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Only 2 Days left to Enroll BCBSNC Health Insurance for February 1st!

Friday, January 13th, 2017

Deadline Concept ClockThe 2017 Open Enrollment period for health insurance is still in effect and if you missed enrolling your plan for January 1st, there is still time!  You have 2 days left to submit an application and have your 2017 BCBSNC health insurance plan effective February 1st.  Whether you are enrolling your plan on the Marketplace and applying for a federal subsidy or off the Marketplace with no subsidy, NC Health Plans is here to help.  We offer a secure, simple application process that can be completed online or over the phone in a few short minutes.

Blue Cross Blue Shield NC is a trusted name in NC health insurance and the only insurance company offering 2017 qualified ACA-approved health plans in all 100 counties in North Carolina.  If you were enrolled in a United Healthcare or Aetna plan last year that ended on December 31st, you still have time to choose the Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina plan that best suits your needs and your budget.

Keep in mind that the application deadline is fast-approaching.  In order for your new health plan to be effective February 1st, you must submit your application by midnight January 15th.  If you miss the January 15th application deadline, your plan cannot be effective until March 1st (some exceptions apply).  Don’t miss this important deadline.  Enroll your 2017 health today!

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.

Blue Cross Blue Shield NC Receives Approval for 2017 Rate Increase

Thursday, October 20th, 2016

bigstock-125404142One of the biggest questions on many minds as Open Enrollment 2017 approaches is “will my health insurance premium rate increase?”  Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina announced last week that the Department of Insurance (DOI) has approved a rate increase of 24.3% for 2017; however, this rate increase will be felt differently among BCBSNC customers.  In May of 2017, Blue Cross Blue Shield NC filed for an average increase of almost 19% for ACA (Affordable Care Act) individual health plans.  When Aetna announced early this fall that they would be exiting the NC marketplace, however, BCBSNC revised that rate filing in an attempt to adjust for the new market.

In a blog article released by Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina on October 14, 2016 Brian Tajili, Director of Actuarial and Pricing Services for BCBSNC, explained that this rate increase will allow the company to “serve our ACA customers in a financially responsible way in 2017.”  He went on to say that Blue Cross Blue Shield NC understands that “these kinds of rate increases aren’t sustainable over the long term,” and reiterated the fact that the company has been consistent in their message that in order for the ACA (Obamacare) to work properly, younger, healthier customers need to enter the market to balance the higher health costs of the current membership.

Of further note, although there will be a rate increase for 2017, it will not be felt equally among all BCBSNC customers.  Blue Cross Blue Shield NC believes that many customers will actually see a decrease in their rates due to an increase in federal subsidies.  Keep in mind, however, that although the subsidies decrease the out-of-pocket costs for customers, they do not decrease the out-of-pocket costs for the company and the ACA market has consistently proven to be an unhealthier market.  The overall rate increase is an attempt to ensure that the company can remain sustainable and that BCBSNC can continue to offer health insurance plans in all 100 counties in NC.

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.

 

 

 

Open Enrollment 2017 – Are you Ready?

Tuesday, July 19th, 2016

Are You Ready? card with colorful background with defocused lighOpen 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…)

 
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