The NC Health Insurance landscape has changed dramatically since the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was signed into law in 2010 and implemented in 2014.  Otherwise known as Obamacare, the ACA was the single biggest change in health insurance history since Medicare took effect in 1965.  Over the last six years, North Carolinians have seen significant changes in how they purchase health insurance, what is available to them as consumers, how health insurance effects their taxes, and how much it will cost to insure themselves and their families.  In fact, in 2015 health insurance in North Carolina saw some of the biggest rate increases in history with the average cost of plans increasing over 25%.

As Open Enrollment 2017 approaches, North Carolina, as well as many other states across the nation, are experiencing a new upheaval as some of the largest insurance companies in the U.S are pulling out of the ACA Market altogether.  In April 2016, United Healthcare announced that it would pull out of most of the nation’s exchanges, including North Carolina, which was a big hit to the residents of the state, leaving only two companies offering individual health insurance plans.  A statement by UnitedHealth Group cited a “smaller overall market size and shorter-term, higher-risk profile within this market” as the reason the company chose to exit.

But that was just the beginning.   (more…)

As Open Enrollment 2017 approaches, you may still have questions about health insurance under the Affordable Care Act (otherwise known as Obamacare) and what you need to do to make sure you and your family have the coverage you need at the most cost-effective price available.  Having a licensed agent as your point of contact is one of the best ways to get the answers you need.  Below are some of the questions we are most frequently asked here at NC Health Plans along with our answers:

1. Do I have to have health insurance?  Yes you do.  Under the Affordable Care Act, you are required by law to carry health insurance or be subject to a tax penalty.
2. How much is the penalty for not having insurance?  In 2016, the tax penalty is $695 per person or 2.5% of your income, whichever is higher.  The penalty will likely increase in 2017.
3. Can I be exempt from the penalty?  Yes.  Under certain circumstances, you may obtain a tax exemption.  Visit the government website for a complete list of tax exemption reasons.
4. Do I qualify for a federal subsidy?  You may.  Federal subsidies are based on your Modified Adjusted Gross Income (predicted for 2017) and the number of people on your tax return.  For help determining whether or not you qualify, visit www.nchealthplans.com or call 888-765-5400 to speak with a licensed agent.
5. What if my income changes over the course of the year?  You are required to update any income changes with the federal Marketplace.  A failure to do could result in you having to pay back a portion of your premium tax credit.
6. Do I have to enroll through the federal Marketplace (Exchange)?  No; however, you do have to have an ACA compliant plan to avoid a tax penalty. You do not have to get your plan through the federal Marketplace and Blue Cross Blue Shield offers plans both on and off the Marketplace so if you do not qualify for a federal subsidy, you may want to apply directly.

Obtaining health insurance doesn’t have to be a headache.  At NC Health Plans we utilize the most up-to-date online and telephone application process available to help make the enrollment process easy and are available to answer any questions you may have about your health insurance needs.  2017 quotes for BCBSNC health insurance will be available November 1st, when Open Enrollment begins.  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 final week of Open Enrollment has begun and with it, your final chance to enroll in Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina health insurance without experiencing a Qualifying Life Event.  If you are still uninsured, here are some very important things to keep in mind:

1. Under the Affordable Care Act, you are required by law to have health insurance.  If you do not have obtain health insurance for 2016, you will receive a tax penalty when you file your 2016 taxes, unless you have an exemption.  Tax penalties for 2016 have increased substantially.
2. In addition to receiving a tax penalty, if you are uninsured in 2016, you will be responsible for all of your routine and unexpected health care needs, which can quickly amount to thousands upon thousands of out-of-pocket expenses.
3. Applying for health insurance doesn’t have to be difficult.  We can help you choose a plan, discuss benefits and walk you through the enrollment process.  You can apply easily and quickly online or over the phone with one of our experienced agents.  Visit our website or call 888-765-5400.
4. Any coverage is better than zero coverage.  Even the least expensive plan available to you will provide you with coverage, including preventive care covered at 100%, and set a limit on your out-of-pocket expenses should you experience and illness or accident.  The least expensive Qualified Health Plan will also keep you from being penalized come tax time.
5. Don’t wait until the last minute!  The closer we get to the application deadline of January 31st, the more time-consuming and frustrating this process will become.  Deadlines often create technical issues and long wait times and can even keep you from submitting your application on time.
6. If you miss the January 31st deadline, you may not be able to enroll in health insurance until the next Open Enrollment, which will likely begin in November 2016.

For more information on Blue Cross Blue Shield of 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.

If you are like me, it probably seems like 2015 came and went in a flash!  Between the holidays and a new year, you may find yourself still not enrolled in health insurance.  If you missed the December 15th deadline for January 1st coverage and you also missed the January 15th deadline for February 1st coverage, you have yet another opportunity to enroll in health insurance for 2016! Open Enrollment will not officially end until January 31st and for the next 15 days, you can still submit an application and have coverage that will begin March 1st.  If you miss this deadline, however, you may be unable to enroll in a 2016 health insurance plan, which means not only will you be uninsured, you will likely incur a tax penalty.

Keep in mind that the 2016 tax penalty has increased to $695 per person or 2.5% of your annual individual income, whichever is greater.

The good news is you can still submit an application online in as little as ten minutes and if you are applying through the federal Marketplace, we are happy to assist you in submitting your application over the phone.  Give us a call at 888-765-5400.  We can assist you in choosing the plan that best suits your family’s needs and help you determine whether or not you qualify for a federal subsidy to help reduce the cost of your health plan.  Don’t let another year go by without obtaining health insurance for you and your family!

For more information on Blue Cross Blue Shield of 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.

If you are still uninsured and trying to secure health coverage for 2016, your application must be submitted by midnight January 15th in order to qualify for a February 1st effective date (some exceptions apply).  Although Open Enrollment will not officially end until January 31st, 2016, you do not want to miss this important deadline!  In fact, if you fail to submit your application by January 15, 2016, in most cases you will not be eligible for health coverage to begin until March 1st and you will remain without health coverage throughout the month of February. (more…)

If you are one of the many Americans who waited… and waited… and waited on hold with the Federal Marketplace trying your best to enroll in health insurance by the December 15th deadline, but were still unable to complete the process, we can help! Although the deadline has passed for a January 1st effective date, Open Enrollment is still happening and you can be enrolled in a Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina health plan starting February 1st in just minutes!  We offer a simple, straight-forward, and short application you can do online or over the phone with one of our experienced and professional agents and we are happy to help you choose a plan, submit an application and assist you through enrolllment. (more…)

Are you one of the many Americans who qualify for a federal tax credit under the Affordable Care Act?  If so, you can now complete and submit your application in less than ten minutes!  If you attempted to apply for a subsidy in past years, you may have encountered long wait times, confusing online applications and the frustration of poor communication regarding your application, payment deadlines and policy information.  But that is no longer necessary.  Through a simple, straight-forward, and fast online application, you can now easily enroll in health insurance through the federal Marketplace. (more…)

Open Enrollment for 2016 is now in full swing and customers are asking a lot of hard questions, fair questions, questions that demand an answer.  Most of the questions and frustrations center around one thing:  rate increases.  On a near daily basis, insurance companies, agents and brokers are having to try to explain why the cost of insurance is soaring and how families and individuals are supposed to step up and meet the rising costs.  Prior to Open Enrollment, Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina made a strenuous effort to try and answer some of these questions in advance, stating that the “goal, as always, is to offer health coverage that our customers can depend on at rates as affordable and sustainable as possible.”  Blue Cross went on to explain why a rate increase was imperative in order to maintain viability.  In fact, the company provided claims data for 2014 and the first half of 2015, reporting a $132 million dollar loss on ACA business alone.  At that time, BCBSNC explained two important trends:  First, there was no slowdown in any residual demand for medical services from new customers entering the health insurance marketplace after the induction of the ACA and second, there was a prevalence of more chronic health conditions needing medical treatment among ACA customers.

In more recent news, United Health Care has announced it may completely pull out of ACA Exchanges in 2017, citing significant losses on ACA business as the reason for this consideration.  The New York Times reported that United Health Group told investors “it was significantly lowering its profit estimates and blamed an expected loss of hundreds of millions of dollars selling individual policies under federal health care law” (11/20, B1, Abelson, Subscription Publication).   The article further stated “the company said it was estimating losses of more than $600 million from its exchange business, before taxes, in 2015 and 2016.”  With this announcement, customers are once again faced with hard questions about what is happening in the health insurance industry. (more…)

Despite the current Administration’s push to make health insurance a top priority, according to a recent Gallup Poll study, North Carolina ranks among the states that still have the greatest population of uninsured residents. In fact, NC had an uninsured rate of 16.1 percent in 2014, ranking it among the top five states in the nation with the greatest amount of residents who still have no health insurance.  Although many residents in 2014 did take advantage of the Affordable Care Act, purchasing subsidized health plans through the federal Marketplace, a large portion of the population did not.

Changes in the law regarding health insurance as well as changes in state programs such as Medicaid have created quite a stir in the last few months and left many North Carolina residents scratching their heads wondering what to do.  Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina is committed to helping residents of NC obtain quality, cost efficient health coverage both on and off the federal Marketplace.  In fact, every Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina health plan is ACA (Affordable Care Act) approved and offers the 10 essential benefits required under the law.  In addition, BCBSNC has a wide variety of health plans available on the Exchange for members who qualify for a federal subsidy.  Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina has an uncontested presence in the state, providing accessible networks in all 100 counties in NC.  Furthermore, unlike other insurance companies offering subsidized plans on the Marketplace, BCBSNC plans are not HMO’s, meaning you will still have coverage even if you happen to go out of network.

With or without the law and the tax penalties associated with being uninsured under the Affordable Care Act, living without health insurance is never a good idea.  Life happens and even the healthiest and most cautious among us can’t control the unexpected.  BCBSNC wants to make sure the residents of North Carolina are covered for routine preventive care and also in case of medical emergency.  Experience the benefits of being a Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC member and help make North Carolina among the nation’s leaders in insured residents.

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.

The Open Enrollment period for 2015 and your once-a-year opportunity to enroll a new Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina health plan or make changes to your current plan is coming to a close February 15th.  Open Enrollment began November 15th, but if you are one of the many Americans still trying to obtain health insurance for 2015 or if you still need to make changes to your health insurance policy, there is still time.

Here are four different scenarios that may apply to you:

Members with Grandfathered Plans:

A Grandfathered Plan is a health plan that was in place on March 23, 2010 and has had no changes made to it.  These plans are exempt from many of the Affordable Care Act requirements; however, you do have the option to change to an ACA plan.  Keep in mind, though, that once you give up your Grandfathered plan you will not be able to get it back.  Carefully consider the costs and benefits of your current plan and compare it against the available ACA plans before making a decision to change.

Members with Transitional Plans:

A transitional plan is a health plan that was purchased between March 24, 2010 and October 1, 2013.  These plans were originally supposed to be canceled on January 1, 2014 because of the new ACA requirements, but the administration decided at the last minute that members could keep these plans for two additional years.  Like with Grandfathered Plans, you may decide to switch to an ACA plan but remember, a new plan may cost more than your current plan, even with a subsidy applied.  Be sure to weigh your options carefully.

Members with ACA or Subsidized Plans:

ACA plans include many of those purchased on the Health Insurance Marketplace for 2014.  If you have one of these plans, there are some important questions you need to ask.  You want to consider how much you want to pay out of pocket for premiums and deductibles and also you need to consider the size of your network.  If you received a subsidy in 2014, you need to visit the Marketplace and update your subsidy qualifications.  If you don’t, you might not receive as much subsidy as you deserve and could wind up paying more than necessary for your health plan.

Members with ACA or Non-Subsidized Plans:

If you did not receive a subsidy in 2014 and you would like to make changes to your plan, you can still see if you qualify for a subsidy.  Again, consider the plans carefully, including the size of your network, out of pocket costs and monthly premiums.

FEBRUARY 15, 2015 is the last day you can apply for a 2015 plan or make changes to your current plan before the end of the Annual Enrollment Period.  After February 15, you will be subject to the rules of Special Enrollment involving Qualifying Life Events.

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.

9 Mason Jar Salad Recipes for Healthy Lunch Ideas – That New Year’s resolution to eat healthier probably includes lots of salads, but by the end of January, lettuce, cucumbers and tomatoes can get old. With layers of fruit, veggies, grains and proteins, salad-in-a-jar recipes are the perfect option for quick and easy packed lunches.  All you need is a jar, some basic knife skills and a few creative salad dressings for a clever and sophisticated salad you can actually look forward to.

Check out the Asian Noodle Salad, which is just one of 8 of these fun recipes.  For a tasty change from the plain old chopped lettuce salad, this recipe draws its inspiration from Asian cuisine. Soba noodles, also known as buckwheat noodles, are a great gluten-free option (though make sure to use gluten-free soy sauce and skip the crunchy rice noodle topping if gluten is a no-no in your diet). The homemade dressing uses peanut butter as an emulsifier, which allows the oil and vinegar to come together more harmoniously. That also means you won’t need to shake or mix it.

Promoting healthy eating, fitness and a healthy lifestyle is a main focus at Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina. Enjoy!  Before starting any weight loss program, always consult your doctor first and get his/her clearance for physical activity and find out if there are any issues that would affect you participating in a new nutrition and fitness program.

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.

Perhaps like so many Americans, you still have questions about the Affordable Care Act and what constitutes an ACA approved health plan.  One common misconception is that the federal government has created its own individual health policies, sometimes referred to as Obamacare plans, but that is not the purpose of the Affordable Care Act.  The Affordable Care Act is a federal program designed to ensure that 10 essential health benefits are a part of every ACA approved insurance plan and to help subsidize the cost of health insurance for those who qualify.  Subsidy qualifications are based entirely on income and the number of people per household and insurance companies do not regulate or control federal subsidies.

Basically, what this means is that consumers can still purchase ACA approved plans, or plans that include the 10 essential health benefits, and they can do so without ever visiting the federal government’s health care Marketplace.  In fact, if you do not qualify for a federal subsidy based on your income level, the application process is really quite simple.  You can apply for an ACA approved BCBSNC health plan in just a few short minutes.

If you do qualify for a federal subsidy based on income level, you will still begin the application process right here, but you will be redirected to the federal Marketplace when it comes time to apply for the subsidy that will be credited to your BCBSNC plan.  Once you have completed your application for subsidy, you may see plans available to you other than Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina because there are multiple companies with insurance plans available on the Marketplace; however, none can offer you and your family the same quality of coverage.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina understands that as consumers you have choices, which is why BCBSNC is committed to offering plans that boast the broadest network of providers throughout the state of North Carolina.  In fact, when you become a part of the Blue Advantage Network, you gain affordable access to over 90% of doctors and hospitals in the state.  Even the more limited Blue Value and Blue Local Networks allow you  many exceptional choices when it comes to your healthcare provider. Keep in mind, BCBSNC is the only insurance company that offers plans that are accepted in all 100 counties in North Carolina and because unlike other companies offering plans on the Marketplace BCBSNC is not an HMO, you will still have out of network coverage should you happen to need it.

Furthermore, Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina is so committed to your health and wellness that included in every plan is preventive care covered at 100%.  And if you have a plan that includes co-payments, whatever is coded as part of that doctor’s visit on that particular day will be covered by the appropriate co-payment.  That means you have the confidence of knowing there are are no hidden costs.  Make sure to view your plan’s summary of benefits and coverages for a complete list of covered health services.

Purchasing insurance may be a bit more complicated these days, but with BCBSNC you can still have the assurance of knowing you are getting the best health coverage available to you and the ones you love.

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.