Blue Advantage and Blue Select

Blue Advantage and Blue Select are the names used to describe the largest network of doctors and hospitals available under Blue Cross NC plans. The Blue Advantage network is the broadest network, with over 95% of doctors and hospitals in North Carolina. Like Blue Advantage plans, Blue Select plans are also a broad network plan. However, the Blue Select network is broken down into two tiers. Blue Select policy holders will find that a bit more management is required when determining a facilities tier. For example, one may have different copayments for specialist visits depending on if they visit a Tier 1 or Tier 2 provider.

Blue Value

The Blue Value network option is a more limited network than Blue Advantage or Blue Select. However, enrolling in a Blue Value plan can help you save money. Where these plans lack in flexibility to see a broad network of doctors and facilities, you will find that Blue Value options offer lower monthly premiums. If your zip code falls  within the Triangle region of North Carolina, you will find the Blue Value plans are with UNC Health Alliance. Doing your research and checking to see if your doctor is in-network is necessary when enrolling in a Blue Value plan. If you are planning on visiting a specific doctor, specialist, or medical facility, it is a good idea to call the provider to confirm the network.

Blue Local

Blue Local with Atrium Health is the most limited of the four BCBSNC networks. This network with Atrium Health (also known as Carolinas HealthCare System) is available to Charlotte-area residents, including Anson, Cabarrus, Cleveland, Gaston, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Rowan, Stanley, and Union County. Like the Blue Value network, enrolling in a Blue Local plan will be a less expensive plan option, but have a more restrictive network. If you were to visit a doctor or facility outside of Atrium Health, then you would pay out-of-network rates.

Understanding these four network options will give you a great advantage when navigating available health insurance plans. A little research could potentially translate to savings on monthly premiums and the cost of care. CLICK HERE to generate a custom quote and discover what BCBSNC network options are available to you.

Raleigh/Durham Region

If you live in the Raleigh and Durham region, your new plan will automatically change to Blue Value with UNC Health Alliance in 2019. The most significant difference between your current plan and 2019 health plans will be the provider network. Duke Health and WakeMed are not in network with Blue Value with UNC Health Alliance. Therefore, if you visit a Duke or WakeMed doctor starting January 1^st, you will pay out-of-network rates. However, UNC Health Alliance is partnered with top-rate physicians, practices and hospitals across 700 locations.

Henderson Region

Individuals living in Granville and Vance counties who are currently on Blue Local with Duke Health and WakeMed will be mapped to the Blue Advantage plan for 2019. The BCBSNC Blue Advantage Plan has the widest network of doctors and specialists. This includes Duke Health and WakeMed. With this new plan, you will have more in-network options to choose from.

What’s next?

Open Enrollment for Health Insurance will begin on November 1^st and last through December 15, 2018. This is the time of year where you are able to make any changes to your current health insurance plan. If you would like to learn more about your BCBSNC Health Plan options, CLICK HERE to generate your custom health insurance quote. We would be happy to discuss your quote with you.

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.

You can get a quote, apply for a federal subsidy and enroll a 2017 BCBNSC health insurance plan in a matter of minutes by visiting our website at www.nchealthplans.com or by calling 888-765-5400.  You can do your application online or over the phone with one of our authorized representatives and have the peace of mind that comes from knowing you and your family are covered.

Don’t miss this important deadline!  Apply and enroll your 2017 coverage by midnight, December 15th.  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.

The first thing to understand is that Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina is not an HMO, meaning you are not required to stay within your network in order to have coverage.  This is good news in that it allows you more freedom and flexibility, as well as covering you in case you have an out-of-network provider you either prefer to use or must use for your medical needs.  The benefit of both in-network and out-of-network coverage is not something every health insurance company offers, which is one of the reasons BCBSNC is a recognized leader among health insurance providers and the only company with a presence in all 100 counties within the state of North Carolina.

That being said, it is still in your best financial interest to stay in-network. In fact, the difference between “in-network” coverage and “out-of-network” coverage can sometimes be the difference between a small co-payment and having an office visit that is subject to your medical deductible.  That is why understanding your network is so important.

Basically, BCBSNC has four different networks available:  Blue Advantage, Blue Select, Blue Value and Blue Local.  The broadest of these networks is the Blue Advantage and over 95% of doctors and hospitals in the state are a part of the Advantage network.  If you can afford it, this is always the network we would recommend as it offers you the most amount of choices when it comes to in-network providers.  Blue Select is a tiered network and though also a broad network, it will require a little more management in that some of the providers are Tier 1 providers and some are Tier 2 providers and there is a difference in the cost of these two tiers.  If you choose to go with a Blue Select plan, just keep in mind that you will need to research the tiers and providers therein prior to selecting a doctor or hospital.

Blue Value is a more limited network than either Blue Advantage or Blue Select.  In fact, the Blue Value network is not even offered in some areas simply because there are not enough participating providers to warrant that option.  However, in some instances and if your doctors and hospitals are a part of this network, choosing a Blue Value plan can be a smart way to save money as the monthly premiums are lower.  Keep in mind, however, that this is where doing your research becomes necessary.  If you have a particular doctor or specialist you must see, you may want to call his or her office and verify that they are a part of the Blue Value network and accept that plan.  Less expensive can be good, but only if you are satisfied with your choice of providers and have ample doctors and hospitals to choose from in your area.  You can always use the BCBSNC Find a Doctor tool to research providers.

Finally, Blue Local is the most limited of the four BCBSNC networks.  This is a new network with Carolinas HealthCare System and is only available in nine counties in North Carolina.  Again, this network will be less expensive, but also more exclusive.  If you do not intend to stay within the Carolinas HealthCare System, this is not the network for you as you will wind up paying out-of-network prices.

The main thing to remember is that a small amount of research can save you big bucks in the long run.  Taking a few minutes to call your doctors to determine which plans they accept and which networks they are a part of can make a drastic difference in your overall out of pocket healthcare expenses.  Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC is committed to providing a broad range of coverage at a variety of price points, allowing you to determine which networks and which plans work best for both your family and your finances.

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.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC offers several network options when selecting your health insurance plan to allow you the flexibility to choose the coverage that bests suits your needs.  It is important to understand these networks before making your final plan selection.

To gain access to the best and largest network of doctors and hospitals, go with a Blue Advantage plan.  Blue Advantage offers you a broad choice of doctors, specialists and hospitals with the largest network available that includes 91% of doctors and 99% hospitals.

Does having the option to save money by selecting a doctor from two tiers of in-network providers appeal to you? Blue Select plans offer you this opportunity. With Blue Select, BCBSNC has tiered benefits and providers to help you make the most of your health care spending. BCBSNC has evaluated doctors and specialist physician practices on their quality outcomes, cost efficiency, and accessibility and created two categories:

Tier 1 are providers who received top ratings, and you’ll receive a richer benefit when you choose these providers.

Tier 2 are providers who still meet the usual standards for being part of the network, and you’ll receive a less rich benefit when you choose these providers. By tiering the benefits and providers, you’ll save up to 6% on your monthly premium and have a clear way to save more money by choosing Tier 1 providers. You can see which tier your providers are in by visiting the Find a Doctor tool.

Is having a plan with a lower premium more important to you than having the largest network of doctors and hospitals available? If so, a Blue Value plan might work for you. Blue Value features a limited network of providers and some of the lowest costs of all the plans.  Blue Value can offer up to 9% savings, but has a limited network of doctors, hospitals, and pharmacies to lower costs. (Blue Value may not be available in all areas.)

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 professional agents. Our agency provides coverage for health insurance in North Carolina through Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC). It would be our pleasure to help you navigate through the Health Care Reform changes in accordance with the new regulations of Obama care. Call us for details.

91% of doctors and 99% of hospitals in the state are covered

Coverage in North Carolina, the United States and worldwide

More pharmacy and prescription drug options

Flexibility in how much you pay for doctor visits and prescription drugs

Preventive care covered at 100%

Blue Advantage is ideal for those who want choices: choices in which provider to see and choices for how much to pay for doctor visits and prescription drugs.

Benefit Choices

Blue Advantage offers a variety benefit choices to give you options for how much you pay for medical expenses: copayments, and deductible and coinsurance plans.

Copayment plans are what most people think of as traditional plans. They offer a fixed copayment for things like primary care office visits and prescriptions. While you’ll know what you’re going to pay with copayment plans, they come at a higher premium. These plans are ideal for someone who wants predictable costs and doesn’t mind paying more in premiums.

Deductible and coinsurance plans have lower premiums than copayment plans. If you don’t expect a lot of medical expenses and want to save money on premiums, these may be the plans for you. For these plans, you pay the full cost of your medical expenses until you meet your medical deductible. Then you pay a coinsurance percentage, sharing the cost with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) until you reach your out-of-pocket limit. After that, BCBSNC pays all covered costs.

Two of our Blue Advantage deductible and coinsurance plans have a $0 deductible. That means you start paying toward coinsurance rather than meeting a deductible. From Day 1 BCBSNC shares your expenses until you reach your out-of-pocket limit.

For more options for your budget and your needs, some plans offer a combination of copayments, and deductible and coinsurance.

Health Savings Account (HSA)

Certain plans are also eligible for an HSA.

The money you contribute to your HSA is tax-deductible.

When you need to pay for eligible medical services, you can pay for them with your HSA funds.

Your HSA rolls over from year to year. That means you keep what you put into it. It’s your HSA – it’s your money.

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 professional agents. Our agency provides coverage for health insurance in North Carolina through Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC). It would be our pleasure to help you navigate through the Health Care Reform changes in accordance with the new regulations of Obama care. Call us for details.

In his spare time, Kennon enjoys spending time on the water, hunting with his chocolate lab, Goose and cheering for the Tar Heels.  Kennon is a tremendous asset to our agency and brings knowledge about the BCBSNC products to best serve you and your insurance needs.

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 professional 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.

You can generate a quote today and compare your plans with numerous plans offered by Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina.   You can select from our Blue Options HSA, Blue Advantage and Blue Saver plans.  You do not pay any premium when you apply, once your application has gone through underwriting for a final decision, you can change to any plan you want prior to making payment.  You are not under any obligation to enroll once your application has been approved.  Apply today

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 professional 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.

The information above is provided by BCBSNC, 2011 Plan Information Guide.

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 professional 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.

1. During the annual renewal period (November for a January 1 effective date) as long as the policy has been in effect for at least 6 months

2. Within 30 days following marriage (requires copy of marriage certificate)

3. Upon adding your spouse as a dependent for reasons other than marriage (requires supporting documentation)

Here are some additional things to consider:

• The maternity rider covers maternity services under the core health plan’s deductible and coinsurance.

There are usually no office visit co-payments and no separate deductible for maternity coverage.

• Complications from pregnancy1 are covered under Blue Advantage or Blue Options HSA even if you do not have the maternity rider. These health plans provide you the protection in the event of certain complications with your pregnancy.

• You can add your newborn to your existing policy within 30 days of the date of birth (without medical underwriting) regardless of whether or not you have the maternity rider. Coverage will be effective as of the baby’s date of birth so long as your policy was active on the day of birth.

• Many people see the maternity option simply as a means to help “pre-pay” and choose to purchase it only if they are planning on getting pregnant in the near future.

The information in this article is from bcbsnc.com, maternity rider benefits.

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 professional 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.