As an insurance agent with NCHEALTHPLANS.COM/JERRY BALLARD & ASSOCIATES, which has been in business and serving North Carolina residents since 1974, I hear many questions. Most recently, people have asked one in particular: “why do I need an insurance agent?”
Here are 5 important reasons you need an insurance agent: (more…)
Now that the holidays are over and the New Year has begun, you may find yourself wondering if you missed your chance to acquire health coverage for 2015. Good news! There is still plenty of time to apply. Although December 15th was the application deadline for coverage beginning January 1st, Open Enrollment is still ongoing and will be until mid-February.
If you are applying for a government subsidy through the healthcare Marketplace, you can still get coverage beginning February 1st as long as you complete your application by the 15th of January. Also, if you are NOT applying for a federal subsidy, you can be in a Blue Cross Blue Shield individual health plan as early as January 15th, provided you complete your application by midnight January 8th.
Don’t forget: Under the Affordable Care Act, you are required to carry health insurance or incur a tax penalty and the penalty is increasing. For 2015, the penalty is 2% of your yearly household income or $325 per person and $162.50 for each child. In order to avoid paying a tax penalty, the federal government has mandated you cannot go more than a three month period without health insurance and that’s where Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina can help. Not only will a BCBSNC health plan save you from incurring this tax penalty in 2015, it will also give you the peace of mind that comes from knowing you and your family are covered in times of sickness and health.
Whether you are applying for a federal subsidy or not, Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC has a health plan that will fit not only your family’s health care needs, but also your budget. Don’t miss your opportunity to apply. The New Year has begun, but there is still time to complete an application for health insurance before Open Enrollment 2015 comes to a close.
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 North Carolina is bringing in the New Year with a whole new look, but it isn’t simply cosmetic. Blue Connect will replace My Member Services starting January 1st, 2015 and although the changes are big, they were made with you and your family in mind. We live in a fast paced, media-driven world and BCBSNC is setting the standard for keeping you and your health care needs connected in an innovative and user friendly way. In fact, when you become a member of Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina, you don’t just get an insurance policy. You get a partner in healthy living. Blue Cross Blue Shield’s Blue Connect allows you the opportunity to see not only your policy and premium, but how your money is being spent, where you can save an extra dollar and how much of your deductible has been exhausted. With a personalized webpage that graphs how your family is using your health care dollars, you can make sure you are getting the most out of your insurance policy.
In addition, Blue Connect wants to partner with you in preventive care maintenance by allowing you to track your daily fitness, weight loss goals and nutrition plans as well as helping you link the fitness apps you already use as part of your daily wellness regimen. Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina knows that preventive care is the most important part of living a healthy lifestyle and Blue Link provides you with a place to integrate and manage all of your wellness goals and data. If a healthier lifestyle is part of your New Year’s resolution, then this is the place to start.
In fact, finding a doctor or hospital in your area has never been easier with Blue Connect’s updated and improved Health Navigator. Find Primary Care Physicians, Specialists and Mental Health Care Providers in your area, plus read reviews on these health care providers from other Blue Cross Blue Shield members. You can research which plans certain providers accept and Blue NAV will tell you which tier those doctors and hospitals fall into. With Blue Connect, there is never a reason you can’t stay in network with a doctor or hospital you have researched and reviewed.
Allowing you to manage everything from mail order prescriptions to finding the best pediatrician in your local area, Blue Connect is a friendly personal assistant for all your family’s health care needs. It’s a new year and with all the changes in insurance due to the Affordable Care Act and subsidy eligibility, you may have more questions than ever. With pertinent news and information on both your insurance policy as well as steps you can take toward preventive care, Blue Connect is your family’s new healthcare hub for 2015.
For more information on Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina health insurance coverage, the Marketplace and healthcare gov if you qualify for a 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.
Kristen Baily has recently joined Jerry Ballard & Associates as a Customer Service & Sales Representative. She is a graduate of North Carolina State University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Management and a concentration in Human Resource Management. Kristen is joining our team with over 7 years of sales and customer service experience in the home building and real estate industry.
A native of Eastern North Carolina, Kristen enjoys living on the coast and boating with her family and friends in her spare time. She and her husband reside in Beaufort with their two dogs.
Kristen is thrilled to implement her experience in customer service and sales in the insurance world and she is looking forward to providing residents of North Carolina with the knowledge and guidance needed to select the Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC products that meet your health insurance needs and assist you in navigating through the Marketplace to determine subsidy eligibility.
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.
Contact us today to discuss BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF NORTH CAROLINA plans. You need to purchase your new health insurance policy before the Open Enrollment period ends on March 31, 2014. GET YOUR FREE RATE QUOTE AND APPLY TODAY.
We can guide you through all plans offered by BCBSNC, help you determine if you are eligible for a subsidy, guide you through the Marketplace to finalize your subsidy application. Once the Marketplace process is finalized we will assist you with your enrollment/payment finalization through Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina. Don’t wait, time is running out.
During the Open Enrollment period, you can buy qualified private health insurance through the government Marketplace. After the Open Enrollment period, you can only sign up for Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIPS) through healthcare.gov. Unless, you qualify under Special Enrollment Period that require a change in your health insurance. Some of these include getting married, moving, getting a new job that pays more, or losing your health insurance.
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.
Affordable Care Act Open Enrollment ends March 31. 2014. You need to purchase your new health insurance policy before the Open Enrollment period ends, if you plan to purchase through the exchange, or face a penalty. GET YOUR FREE RATE QUOTE AND APPLY TODAY for Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina.
You will not have the opportunity to enroll again until the next Open Enrollment starting November 2014 for coverage that starts January 1st, 2015. That means you cannot wait for a medical need to enroll.
Blue Advantage plans are available in all metallic levels: bronze, silver, gold and platinum. The levels differ by how much of your medical costs a plan will pay on average. They are based on approximate values for standard medical expenses. If you qualify for a subsidy through the Marketplace, it could significantly decrease the amount of your monthly premium for your Blue Cross coverage.
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.
Ok, you have shopped around the Marketplace and looked over the BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF NORTH CAROLINA plans. Or maybe you have been waiting for the smoke to clear before logging on to healthcare.gov to shop for your health insurance coverage. But, now the clock is ticking, and important ACA deadlines are looming. You need to purchase your new health insurance policy before the Open Enrollment period ends on March 31, 2014, if you plan to purchase through the exchange, or face a penalty. GET YOUR FREE RATE QUOTE AND APPLY TODAY.
During the Open Enrollment period, you can buy qualified private health insurance through the government Marketplace. After the Open Enrollment period, you can only sign up for Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIPS) through healthcare.gov. Unless, you qualify under Special Enrollment Period that require a change in your health insurance. Some of these include getting married, moving, getting a new job that pays more, or losing your health insurance.
SO without qualifying for a Special Enrollment, the planned ACA deadlines for 2015 enrollment are much shorter than this year’s: November 15, 2014 through January 15, 2015. Buying health insurance after that date will be restricted to special circumstances unless you get coverage through your employer.
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.
Getting your subsidy starts with a free rate quote. When you generate your rate quote, you can estimate your subsidy and how it affects your premium. To apply you simply press Get Started, in your quote, to begin your application. Once you register, there will be a link you click on that will take you to the Marketplace to complete your subsidy and get the actual amount you qualify for. You can enroll in your plan through the Marketplace and Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina will send you a bill once healthcare.gov uploads your file to BCBSNC.
In addition to advance premium tax credits, the government also provides cost-sharing reductions (CSR) for those who qualify. Cost Sharing Reductions allows you to pay for a standard silver plan, but get richer benefits. To be eligible for Cost Sharing Reductions your income must be between 100% and 250% of the federal poverty level (FPL). CSR is only available on silver plans. These special CSR plans provide enhanced benefits that can mean your “silver” plan has the benefits of a plan with a higher metallic value.
Once at the Marketplace, you will need your Social Security number, employer and income information to register and complete your subsidy application. You can apply online or you can call and complete your application by phone. Then you will be automatically transferred back to BCBSNC to see your final subsidy and premium. Choose and buy your plan. You can call our office 888-765-5400 to go over the plans, process and confirm deadline dates to enroll.
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.
888-765-5400