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!

As it turns out, dental hygiene is a vital part of our overall health and wellness.  Learning to take care of teeth and gums is something dentists say children should be taught at an early age, as it helps them develop good life habits.  According to Dr.  Rosie Roldan, director of the Pediatric Dental Center at Miami Children’s Hospital, “cavities can happen as early as nine month of age.”  In fact, parents are now being advised to take children to the dentist as early as 12 months of age and continue that regimen every six months.  Having dental insurance can make those regular appointments much more affordable.

As always, brushing twice a day and flossing are a must for dental health and if children learn to practice these habits while they are young, they will likely continue for a lifetime.  Like most health issues, prevention is the key and establishing a relationship with a good dentist can help teach your children the importance of oral hygiene as it relates to their overall health.  Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina supports oral health and as I recently learned, having coverage you can count on when you need it most not only helps pay the bill, but also helps ease your mind.

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.

Because nothing is quite so nice as seeing a child’s eyes light up, Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina offers vision coverage for children as a part of every BCBSNC health plan.  Our eyesight is one of the things we are most dependent on, but did you know that in young children vision problems aren’t always obvious?  As children grow, they can become accustomed to seeing the world a certain way and oftentimes do not recognize there is any problem with their eyesight.  They may not even know enough to tell you and it can be difficult to interpret the warning signs.

Although you may recognize certain symptoms such as squinting, sitting too close to the TV, or rubbing their eyes, sometimes there are no signs at all and this can make a diagnosis difficult.  Vision problems often begin to emerge between 18 months and 4 years of age.  The two most common vision issues are a crossed or wandering eye and uneven focus, where one eye is more farsighted than the other.  The first issue affects 3%-5% of young children, but this issue is usually detectable by an eye that drifts or appears crossed in respect to the other eye.  This is something your doctor would likely catch at a wellness check-up for your baby or toddler.

The other issue, however, is the hardest to detect because young children don’t know their vision is faulty.  Either of these conditions, however, need treatment.  If left untreated, a child’s stronger eye – the one that sees further or focuses better – becomes the dominant eye and the brain begins to ignore the images that come from the weaker eye.  By age 9 or 10, the vision loss in the weaker eye is usually permanent.

The good news is that the compromised vision in the weaker eye can be stopped or reversed if it is caught early with a vision screening.  Most doctors and pediatricians recommend a full eye screening at age 3, with a more in-depth examination if that screening discovers a vision problem.  Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC understands that children sometimes need a little extra care, and for that reason, every BCBSNC health plan comes with pediatric vision coverage up to age 19.  Depending on the plan you choose, you may even have help paying for glasses or contacts.  Now, that’s something worth looking into!

For more information on Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina health insurance coverage, the Marketplace and healthcare gov  to apply for your subsidy, 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.  Let us help you navigate through the Health Care Reform changes in accordance with the new regulations of The Affordable Care Act, also known as Obama care.

Below is a general summary of the coverage you can expect; however, you should always review the benefit details of your individual policy.

PEDIATRIC VISION:

• One preventive eye exam per benefit period: (For individual plans copay or deductible/coninsurance apply depending on the plan)
• One pair of lenses and frames or one pair of contact lenses covered at 50% after the deductible: (Disposable contact lenses are not covered)
• The provider must file the claim for lenses and frames.

PEDIATRIC DENTAL:

Diagnostic and Preventive Services: (oral evaluations, cleanings, X-rays, topical fluoride, sealants, and more)

• In-network: $25 copayment
• Out-of-network: $50 copayment

Basic/Major Services: (routine fillings, simple extractions, stainless steel crowns, surgical tooth removal, inlays, onlays, crowns, and more)

• In-network: 20% after medical deductible
• Out-of-network: 40% after medical deductible

Medically Necessary Orthodontia:

• Covered the same as Basic/Major Services
• 12 month waiting period (from the member’s effective date) applies

Whether your son needs eye glasses or your daughter needs sealants, BCBSNC is here to help with pediatric dental and vision coverage included in all health plans.  See what makes a Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina health plan the perfect coverage for you and your kids!

For more information on Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina 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 experienced and professional agents.  Let us help you navigate through the Health Care Reform changes in accordance with the new regulations of The Affordable Care Act, also known as Obama care.