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Enrolling your Blue Medicare plan just Got Easier!

Friday, November 18th, 2016

Mature Couple Sitting On Sofa At Home Using LaptopEnrolling a new Medicare supplement plan or making a change to your existing plan can be a headache, but at NC Health Plans we strive to make the enrollment process as simple as possible.  You can now enroll your Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare plan online from the comfort of your own home, saving you time, money and paperwork!  Whatever BCBSNC Medicare plan interests you, at NC Health Plans we offer a convenient, secure online application that will only take a few minutes.  You may also speak with one of our licensed agents to discuss plans, as well as receive prompt and courteous assistance in completing and submitting your application right online.

As a Medicare recipient you have choices and Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina is a trusted name in Medicare Supplement insurance. If you are new to Medicare or exploring the possibility of making a change to your current Medicare plan, get a free rate quote now and experience the benefits of having an agent at your fingertips or just a phone call away.

At NC Health Plans, we understand that your time is as valuable as your health and we work hard to help our customers enjoy the best possible enrollment experience.  For your free rate quote visit www.nchealthplans.com, call 888-765-5400, or click the button below.

Free Affordable Care Act Quotes

Daylight Savings November 6th – How it Can Affect Your Sleep

Saturday, November 5th, 2016

bigstock-148810253Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina encourages members to practice preventive health care, but did you know that daylight savings can have adverse health affects, especially when it comes to sleep patterns? Daylight Savings ends on Sunday, November 6th at midnight and people all over North Carolina will be setting clocks back by one hour, moving an hour of daylight from evening to the morning.  Although this may make getting out of bed this winter a little easier, daylight savings can affect us in ways that may surprise you.  According to WebMD, “moving our clocks in either direction changes the principal time cue – light – for setting and resetting our 24-hour natural cycle or circadian rhythm.”  This, in turn, knocks our internal clock “out of sync” and forces us to readjust.

Most experts agree that “falling back” in the autumn is an easier transition than “springing forward” in the spring, but either way, it forces a change in the body’s rhythm.  In fact, researchers have looked at a number of health trends that seem to surround daylight savings, including an increase in traffic accidents.  Although still unclear how adjusting the clock directly correlates with this increase, some experts argue that it’s based primarily on a change of sleep patterns. (more…)

Blue Cross Blue Shield NC – Hike North Carolina!

Monday, October 17th, 2016

Go HikingBlue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina is committed to the health and wellness of all its members and this fall, BCBSNC in conjunction with the North Carolina State Park system is encouraging NC residents to get out and hike!  This community initiative, appropriately named Hike NC!,  is at aimed  getting North Carolinians off the couch and into the great outdoors.  The Hike NC! campaign consists of more than 60 guided hikes through North Carolina nature preserves and state parks.  Led by hiking and nature experts and totally free, these hikes are intended to help improve the overall health of Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC members. (more…)

Protect Yourself Against Flu – BCBSNC Preventive Care

Tuesday, October 11th, 2016

VaccinationBlue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina is a big supporter of preventive care maintenance, offering preventive benefits covered at 100%. This flu season BCBSNC encourages its members to get a flu shot to help maintain optimal health.  A yearly flu vaccination is the best way to protect yourself against the influenza virus and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends you get a flu shot once a year.  The flu vaccine can help reduce your risk of contracting the illness, which in turn will help reduce absences from work or school, doctor’s visits or even potential hospitalizations.  While the vaccine is not a guarantee against getting the flu, it can be a big deterrent and can also reduce your symptoms should you become ill.

In addition to protecting yourself, the flu vaccine can help protect the people around you, some of whom may be more vulnerable.  The elderly, as well as infants  and those with chronic illnesses, can suffer serious, even life-threatening flu symptoms.  According to the CDC, a recent study showed that the flu vaccination reduced children’s risk of flu-related hospitalization by 74% during flu seasons from 2010-2012.

Getting a flu shot is just plain smart, which is why Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina encourages its members to get vaccinated.  With winter just around the corner, taking this critical step can help ensure that you and your family have the healthiest flu season possible. 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.

BCBSNC and Walgreeens Form New Alliance

Monday, October 3rd, 2016

Walgreens Drug Store SignBlue Cross Blue Shield NC, in conjunction with Blue Prime, recently announced a new alliance with Walgreens, one of the nation’s largest drugstore chains.  This alliance initiates a 10-year retail pharmacy agreement based on a “simple, low-cost approach” intended to provide savings to clients and BCBSNC members.  This agreement will be in effect as of January 1, 2017 and will include a Prime and Walgreens home delivery for prescription medications.  The agreement is not exclusive, meaning BCBSNC members will still have access to other pharmacies in addition to Walgreens.

The good news for North Carolina residents is that Walgreens has more than 260 store locations throughout the state and over 8000 locations nationwide.  That means more convenient access to the prescription drugs you need at a cost you can afford.  Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina continues to partner with health care providers such as Walgreens to help ensure members have the quality healthcare they deserve.

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 Signs Voluntary Settlement with NCDOI

Tuesday, September 20th, 2016

bigstock-125404142As many North Carolina residents are aware, Blue Cross Blue Shield NC experienced one of the toughest years to date in terms of customer service and problematic technical issues.  Earlier this month, Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina signed a Voluntary Settlement Agreement with the Department of Insurance and were fined $3.6 million dollars as a civil penalty.  In accordance with the settlement, the disbursement of the record-breaking fine will go to benefit the public schools in North Carolina.  According to Assistant Director of Public Information for the North Carolina Department of Insurance Colin Day, this is “the largest fine ever issued to a single company by the department.”

Also in accordance with the settlement, BCBSNC customer premiums will not be impacted by the fine and Blue Cross Blue Shield has asserted that the fine will have “no bearing” on their decision to participate in the ACA for 2017.  Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC plans to announce by late September whether or not they will be offering individual health plans in NC on the Marketplace for the upcoming year.

Following the settlement agreement, Blue Cross Blue Shield NC released the following statement:

“We’ve reviewed the Department of Insurance’s Voluntary Settlement Agreement and have paid the amount for our technological problems. We have been actively addressing these issues, and expect to be stronger as a result of this process. We remain committed to our customers and the communities of North Carolina, and are deeply sorry for the challenges that this created for our customers and providers.

With United Healthcare and Aetna exiting the Marketplace earlier this year, Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina may be the only company offering individual health plans to the residents of North Carolina in all 100 counties, with Cigna possibly playing a small role in a few select counties as well.  The voluntary settlement reaffirms BCBSNC’s commitment to the residents of North Carolina and their continued effort to remain a viable and trusted player in the NC health insurance market.

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.

BCBSNC Dental Insurance over Age 65

Tuesday, August 9th, 2016

Seniors CoupleAre you looking for BCBSNC Dental Insurance and are over Age 65?  Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina has you covered!

Medical experts have linked periodontal (gum) disease to stroke, heart disease, diabetes and other critical health issues. In fact, nearly 75 percent of American adults have some form of periodontal disease. With proper daily dental care, however, regular dental checkups can help detect, prevent and treat gum disease and related disorders. Choose Dental Blue for Seniors and you can take a big step toward protecting your overall health.

With Dental Blue for Seniors, you’re covered for a broad range of dental services, including routine fillings and extractions, plus major services like crowns, bridges and dentures. Coverage also includes preventive care, such as bite-wing X-rays and fluoride treatments. That means you can get checkups and cleanings twice per benefit period, which ultimately supports better oral health.  In addition, there are no waiting periods for cleanings, routine oral exams and other diagnostic and preventive services. (more…)

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…)

Let BCBSNC Help you Make the Move to Medicare

Friday, June 10th, 2016

Retired couple at home with dogIf you are turning 65, you are facing a big transition when it comes to your health insurance.  Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina and NC Health Plans can help by offering you important information on Medicare Supplements, Senior Dental plans and other supplemental health policies that can fill in the gaps left by Original Medicare Parts A & B.  Medicare may sound simple, but there’s a wealth of information you need to know in order to make the best decision for your health care needs.  Having a licensed Blue Cross Blue Shield agent on your side can aid in making the move to Medicare a much more seamless process and enlisting the help of an agent comes at no cost to you.

Although your Initial Enrollment Period for Medicare will not begin until 3 months prior to your 65th birthday month, you should begin your research as early as six months out.  Knowing what is and is not covered by Original Medicare may surprise you and it’s important to be informed.  In addition, you can begin getting an idea of what types of Medicare Supplement plans are available to you and what steps you need to take to enroll.  Keep in mind, you can enroll in a BCBSNC Medicare Supplement 3 months prior to your birthday month and we recommend submitting an application well in advance of the effective date you need.  That way, you will eliminate any risk of having a gap in coverage. (more…)

Medicare After Age 65 – What You Need to Know

Tuesday, April 5th, 2016

senior business man talk on mobile phone at modern bright officBlue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina supports healthy living at every age and has served the residents of NC for over 80 years by offering quality health insurance products, to include Medicare Supplement plans, at a competitive price.

If you are over the age of 65 and still working a job that offers you health coverage or if you are still covered by your spouse’s employer insurance, you may have chosen to delay enrollment in Medicare Part B.  Keep in mind, however, that once you lose that employer coverage you will only have 8 months to enroll in Part B or you could lose your special enrollment and be subject to penalties.  Your monthly premium for Part B coverage increases 10% for each full 12-month period you could have enrolled in Part B, but chose not to and that can add up quickly.  In addition, if you miss that 8-month window, you may also find that you are unable to enroll until the General Enrollment period (Jan. 1- March 31) and your coverage will not begin until July 1 of that year, which could lead to a gap in coverage.

If you plan ahead, however, you can avoid these pitfalls and your transition into Medicare can be seamless.  A good rule of thumb is to start the process of enrolling in Part B two months prior to losing your group coverage.  Keep in mind that enrollment in Medicare Part B is required if you intend to enroll in a Medicare Advantage or Medicare Supplement Plan to help cover the health care costs not covered by Medicare.  Once your Part B enrollment information is in the system, you can begin working on applications for other Medicare products, like Supplements. (more…)

Stay Fit after 65 – Blue Cross Blue Shield NC Silver and Fit

Thursday, March 3rd, 2016

Senior Couple Resting Aftre Exercising In Park

Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina is committed to promoting well-being and preventive care for its senior members.  In an effort to provide older members with a benefit for staying fit, BCBSNC partners with American Specialty Health to offer the Silver & Fit program.  The Silver & Fit program is designed for older adults and provides access to a variety of fitness facilities from national chains to small community clubs. Eligible members can join the program and enjoy community involvement while maintaining a healthy and fit lifestyle. (more…)

Medicare Made Simple – BCBSNC

Friday, February 26th, 2016

bigstockphoto_happy_senior_couple_lying_down_4902020

Turning 65 is a big milestone and transitioning into Medicare can be an overwhelming prospect.  With Original Medicare Parts A and B, various other Medicare options, and Medicare Supplements offered through Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC, it can be tough to figure out which plan is best for you.  Although understanding Medicare and what it covers may take some getting used to, at NC Health Plans we want to make it as easy as possible.  Here are a few basic things to keep in mind as you begin researching your Medicare options. (more…)

 
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