Are you looking for BCBSNC Dental Insurance and are over Age 65?  Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina has you covered!

Medical experts have linked periodontal (gum) disease to stroke, heart disease, diabetes and other critical health issues. In fact, nearly 75 percent of American adults have some form of periodontal disease. With proper daily dental care, however, regular dental checkups can help detect, prevent and treat gum disease and related disorders. Choose Dental Blue for Seniors and you can take a big step toward protecting your overall health.

With Dental Blue for Seniors, you’re covered for a broad range of dental services, including routine fillings and extractions, plus major services like crowns, bridges and dentures. Coverage also includes preventive care, such as bite-wing X-rays and fluoride treatments. That means you can get checkups and cleanings twice per benefit period, which ultimately supports better oral health.  In addition, there are no waiting periods for cleanings, routine oral exams and other diagnostic and preventive services. (more…)

At NC Health Plans, summer is our favorite time of year; however, summer can be stressful!  Although summer may seem like the time of year that should have the least amount of stress, oftentimes the fast-paced, vacation-packed, activity-driven summer months can be demanding and exhausting.  Stress is a normal psychological and physiological response to the ever-increasing demands of daily life, but it can wreak havoc on the human body. In fact, surveys show that many Americans suffer from stress at some point during the year and is it any wonder?  Managing the pressures of work, home, and family can be taxing to say the least and the stress created can take a toll on both body and mind.  For that reason, stress management is an increasingly important part of preventive care, even during the summer months.

One way to manage stress effectively is to practice relaxation.  In fact, developing relaxation techniques is an essential part of stress management.  If you are an overachiever, you may put relaxation low on your priority list, but don’t shortchange yourself.  Purposeful relaxation intended to recharge your mind and body is widely recognized as an important habit of highly effective individuals. (more…)

According to the American Cancer Society, more than one million people in the United States get cancer each year. That’s more than 1 in every 3 women and almost 1 out of every 2 men!  In addition, the American Heart Association reports that about 800,000 people in the U. S. will have a stroke during their lifetime and heart attacks, especially in women, are on the rise.  Have you ever considered how a critical illness might affect your family and your finances? The inability to work can have serious repercussions on your family’s income, in addition to the many costs you can incur during illness and recovery.

Critical Illness Insurance can help your family weather such times by paying you cash for qualifying illnesses such as life-threatening cancer, heart attack or stroke.  The money is paid directly to you and can be used with any other health insurance policy you may have, or to cover you financially if you don’t have health insurance.  You can use the cash payment to help you with things like insurance deductibles, coinsurance, copayments, durable medical equipment or simply to supplement your income and help pay bills while you or your loved one is out of work.  If your family relies on your income and the loss of that income would be catastrophic, a Critical Illness insurance policy may be the answer. (more…)

Affordability and simplicity are two of the most obvious benefits to a Term Life Insurance Policy, which is why we at NC Health Plans are pleased to offer Term Life Safeguard to our clients.  If your income is essential to your family’s financial security, then a Term Life policy can not only help alleviate financial stress, it can provide peace of mind to your loved ones should something unforeseen happen.  Term Life Safeguard can be purchased as a life insurance policy alone, or the policy allows for a Critical Illness rider to be added.  Term Life with Critical Illness provides relief to your family either upon your death or if your death is preceded by a critical illness that leaves your family with expensive medical bills.

Term Life Safeguard is a budget-friendly life insurance policy in which you can designate the number of years (10 or 20) as well as the benefit amount ($30K to $200K) to help ease the financial stress your family would face in the event of your death.  A cash benefit is paid directly to your beneficiaries for the amount you designate.  At the end of your policy term, you may choose to continue coverage on a yearly basis until age 75.  The Critical Illness benefit is available if you are diagnosed with a qualifying critical illness, such as heart attack or life-threatening cancer (details provided in the Summary of Benefits). (more…)

Summer is flying by and it won’t be long until Open Enrollment begins for 2017.  In fact, now is the time to start thinking about your health insurance needs for the coming year and getting prepared.  For many North Carolinians, 2016 saw an increase in insurance premiums as well as changes in long-standing networks.  Enrollment issues with the federal Marketplace and customer service issues across the board left many BCBSNC members feeling weary and frustrated.  As insurance agents, we understand those frustrations.  Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC has worked tirelessly over the last few months to update information, improve communication, and meet the challenges presented by the ACA market.  On June 9th, BCBSNC President and CEO Brad Wilson told the News and Observer, “While some critics of the law are saying ‘I told you so,’ I believe we need to take a more constructive tone toward making sure the ACA is in fact sustainable for the long haul” (Read full article).

And that is just what Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina is doing. (more…)

Open Enrollment 2017 begins November 1st and runs through January 31st, so if you are currently uninsured or need to make a plan change, you will be able to apply and obtain coverage in just a few months.  Open Enrollment will not begin until November 2016, but you can begin preparing even now. Although you cannot generate a quote with 2017 rates for a few more months, there are a number of questions you can ask yourself, as well as some important pieces of information you can gather so that you are ready to successfully navigate Open Enrollment 2017.

As you prepare, there are a few important things to consider:

• Are you looking for a policy for yourself or are you including family members on your policy?
• Do you think you will qualify for a government subsidy? (Subsidies determined by Modified Adjusted Gross Income and the number of people in your household).  Also, your subsidy will be based on projected 2017 income.
• What kind of BCBSNC health plan are you looking for?  Do you prefer a high deductible plan or something with co-payments?
• How important is the size of your network when it comes to health care providers in your area?

Also, remember that in order to secure an effective date of January 1st, you must complete your application by December 15th. (more…)

Open Enrollment 2017 will not begin until November, but you still have options available to help fill gaps in coverage and add value to your existing coverage.  At NC Health Plans, we offer Critical Illness, Accident and Hospital Indemnity plans that can significantly reduce the out of pocket expense you could potentially incur because of high deductibles and coinsurance.  Because of the nature of the ACA and the rising cost in health insurance, many people chose health plans with high deductibles in order to reduce monthly premiums.  Although providing some relief on a monthly basis, these plans can create enormous financial stress should something unexpected happen.

Having an Accident, Critical Illness or Hospital Indemnity plan that pays directly to you a flat sum of money should you face one of these unexpected events can save you from potentially catastrophic health costs. In addition, none of these plans are connected to any specific network of providers so they will complement any traditional health insurance plan and you can receive care from any doctor or hospital you choose.

The application process is simple and each of these plans offer great benefits at a low price to help reduce your financial risk should you be faced with an unexpected illness, accident or hospitalization.  Traditional health insurance is a must, both in terms of the law and in order to ensure you are properly covered for illnesses, preventive care and other medical procedures, but traditional health insurance is not always enough.  At NC Health Plans, we offer a wide variety of insurance products to help fill the gaps left by traditional insurance and add value to your current health plan. (more…)

Although Medicare Supplement benefits are standard under federal law, there are benefits to being a Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina member.  Not only does BCBSNC have a substantial presence in North Carolina, they are a name you can trust when it comes to your health insurance needs.  In fact, Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC has been serving the residents of North Carolina for over 80 years providing consumer-focused, high-quality health insurance.

For Medicare recipients, Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina offers the same high standard of customer care providing Medicare Supplement plans at a competitive price.  BCBSNC Medicare Supplement members also have access to added benefits like Blue to Blue, a program allowing members to change from one Supplement plan to another once a year without undergoing medical underwriting.  This means if your health care needs change, you can choose a new plan to accommodate your  changing circumstances.

In addition, BCBSNC partners with Silver and Fit to offer members access to local gyms and exercise facilities at a significantly reduced price.  Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina is a leader in promoting preventive care and Silver and Fit helps Medicare recipients maintain health and wellness, while also providing for regular exercise and social engagement. (more…)

Did you know that regardless of your age or health, routine eye exams are an important part of practicing preventive health care?  Even if you think your eyes are in great shape, an eye exam can help your doctor see potential problems you may not even notice.  Unfortunately, many ACA health insurance plans do not offer vision benefits for routine eye exams, frames, lenses or contacts, which can leave you with a gap in coverage and a big out of pocket expense.  Having a vision insurance plan can assist you in maintaining routine eye care and will even help pay for contacts and glasses should you need them.

Eye exams are especially important for young children because they can help ensure that eyes are developing normally and can assist parents in identifying any problems with vision a young child may have, but not be able to express.  In addition, during a comprehensive eye exam, your eye doctor will not only determine if you need prescription glasses or contacts, but also check for diseases of the eye such as glaucoma.

For as little as $11.40 a month, you can make sure your eyes are covered and can save hundreds of dollars on contacts, glasses and more.  A vision plan is a smart and inexpensive way to protect one of your most important assets – your eyes! (more…)

Summer is one of the best times of the year!  The sun is shining, the beaches are packed and kids are out of school and off to camp. In fact, health insurance may be the last thing on your mind.  Unfortunately, being uninsured can often limit summer fun and keep your kids from being able to participate in many of the activities otherwise available to them.  For instance, most camps and sports clinics require a proof of insurance in order for your child to participate.  Often parents are unaware of this fact until the last minute and can find themselves scrambling to try and find sufficient coverage.  Because Open Enrollment will not begin until November 1st, unless you have a qualifying life event, temporary health plans are the best option to ensure your family has the coverage they need this summer. (more…)

Happy 4th of July from NC Health Plans!

This 4th of July, amidst all the celebration, it’s important to keep in mind that fireworks can be dangerous.  Although fun, fireworks can cause burns and eye injuries in both children and adults, as well as more serious injuries.  In fact, according to the experts, the best way to protect your family is not to use any fireworks at home, but rather take your family to a public fireworks display and leave the show to the professionals.  In many areas fireworks at home are prohibited and if you intend to use fireworks at home this year, make sure you check with your local police department regarding what is legal.  Also, practice safety!  Review the following list of tips from the National Council of Fireworks Safety:

• Buy only legal fireworks.  In other words, look for fireworks that come with a label that includes the manufacturer’s name and instructions.  Store all fireworks in a cool, dry place.
• Never attempt to make your own fireworks.
• Always keep fireworks outside and keep a bucket of water or a garden hose handy.
• Never throw or point fireworks at another person.
• Light one firework at a time and wear eye protection.  Never attempt to relight a “dud.”  If it doesn’t work the first time, let it go.
• Have a designated shooter prepare a shooting area and carefully read the instructions on each firework.
• Refrain from alcohol use while handling fireworks of any kind.
• Soak all fireworks and pieces of fireworks before throwing them in the trash can.  If they are still ignited, they could explode at any time.
• Think about your pets!  Animals often become extremely agitated on the 4th of July because of all the noise.  Make sure to keep your pets secured indoors to reduce the risk of them running loose or getting injured.
• Finally, if someone does incur an injury, visit your doctor or hospital immediately.  Do not attempt to treat or flush out any eye injuries as this can cause even more damage.  Seek professional medical attention for any burns to either the eyes or skin.

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Summer is here and 2016 is almost half over, but if you still lack health insurance, a short term plan could be the solution.  Temporary health plans are a viable option for people who are experiencing gaps in coverage due to a job change, a move or other life circumstances.  They are also great for individuals who may be exempt from the individual mandate (tax penalty) to buy health insurance or those who may just choose to buy health insurance outside of Open Enrollment.

There are many benefits to a short term health plan.  For instance, most temporary insurance plans are less expensive than regular health insurance plans.  In fact, they are a low-cost solution that could protect your financial security should you be faced with an unexpected illness or injury.  You can also be approved for short term plans as soon as the very next day and coverage can be in place anywhere from 1 month to 11 months, whatever your circumstances require.  Temporary health insurance is a great way to fill gaps during times of transition or change. (more…)