Many people often ask us how the process for applying for health coverage begins and ends…

 

Requesting a Quote:

Applying for insurance with BCBSNC is a very simple process.  It does not cost anything to apply and you will have the opportunity to review your final rate before accepting a plan and making payment.  To apply for Blue Advantage, Blue Options HSA and Dental Blue, you must first request and receive a personalized quote.  Simply click here to request your personal quote and apply today.  Next, your request will be submitted and received by Jerry Ballard & Associates.  We will process your request and send your personalized quote to you via email. The quote will be emailed from ratequote@bcbsnc.com.  Once you receive the email, you will want to be sure and turn off pop-up blockers and make sure the email did not go to any spam files. 

 

Receiving Your Quote:

 

In the body of the email, you will see a link that says, View Your Rate Quote Here.  Simply click on the link and your personalized quote will populate with all the Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina plans and premiums you requested.  A yellow apply button will appear to the right of each plan/premium.  Click the yellow apply button to begin your online application process.  Call our office (888-765-5400) so we can go over the plans with you and answer any questions about the benefits associated with these plans.

 

The Application:

 

The application itself takes 10-15 minutes to complete.  You will create a user id and password that you will need to write down for future access into the application.  You and other applicants will answer health questions pertaining to your health.  In addition, you will enter any prior insurance coverage.  Once submitted, the application will either be auto approved or submitted for further underwriting with BCBSNC.

 

Auto-Approved:

 

This simply means that your application received a final rate automatically.  You will see this final rate at the end of the application.  If you are in exceptionally good health and fall within the Preferred Plus guidelines set out by BCBSNC,  you may qualify for a 15% healthy discount in your monthly premium.  Many people will receive the preferred quoted rate.  Some based on their individual health, could receive a rate increase. 

 

Underwriting Review:

 

Blue Cross Blue Shield may require further information from you such as a telephone interview, a paramedical exam, or medical records.  Our customer service representative and BCBSNC will contact you if this is required.  All of these are processed with no cost to you.  A telephone interview involves a phone conversation between the underwriting interviewer and the applicant confirming information on the application.  The paramedical exam is a small physical exam that is performed by a nurse at your convenience at your home or work.  An analysis of height, weight, blood pressure, blood work and urinalysis could be a part of the paramedical exam.  Medical records may be requested from one of your health care providers.  We recommend that you call that provider and let them know to be expecting this request so that they can process it in a timely manner.

 

Final Approval after Underwriting:

 

Once your final rate is approved, BCBSNC and our office will contact you to resume your application (with the user id and password you created), view your quote, accept and make payment.  Once you open up the application, you will view the final rate for the plan that you applied for with BCBSNC.  Before accepting this plan, you have the options to change to any plan that BCBSNC offers to you.  For example, if you applied for Plan A 80% coinsurance with $2500 deductible, you can click on “Lower Cost Options” or “All Available Plans” and switch to any of those plans.  This allows for more decision making based on the final rate and gives the applicant more choices.

 

Making payment:

 

There are 2 payment options for Blue Advantage and Blue Options HSA.  Bank Draft or Direct Bill.  We encourage Bank Draft because it is convenient and you never have to worry about a lost bill in the mail.  On-going Bank Drafts occur on the 2nd of each month for 1st of the month effective dates and the 12th of the month of 15th of the month effective dates.  Initial Bank Draft payments for any effective date will occur on the 2nd of the month that the policy becomes effective.  Direct Bill, requires an initial payment to be made by credit card online.  The credit card will be processed for payment on the day it is entered.  You will receive subsequent bills by mail each month with a due date of the 1st (for effective dates on the 1st) or the 15th (for effective dates on the 15th).

 Benefits Booklets and ID Cards: 

These are mailed to the address you provided on your application within 10 business days.  On the 2nd page of the booklet, you will find your id cards. 

 For more information on 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 qualified agents.  Our agency provides coverage for health insurance in North Carolina through Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC).  You may qualify for a 15% healthy lifestyle discount if you are in excellent health.  Call us for details.