WHEN APPLYING OR GETTING A QUOTE FOR YOUR BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF NORTH CAROLINA COVERAGE, SEE THE CHART BELOW TO HELP DETERMINE YOUR STATUS

Household Size – Annual household income

100% FPL                 250% FPL             400% FPL

1                                          $11,490                     $28,725                  $45,960

2                                          $15,510                     $38,775                  $62,040

3                                          $19,530                     $48,825                  $78,120

4                                          $23,550                     $58,875                  $94,200

5                                          $27,570                     $68,925                  $110,280

6                                          $31,590                     $78,975                  $126,360

7                                          $35,610                     $89,025                  $142,440

8                                          $39,630                     $99,075                  $158,520

ADD 4 EACH                 + $4,020                    + $10,050             + $16,080

ADDITIONAL PERSON

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). Call us for details.

They say that good things come in small packages. That is especially true for the blueberry. This fruit has been touted as a superfood, an antioxidant powerhouse and a disease fighter, with good reason. In addition to being low-calorie and high in dietary fiber, blueberries are rich in vitamin C and phytonutrients beneficial for cardiovascular health, cancer prevention, as well as vision, brain and digestive health. Blueberries are shrub fruits and belong to the Ericaceae family (as do cranberries and bilberries)

Blueberries: A Whole Bunch of Antioxidants

In a Tufts University study, nearly 60 fruits and vegetables were analyzed to measure their antioxidant capability. Blueberries were rated among the highest. This means they are powerful free-radical destroyers, which are charged molecules (from many sources, such as pollution) that, when combined with oxygen, may attack the body’s cells and cause cellular damage. This free-radical damage can contribute to the development of heart disease, cancer, macular degeneration and cognitive decline.

Don’t forget, healthy lifestyle promotes good health which leads to reducing health insurance premiums.  Apply for BCBSNC today and see if you qualify for their healthy lifestyle discount.

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.

Get more bang for your buck by eating high protein vegetables. They are not only nutritious, they contain necessary vitamins, minerals and nutrients. According to the Vegetarian Resource Group, most people need 0.8g of protein for every kilogram they weigh or about 0.36g of protein for every pound they weight. High protein vegetables are a great source of nutrition whether you are a vegetarian or a meat lover.   Beans and Lentils: Beans and lentils are nutritious sources of protein. They are filling, tasty and are usually not too expensive. Some examples include soybeans, lentils, and peas. Soybeans have a high level of protein, 29g per one cup cooked, while peas have 9g of protein per one cup cooked. Add protein to your soups by throwing in some beans or lentils. You can also try putting some cooked beans or lentils into your salad, or your sandwich wrap. They add heartiness, flavor and nutrition.

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.

Smoking Increases Bladder Cancer Risk More Than Thought

Aug. 16, 2011 – Smoking may increase risk for bladder cancer even more than previously believed, and this risk is comparable among male and female smokers. The new study appears in the Aug. 17 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

The American Cancer Society estimates that there will be about 69,250 new cases of bladder cancer diagnosed in 2011 and about 14,990 deaths from bladder cancer.

“Changing the composition of cigarettes may be associated with the strengthening of the association between smoking and bladder cancer risk,” says study author Neal D. Freedman, PhD, MPH, an investigator at the National Cancer Institute in Rockville, Md.

Tobacco, Cigarettes Changed Over Time (more…)

North Carolina consumers looking for a lower-cost health plan now have new options to consider from the state’s leading health insurer (Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina)   Blue Advantage Saver offers consumers low premiums and the peace of mind of knowing they are covered in the event of a catastrophic health event.

Blue Advantage Saver is a bridge between the rich benefits of the traditional PPO plan, Blue Advantage, and the customer accountability of Blue Options HSA.

While all three Blue Advantage Saver plans protect the customers from unexpected medical expenses, the customer’s share of the cost varies by each plan.   As an example, consider the customer’s out-of-pocket amount for non-preventive visits to a health care provider, which are covered under all three plan designs.  All preventive care visits are covered at 100%.

Blue Advantage Saver 1 – Customers can make unlimited non-preventive visits to a primary care physician, each with a $25 copayment.

Blue Advantage Saver 2– Customers can make up to four non-preventive visits per year to a primary care physician, each with a $25 copayment.  All additional visits would be subject to your deductible and coinsurance.

Blue Advantage Saver 3 – No limit on non-preventive visits, but each visit is subject to your deductible and coinsurance.

Emergency room visits, urgent care visits and visits to any specialist are subject to deductible and coinsurance on all Blue Advantage Saver plans.  Blue Advantage Saver plans 2 and 3 offer $10 generic drugs, but do not offer any coverage for brand name drugs.  Blue Advantage Saver 1 offers coverage for brand-name drugs, subject to deductible and copayments or coinsurance.

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.

Applicants applying for Blue Advantage, Blue Advantage Saver and Blue Options HSA coverage will be considered using any or all of the following:

• Review of the application

• Telephone interview with applicant, parent if child under 18 years of age and/or legal guardian

• Medical history obtained from attending physician

• BCBSNC Medical Underwriting Guidelines

• BCBSNC claims history, if available

(more…)

WHEN WILL THESE NEW REFORMS BECOME EFFECTIVE:

Beginning in July 2010 – Consumers with health problems who have been uninsured for 6 months may be eligible to obtain coverage through a new high risk pool program. And a temporary reinsurance program will help employers who provide coverage to their retirees in maintaining this coverage. 

Beginning in plan years on or after September 23, 2010 – Pre-existing condition exclusions are prohibited for children under 19, dependents up to age 26 will be able to obtain coverage through parents’ health plans, routine preventive care will be covered without cost-sharing, limits on lifetime coverage will be eliminated along with other changes. 

In 2014 – Individuals and small businesses will be able to purchase coverage through state-based exchanges. Consumers will be able to purchase health insurance regardless of health status and premiums cannot vary because of health status. Individuals will be required to purchase health insurance or pay a penalty. Subsidies will be available on a sliding scale to help individuals or families with incomes up to 400 percent of the federal poverty level to purchase insurance through new state-based exchanges.

The above information is from a post by BCBSNC in 2010. 

 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.