Now that I have four children of my own, I appreciate my mom like never before.  In fact, on Mother’s Day I refuse to think about calories and sugar and simply want to bake (and eat!) something special.  Last year for Mother’s Day we posted a delicious Coconut Cake recipe because coconut is one of my mom’s favorite treats.  This year, I found a beautiful and delicious Dream Cake recipe from myrecipes.com highlighting another of my mom’s favorite springtime splurges – strawberries. (more…)

Recently my ten-year old son had an accident on the playground and broke his two front teeth.  I had no idea what to expect, but luckily our dental insurance covered most of the cost for an emergency exam, X-rays and bonding.  What could have been a huge expense wound up being almost minimal, but that experience got me thinking about the importance of dental coverage for kids.

First and foremost, I realized that having an established relationship with a dentist is surprisingly important for young children.  The day my son broke his teeth, he was scared, but the fact that he has been seeing our dentist bi-annually for the last few years made a huge difference in his comfort level and security.  A Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC dental plan covers the cost of preventive care dental visits at 100%, making it easy and affordable for you to establish that relationship.  Children can be on a family plan or a stand-alone individual plan.  Further, if you are on a family plan and insuring more than two family members, additional members are covered with no increase to your monthly premium.  That’s a good deal for growing families! (more…)

The NC health insurance market is changing, causing consumers to look for new ways to make sure their health care needs are met at a price they can afford.  For instance, there has been a marked decrease in the public’s interest in long-term care insurance over the last few years and there are many reasons for the decline. Due to more and also more expensive claims, as well as the waning economy over the last few years and the impact that has had on insurance companies, the premiums for long-term care policies have spiked, making them unaffordable for many consumers.  In fact, according to the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance the average cost of LTC insurance premiums can be as high as $3500 annually and for people living on a fixed income, that becomes difficult, if not impossible, to afford.

For this reason, only about 8 million Americans have long-term care insurance, despite the fact that there are around 45 million Americans who are age 65 and older.  Because people are living well into their 80’s and 90’s, the possibility of needing a long-term care policy is greatly increasing; however, affordability has become a huge problem.  Many people are looking for other options. (more…)

The health insurance market has changed dramatically under the Affordable Care Act and it continues to change every year.  2016 brought a greater than anticipated rise in the cost of health insurance premiums across the board and many Americans are now wondering what other options are available.  Although in the past short term health insurance plans were primarily geared toward individuals who needed to fill a gap in health coverage due to a move, a job change, or recent graduation, many people are now taking a closer look at the benefits of temporary health insurance policies.

In terms of affordability, short term health insurance plans are typically much less expensive than regular health insurance policies.  Because they do not have to cover the 10 essential benefits required under the ACA, short term plans have much lower monthly premiums and are an excellent way to make sure you have coverage in case of an unexpected accident or illness.  Many temporary plans also include copayments for doctor visits as well as prescription drug coverage. (more…)

Medicare Supplements through Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina are a great way for individuals already enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B to fill the coverage gaps left by Original Medicare.  Although some people who have a Medicare plan may also have supplemental coverage provided by a former employer to help pay health care costs not covered by Medicare, many do not.  If you don’t have access to employer coverage, you may choose to select a Medicare Supplement through a private carrier such as BCBSNC.

You can enroll in a Medicare Supplement through Blue Cross Blue Shield NC and have guaranteed issue (meaning you cannot be denied coverage) during the Initial Enrollment Period.  This period begins the first day of the month in which an applicant is both age 65 or older and enrolled in Medicare Part B.  This is the very best time to enroll in a Medicare Supplement.  There are, however, other special circumstances when a Medicare eligible person loses their current coverage through no fault of their own when they may be eligible for a Medicare Supplement through BCBSNC on a guaranteed issue basis. (more…)

Transitioning into Medicare can be a big adjustment, especially for those individuals now living on a fixed income, but Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina can help make that transition simpler.  Did you know, for instance, that Medicare will provide extra help for prescription drug costs for certain individuals who meet specified income and resource limits.  Similar to a federal subsidy under the Affordable Care Act for individual under-65 health plans, Medicare offers assistance to those who meet certain criteria.  If you do qualify, you could receive extra help paying for your Medicare drug plan.

Some people may automatically qualify for this program.  For instance, if you have Medicare and become eligible for Medicaid or if you receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits without Medicaid, you will likely qualify.  Medicare usually notifies those who automatically qualify and do not need to apply.  Keep in mind, you must be enrolled in a Medicare drug plan in order to receive the extra help benefit. (more…)

If you are age 65 or older, consider investing in your dental health by enrolling in a Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina dental plan.  Your preventive care will be covered at 100% and there are no waiting periods for preventive services.  In addition, a BCBSNC Senior dental plan will provide coverage for other important basic and major dental services.

The importance of health care as we age is relatively apparent, but have you ever considered why dental health matters more than ever?  For many reasons, as we get older we are at an ever increasing risk of developing oral health problems.  In fact according to SeniorLiving.Org Expert on Senior Care & Assisted Living, Chris Hawkins the following issues are some of the most serious: (more…)

With a Home Health Care policy from Standard Life, you can now receive benefits for at home care up to $300 daily, plus a prescription drug benefit, with premiums starting as low as $12.15 a month.  These benefits allow you the freedom to recover at home without additional financial stress and can help you afford certain necessities that come with convalescence.  All benefits are paid directly to you and in addition to any other health insurance you may have.  While not a replacement for a Long Term Care policy, a Home Health Care policy can be a less expensive alternative for those that may not qualify for Long Term Care. 

The effects of an unexpected accident or chronic illness can be difficult on both you and your family members. If you or a loved one has ever required at home care for physical therapy, chemotherapy or other medical services, you know that having the resources you need to recuperate in the comfort of your own home is priceless.  Being able to live at home while receiving the care you need can make convalescing a much less lonely and expensive process.  In addition, it allows the ones you love to continue their lives and maintain responsibilities while having peace of mind in the knowledge that you are well-cared for at home.  (more…)

My kids love Mexican food and so do I.  The problem is that a lot of Mexican food is really unhealthy and can leave you feeling weighed down.  This recipe for Santa Fe Chicken Saute from Campbell’s Kitchen, however, highlights the lighter, springier side of Mexican food and offers you a delicious and healthy alternative to your everyday enchiladas.

It’s also incredibly easy to make and can be thrown together on a busy school night and served up with a salad in about 30 minutes.  Although it does call for some canned food, like black beans and tomato soup, it also incorporates fresh or frozen kernel corn, fresh cilantro, and green onions.  This dish is perfect over a bed of rice or quinoa and if your family likes avocado, a fresh slice of avocado on top adds flavor, color and a healthy dose of good fat. (more…)

Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina supports healthy living at every age and has served the residents of NC for over 80 years by offering quality health insurance products, to include Medicare Supplement plans, at a competitive price.

If you are over the age of 65 and still working a job that offers you health coverage or if you are still covered by your spouse’s employer insurance, you may have chosen to delay enrollment in Medicare Part B.  Keep in mind, however, that once you lose that employer coverage you will only have 8 months to enroll in Part B or you could lose your special enrollment and be subject to penalties.  Your monthly premium for Part B coverage increases 10% for each full 12-month period you could have enrolled in Part B, but chose not to and that can add up quickly.  In addition, if you miss that 8-month window, you may also find that you are unable to enroll until the General Enrollment period (Jan. 1- March 31) and your coverage will not begin until July 1 of that year, which could lead to a gap in coverage.

If you plan ahead, however, you can avoid these pitfalls and your transition into Medicare can be seamless.  A good rule of thumb is to start the process of enrolling in Part B two months prior to losing your group coverage.  Keep in mind that enrollment in Medicare Part B is required if you intend to enroll in a Medicare Advantage or Medicare Supplement Plan to help cover the health care costs not covered by Medicare.  Once your Part B enrollment information is in the system, you can begin working on applications for other Medicare products, like Supplements. (more…)

Under the ACA, you are now required to have a Qualifying Life Event (QLE) in order to enroll in a health insurance plan outside of Open Enrollment.  A Qualifying Life Event is some kind of special circumstance that allows you to enroll in coverage under a Special Enrollment Period and some common QLE’s include loss of access to minimum essential coverage through an employer or Medicaid, a move to North Carolina or to a different zip code within NC, or adding a dependent through birth or adoption.

If you do not have one of the life events, however, you will be unable to enroll in health coverage until the next Open Enrollment, which begins November 1, 2016 with coverage starting January 1, 2017.  Unfortunately, this rule excludes many individuals and can make it difficult, if not impossible, to get a health insurance plan.  If you find yourself in this position you may be asking:  What can I do to get health insurance? (more…)

Spring is in the air and if you are looking for easy and delicious ways to improve your mood, energy level, skin tone and brain power, these super foods may be just what the doctor ordered.  In many ways, food is the very best medicine if used correctly and BCBSNC and NC Health Plans believe in preventive care maintenance. This spring, try eating your way to a healthier, happier, more whole you!  Below are some foods that can give you the nutrients you need: (more…)