A Home Health Care policy is an affordable solution that provides flexibility and financial support as you recover at home surrounded by family and friends.  For as little as $12.15 monthly, a Home Health Care policy pays benefits directly to you and in addition to other NC health insurance, including Medicare.  If you or a loved one has ever been faced with an accident or illness that requires skilled nursing care, physical therapy, speech therapy or other types of home health care, you know how important it is to be able to recover at home comfortably and free of financial stress.

Perhaps you have aging parents and are concerned how a sudden illness or unforseen accident might affect your ability to care for them without having to admit them into a nursing home or assisted living facility.  Or maybe it’s you or your spouse that could possibly need at home health care. Either way, a Home Health Care policy can help.

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At NC Health Plans, we love summer!  But did you know that extended periods of rest are actually important to your health?  According to the New York Times, taking a vacation can actually improve your physical health and both men and women who take a vacation every two years compared to every six, will lesson the risk of coronary heart disease or heart attacks.  Elaine Eaker, author of a study by the Framingham Heart Study, confirms saying “this is real evidence that vacations are important to your physical health.”

Similar to exercise, which requires periods of strenuous activity followed by periods of rest to maximize training effects, periods of work combined with periods of relaxation maximize productivity.  According to about.com, taking time off to rejuvenate will help insulate you from the symptoms of burnout that can arise from accumulated pressure making you “more creative and productive than your overworked, under-rested counterparts.”  Ellen Langer, a psychology professor at Harvard University told CNN that mindless, uninterrupted routines tend to result in boredom, which hinders creativity and mindfulness. (more…)

Happy Father’s Day from NC Health Plans!  Traditionally, breakfast in bed is a Mother’s Day kind of treat, but last year at Father’s Day we suggested trying it out for Dad and my kids loved it.  In fact, in our home my husband seems to have a lot easier time laying in bed all morning than I do, so I thought we would continue the tradition.

Breakfast, however, can be a tricky meal to provide for men as they often prefer something heartier and meatier than french toast and strawberries.  Luckily, I found this little Father’s Day treat from Food Network that I’m certain will please the Dad in your life, not to mention any kids who may be hoping to share a few bites of Dad’s breakfast in bed.

In my opinion, Breakfast Burgers are the perfect Father’s Day surprise and can be made easily using simple ingredients you probably already have in your refrigerator.  Get the recipe and get started!  This Father’s Day, show your appreciation for the guy who helps make life possible by letting him enjoy a delicious Breakfast Burger in bed.

For more information on 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 currently enrolled in a high deductible health plan and are looking for relief, the Out of Pocket Protection
Plan is an inexpensive way to eliminate or reduce high out of pocket healthcare expenses.  The Out of Pocket Protection Plan helps pay your deductible up to $6350 as well as other copayments, and the benefits are paid directly to you in addition to any other coverage you may have. As an added benefit, this plan offers an Emergency Accident Benefit that pays $250 in case of accidents, up to four times a year.  If you are confined in a hospital as a resident inpatient, the Out of Pocket Protection Plan will pay the inpatient benefit you select (either $100 or $200) for up to ten days per hospital confinement.  That could amount to thousands of dollars back in your pocket!

With NC health insurance premiums on the rise, many people have chosen to enroll a health plan with a higher deductible in order to make their monthly premium more affordable.  Many short term or temporary health plans also have high deductibles that can be difficult to meet.  Although high deductible plans are a good way to keep health insurance costs under control, when you or a family member actually needs health care, it can be a big hit to your wallet. (more…)

If you are turning 65, you are facing a big transition when it comes to your health insurance.  Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina and NC Health Plans can help by offering you important information on Medicare Supplements, Senior Dental plans and other supplemental health policies that can fill in the gaps left by Original Medicare Parts A & B.  Medicare may sound simple, but there’s a wealth of information you need to know in order to make the best decision for your health care needs.  Having a licensed Blue Cross Blue Shield agent on your side can aid in making the move to Medicare a much more seamless process and enlisting the help of an agent comes at no cost to you.

Although your Initial Enrollment Period for Medicare will not begin until 3 months prior to your 65th birthday month, you should begin your research as early as six months out.  Knowing what is and is not covered by Original Medicare may surprise you and it’s important to be informed.  In addition, you can begin getting an idea of what types of Medicare Supplement plans are available to you and what steps you need to take to enroll.  Keep in mind, you can enroll in a BCBSNC Medicare Supplement 3 months prior to your birthday month and we recommend submitting an application well in advance of the effective date you need.  That way, you will eliminate any risk of having a gap in coverage. (more…)

Did you know that summer can be hard on your smile?  Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina and Dental Blue, however, help you practice crucial preventive care throughout the year.  Studies indicate that extreme heat can actually harm your teeth and gums and the high temperatures, dehydration and activity surrounding the summer months make it more important than ever to maintain oral hygiene.  Unfortunately, some of the best parts about summer such as swimming, citrus fruits and drinks like oranges and lemonade, and outdoor sports are some of the worst things for your teeth.

Humidity can lead quickly to dehydration, which in turn can lead to deterioration in the oral tissue.  It’s important to stay hydrated for multiple reasons, but keep in mind your mouth needs moisture too.  To prevent dry mouth, brush and rinse regularly, drink plenty of water, and chew sugar free gum.  Gum chewing helps increase the production of saliva in your mouth which will aid in preventing the negative effects of dry mouth. (more…)

Summertime is here and college students are heading home for a much needed break, but what about health insurance?  Although many colleges and universities offer student health insurance plans, most of those plans are only good for the school year, leaving students with a three month gap in coverage.  Because of the rules of the Affordable Care Act, these students cannot simply apply for another health plan outside of Open Enrollment, so what is available to them?  The answer is temporary health insurance.

A temporary health plan can fill gaps in coverage and also offers students the ability to enroll in health insurance when they need it.  In fact, these plans can be in effect as soon as the very next day and are typically very affordable. In addition, you can select temporary coverage anywhere from 1 to 11 months and you can choose to make one lump sum payment or pay monthly, whichever works best.  Short term plans ensure that students have the coverage they need over summer months when they are working part-time jobs that usually don’t provide health insurance and when students are more active than ever. (more…)

The Out of Pocket Protection Plan is a simple, cost-effective solution for individuals and families now facing higher health insurance deductibles.  If you are currently enrolled in a health insurance plan with a deductible that is unaffordable or would cause financial pressure should you find yourself facing an unexpected accident or hospitalization, you can now virtually eliminate your deductible and ease your out of pocket expense.  In this ACA market, many NC health insurance plans now have deductibles of $3000, $5000, even $6000 and higher.  For most people, trying to meet such high out of pocket expenses is financially burdensome, if not crippling.  An Out of Pocket Protection Plan will put up to $6350 back in your pocket upon your first admission into the hospital and will pay up to $200 a day for up to 10 days of hospital confinement.

The math is simple.   (more…)

Temporary health insurance is becoming increasingly popular in the ACA market.  Due to rising health insurance premiums and stricter guidelines on enrollment periods, many people are turning to short term insurance as a long-term solution.  Because short term health plans are not subject to the laws of the ACA, they are less-expensive and can be purchased outside of Open Enrollment.  For individuals and families who have either missed Open Enrollment or who simply cannot afford an ACA-approved Qualified Health Plan, short term coverage is a viable option. (more…)

If you or a loved one has ever been faced with an accident or illness that requires skilled nursing care, physical therapy, speech therapy or other types of home health care, you know how important it is to be able to recover at home comfortably and free of financial stress.  Perhaps you have aging parents and are concerned how a sudden illness or unforseen accident might affect your ability to care for them without having to admit them into a nursing home or assisted living facility.  Or maybe it’s you or your spouse that could possibly need at home health care. Either way, a Home Health Care policy can help.

For as little as $12.15 monthly, a Home Health Care policy pays benefits directly to you and in addition to other NC health insurance you may have, including Medicare.   (more…)

Are you without a Qualifying Life Event that allows you to purchase health insurance outside of the Annual Enrollment Period?  A Temporary Health Insurance Plan can offer you the coverage you need to fill the gap between now and the next Open Enrollment and there are many benefits to a short term health plan.  For instance, most temporary insurance plans are less expensive than regular health insurance plans.  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.

Although these plans won’t cover preexisting conditions and will not keep you from incurring a tax penalty (unless you are exempt), these plans can protect you in catastrophic circumstances and help give you the peace of mind that comes from knowing you will be covered in an emergency.  If you are still uninsured for 2016, consider a temporary health insurance plan.

For more information on 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.

In today’s NC health insurance market, high deductibles are a real problem for many individuals and families.  With insurance premiums on the rise, however, many people have chosen to enroll a health plan with a higher deductible in order to make their monthly premium more affordable.  Unfortunately, the trade off is more out of pocket expense.  Although high deductible plans are a good way to keep health insurance costs under control, when you or a family member actually needs health care, it can be a big hit to your wallet.  In a good year when everyone stays healthy, it might not be a problem, but should someone on your health plan need an unusual amount of care, it can create unexpected bills and unnecessary debt.  If you are currently enrolled in a high deductible health plan and are looking for relief, the Out of Pocket Protection Plan is an inexpensive way to eliminate or reduce high out of pocket healthcare expenses. (more…)