The Health Insurance Open Enrollment Period for 2020 begins on Friday, November 1^st, and we are ready to assist individuals and families in applying for Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina Health Coverage. November 1^st to December 15^th marks a very important time period for health insurance known as the annual Open Enrollment Period. Whether you are currently enrolled in a Blue Cross Blue Shield plan, or looking into your Health Plan options for the first time, we are here to help find the best plan for you!  As we approach Open Enrollment, it is important to be aware of important updates, dates and deadlines that relate to your Blue Cross Blue Shield health coverage in 2020.

Blue Cross NC Rate Decreases in 2020

This summer, Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina announced that all 100 Counties in North Carolina will experience Health Care Rate Decreases for year 2020. This rate decrease is an overall average of 5.2 percent for Affordable Care Act plans offered to individuals and families in 2020. There is also an average 3.3 percent decrease for those plans offered to small businesses with one to 50 employees. These rate decreases show a total reduction of $238 million to health care costs in 2020.

Does this mean your premium will decrease next year? Health Insurance premiums will always vary based on your location, age, and federal tax credit/subsidy applied to your premium. Therefore, not every Blue Cross NC member in North Carolina will experience the same amount in rate changes for 2020.

When is Open Enrollment for 2020?

The NC Health Insurance annual Open Enrollment Period begins on Friday, November 1^st and lasts through Sunday, December 15^th. This time period does not apply to non ACA-compliant plans, or ancillary plans such as dental or vision.

When Will Your Coverage Start?

If you enroll in a BCBSNC Health Insurance plan during Open Enrollment, your coverage start date will be January 1^st, 2020. This will also be your initial premium due date.

Is it Affordable?
One of the amenities of the Affordable Care Act is federal tax credits, also known as subsidies. Subsidies are designed to lower the cost of health insurance for low and middle income individuals or families. Subsidies are primarily based on your household income per the number of people on your tax return. To determine if you are eligible for subsidy to help reduce your premium, generate your BCBSNC quote and estimate your subsidy!

For those who are not subsidy eligible, Short Term health insurance could potentially be a more affordable option. While these plans are not ACA-compliant, you may now apply for up to 360 days of coverage under one Short Term application. In addition, there are other plans offering up to 3 years of coverage. For more information about these plans, generate your Short Term Insurance Quote.

How Do You Apply/Renew?

During this time period, anyone shopping for individual or family Health Insurance plans can enroll in ACA-Compliant Health Insurance without having a Qualifying Life Event. In other words, individuals do not need a special reason to apply for health coverage during Open Enrollment. This is the easiest time of year to apply for coverage, and the application process has never been more simple! You can now apply for your subsidy and complete the application process completely online. Existing Marketplace members who need to update their application or change their plan can also complete this process online. CLICK HERE to generate your 2020 rate quote and start your application. You can begin your application or renew your existing coverage for 2020 starting November 1^st, 2019.

For more information on North Carolina Health 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 of North Carolina is excited to announce filing for a 2020 rate decrease with the North Carolina Department of Insurance.  This is a big step in Blue Cross of NC’s movement toward making healthcare more affordable to North Carolinian’s.

Blue Cross NC Rate Decrease for 2020

For the second year in a row, Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina has filed to decrease rates for coverage starting in the new year. This rate decrease is an overall average of 5.2 percent for Affordable Care Act plans offered to individuals and families in year 2020. There is also an average 3.3 percent decrease for those plans offered to small businesses with one to 50 employees. These rate decreases show a total reduction of $238 million to health care costs in 2020.

“We want to be a national model for health care transformation, where insurers and providers are jointly responsibly for delivering better, simpler, more affordable care,” said Patrick Conway, President and CEO of Blue Cross NC. “The hard work is not done, and we must continue building on these successes if we are going to truly make health care affordable for everyone in North Carolina. What these rate reductions show is that the move to value is working – when the focus is on quality and accountability, costs go down and the customer wins.”

Does this mean your premium will decrease?

Health Insurance premiums will always vary based on your location, age, and federal tax credit/subsidy applied to your premium. It is important to know that the overall rate decrease is an average for all counties in North Carolina. Therefore, not every Blue Cross NC member in North Carolina will experience the same amount in rate changes for 2020.

As of now, the Federal Tax Credits or Subsidies will still be available in 2020 to enrollees with a household income between 100 and 400 percent of the Federal Poverty Level. Nearly 90 percent of existing Blue Cross NC enrollees are subsidy eligible. To determine if you may be subsidy eligible, CLICK HERE to generate a quote online and discover how subsidies can greatly reduce the cost of your monthly Health Insurance premium.

When is the 2020 Open Enrollment Period?

The Open Enrollment Period will begin on November 1^st, 2019 and ends December 15^th, 2019. This is the time of year where anyone can enroll in a Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC plan without needing a Qualifying Life Event. We know the importance of understanding your health coverage and understand that the Health Insurance market can be confusing. If you are an existing member or considering enrolling in a Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC plan during the Open Enrollment Period, we are happy to help you through the process. Rate quotes for 2020 plans as well as renewal information for existing members will be available in October.

For more information on North Carolina Health 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.