…)

Are you one of the many Americans who qualify for a federal tax credit under the Affordable Care Act?  If so, you can now complete and submit your application in less than ten minutes!  If you attempted to apply for a subsidy in past years, you may have encountered long wait times, confusing online applications and the frustration of poor communication regarding your application, payment deadlines and policy information.  But that is no longer necessary.  Through a simple, straight-forward, and fast online application, you can now easily enroll in health insurance through the federal Marketplace. (more…)

Christmas is just around the corner and if you have kids like I do, you may be looking for a sweet, healthy and fun holiday treat.  These Santa strawberries are not only adorable, they are also delicious and kids of all ages are sure to enjoy them!  Easy to prepare, these whimsical Santa strawberries can be served as either an appetizer or dessert and though they will surely satisfy, they won’t weigh you down.  All you need to complete this recipe is 5 simple ingredients:  strawberries, mascarpone cheese, powdered sugar, vanilla and mini chocolate chips.  The total preparation time is only about 30 minutes.

Check out this simple recipe from Giada De Laurentiis. (more…)

One of the benefits of being a Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina member is preventive care!  BCBSNC is a big supporter of preventive care maintenance and every Blue Cross Blue Shield NC health plan offers preventive care, including an annual wellness check-up, absolutely free!  As we rapidly approach the end of 2015 and the start of a new year, if you have yet to make use of your 2015 wellness check-up covered at 100%, now is the time!  Contact your primary care doctor, schedule an appointment before year-end and BCBSNC will pick up the bill.

As Mark Twain once said, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, which is why seeing your physician annually is extremely important, especially as you age.  Very often, more serious health problems can be avoided simply by making small adjustments to diet and exercise and your doctor can help you target specific areas that may need a little more attention.

Getting your wellness check-up can also help you be better prepared for the new year.  Knowing where you stand as far as your physical health can not only give you peace of mind, it can also help you focus as you make New Year’s resolutions and take steps to improve or maintain your health in 2016.

2016 is just around the corner and if you are still uninsured, take this opportunity to become a Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina member and make an investment in your health.  Not only will you have preventive care benefits covered at 100%, as a member you also have access to a 24 hour nurse hotline and can manage your health care goals and accomplishments through an easy and interactive online service called Blue Connect.  Nothing is as important as your health!  Don’t let 2015 come to a close without visiting your health care provider for an annual wellness check-up.

For more information on Blue Cross Blue Shield of 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.