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Two Changes to the North Carolina Health Insurance Market in 2019

Monday, July 1st, 2019

With the 2020 presidential election approaching, healthcare and health insurance are yet again popular topics of conversation.  The different opinions and visions of the health insurance landscape is often very distant from the realities we experience everyday in North Carolina.  The media attention that surrounds this dialog makes it more difficult to follow current changes to health insurance in North Carolina.  A couple recent changes have impacted the options for many North Carolinians.  Here, we will outline two recent changes and the details consumers should keep in mind now and moving forward.

3 Year Term- Short Term Plans

One such change is the implementation of 3 year policy periods on “Short Term Health Insurance Plans.”  An executive order was signed in 2018 making 3 year policy period Short Term Medical plans available, but the plans were not offered to North Carolina health insurance shoppers until recently.  The North Carolina Department of Insurance approved the these plans in the Spring of 2019.  The availability of Tri-Term Medical plans is significant in that longer policy period plans allow members to avoid the application process every 90 days.  The plans allow you to apply once for a coverage term of 3 years.  Prior to this option, enrolled members were forced to re-qualify by answering health underwriting questions each time the policy expired.  This meant the applicant would risk being denied the ability to re-enroll if unable to pass medical underwriting based on changes in medical conditions.  A 3 year policy period plan will minimize this risk since the applicant is not required to answer health eligibility questions as frequently.

The Short Term Health Insurance market has grown in North Carolina, particularly for consumers that do not qualify for a government subsidy.  The plans often provide non-subsidy shoppers a less expensive alternative to the ACA compliant plans.  The 3 year term plans will continue to strengthen the alternative options for this group of health insurance consumers.

Qualifying Life Event Tweaks

Ever since the introduction of the Affordable Care Act in 2014, consumers have needed a Qualifying Life Event to make changes to plans or apply for new plans when outside the Open Enrollment Period.  The specifics of these Qualifying Events have seemed to continuously change each year.  This year, most Qualifying Life Events now require the consumer to have also carried prior creditable coverage.  For example, a change in permanent residence address and a marriage are two qualifying events that now require the applicant to have carried prior coverage for at least one of the prior sixty days.

Additionally, existing members that are trying to make plan changes based on Qualifying Events must meet additional requirements in order to make changes to an existing plan.  These changes often come as a surprise to consumers that have experienced similar changes in the past and expected similar options to be available.

The healthcare discussion will only continue in the months ahead, but it’s important we don’t lose focus of the changes that are being implemented.  As insurance advisors, our commitment is to educating consumers and allowing them to make the best decisions within this ever changing market.  One way to do this is by understanding whether any of these market changes would affect 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.

Did you miss Open Enrollment – You can still enroll in Short Term Plans

Thursday, February 9th, 2017

bigstockphoto_online_application_2680056Health Insurance is still available! If you are one of the countless Americans who missed open enrollment. There are options for you.

Short-term/Temporary health insurance is designed for healthy individuals and families, and is a low- cost, affordable option to protect yourself and/or your family from unforeseen and emergency medical costs.

Short term plans are not compliant with the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), so they are still available year-round. If you missed open enrollment and do not have a qualifying event that allows you to purchase an ACA compliant plan, a short-term policy can be a good choice to bridge the gap until open enrollment begins again.

Short term plans are not renewable, but some companies allow you to purchase another plan once your plan has lapsed, but you are required to answer all the health questions and qualify as you did initially.

It is important to know that short term plans are not considered minimum essential coverage under the Affordable Care Act, so people with short term health insurance could be subject to the ACA’s individual mandate penalty unless they are otherwise exempt from it.

Remember, short term plans do not cover any pre-existing conditions. They are not required to cover the ACA’s essential health benefits.  Although their sale is not limited to the ACA open enrollment period, short term plans do use basic medical underwriting to determine an applicant’s eligibility for coverage.

These plans are considerably less expensive than ACA-compliant major medical plans.  And you can get coverage as early as the next day once you answer some basic health questions.

Why Temporary Health Insurance is a Good Idea

Monday, May 23rd, 2016

Multi Generation Family Enjoying Picnic TogetherTemporary health insurance is becoming increasingly popular in the ACA market.  Due to rising health insurance premiums and stricter guidelines on enrollment periods, many people are turning to short term insurance as a long-term solution.  Because short term health plans are not subject to the laws of the ACA, they are less-expensive and can be purchased outside of Open Enrollment.  For individuals and families who have either missed Open Enrollment or who simply cannot afford an ACA-approved Qualified Health Plan, short term coverage is a viable option. (more…)

Need Health Insurance Now? – Get Short Term Coverage

Thursday, July 30th, 2015

Fill the Gap words on a puzzle piece ready to be placed in a holBeing uninsured is never wise, but let’s face it.  Life happens and sometimes you find yourself in a situation where you are experiencing a gap in coverage and need insurance now.  Perhaps you are transitioning from one job to another and there are a few months in between when coverage is not available to you through an employer.  Or perhaps you missed Open Enrollment and now find yourself without a Qualifying Life Event that allows you to enroll in health coverage during Special Enrollment. Whatever the case, you are not out of options.  Short Term coverage can help fill that gap and it is available to you as soon as the very next day! (more…)

NC Short Term Medical Insurance

Wednesday, December 5th, 2012

bigstock-hand-writing-contact-us-39094042Are you a resident of NC currently without health coverage?

APPLY TODAY BY CLICKING THIS LINK

Sometimes major life changes can suddenly leave you without proper health insurance.

  • Are you a recent graduate?
  • Are you no longer covered by your parents’ plan?
  • Are you between jobs?
  • Are you working a temporary or part-time job?
  • Are you a new employee waiting to qualify for your company’s group health plan?

All Temporary Health policies available for 1 to 11 months.

As a NC resident, you can choose the temporary health insurance plan that suits you best from these reputable insurance companies: Just click on the name of the insurance company, read about each NC temporary health insurance plan, get an online quote, make your decision, and submit a quick online application. It couldn’t be faster or easier to get peace-of-mind coverage as soon as tomorrow.

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.

Short Term Health Insurance

Sunday, September 4th, 2011

Sometimes major life changes can suddenly leave you without proper health insurance.

Are you a recent graduate?

Are you no longer covered by your parents’ plan?

Are you between jobs?

Are you working a temporary or part-time job?

New employee waiting to qualify for your company plan?

Temporary health insurance is a fast, affordable and easy solution for people who are currently without health coverage.  CLICK HERE to get an online quote and submit your online application in just a few minutes. You can be covered as early as 12:01 am the following day or select a specific date in the future for your temporary health insurance plan to begin.

Start your North Carolina Health Insurance as early as tomorrow if you apply by midnight tonight.   One of our qualified agents at NC Health Plans will be happy to assist you in selecting the best health insurance plan for you and your family.

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.

Expecting the Unexpected, Temporary Coverage

Saturday, November 15th, 2008

Our agency provides healthcare coverage through Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC).  But, if you are looking for a short term solution for your health insurance needs, are between jobs, out of work or a recent college graduate, you may want to consider Temporary Health Insurance to protect you and your family.  If you qualify for coverage, short term coverage can cover you up to $2,000,000.00.  You can select your deductible and co-insurance, but keep in mind it does not cover pre-existing conditions and everything is subject to the deductible.

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Short Term Health Insurance in NC

Wednesday, November 5th, 2008

Temporary Health Insurance NC
Are you a resident of NC currently without health coverage?

Sometimes major life changes can suddenly leave you without proper health insurance.
  • Are you a recent graduate?
  • Are you no longer covered by your parents’ plan?
  • Are you between jobs?
  • Are you working a temporary or part-time job?
  • Are you a new employee waiting to qualify for your company’s group health plan?

Temporary health insurance is a fast, affordable and easy solution for people who are currently without health coverage. From this site, you can get an online quote and submit your online application in just a few minutes. You can be covered as early as 12:01 am the following day or select a specific date in the future for your temporary health insurance plan to begin.

For more information on temporary 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 qualified agents. 

 
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