Mission Statement:

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina is a leading health services company.  We deliver quality products, information, and services to help our customers improve their health and well-being.

History and Facts:

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) is a leader in delivering innovative health care products, services and information to more than 3.7 million members, including approximately 900,000 served on behalf of other Blue Plans. The company offers its members discounts and information on a wide variety of health-related services at no additional cost. BCBSNC also offers dental and disability insurance products. For 75 years, the company has served its customers by offering access to quality health care at a competitive price and has served the people of North Carolina through support of community organizations, programs and events that promote good health.

*The content of this post is provided by BCBSNC.

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.

Pharmacists in North Carolina have been granted temporary authority to administer seasonal and H1N1 flu shots to patients 14 years of age and older beginning October 9, 2009.

The Pharmacy and Medical Boards passed an emergency amendment to the pharmacist vaccination rule authorizing pharmacists to administer seasonal and H1N1 influenza vaccines to patients age 14 and up. This authorization is expected to extend through July 2010.

Eligible members ages 14 and older may go to an in-network pharmacist or CVS MinuteClinic to receive a seasonal flu shot, as well as an H1N1 vaccine – when it becomes available.

To find in-network pharmacists, visit the Doctors, Rx and Hospitals section on our site, and search for “Pharmacist (Flu & Other Limited Injections)” under Specialty. To find a participating CVS MinuteClinic, search for “Convenience Care Center” under Specialty.

The above information is taken from a News Release from BCBSNC October 2009.

For more information on health insurance coverage in North Carolina and how to utilize My Member Services, 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.

BCBSNC Launches New Online Application

On September 28th, Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina launched its new user-friendly Online Application.  The Online Application is now compatible with popular internet browsers such as Safari, Mozilla and Firefox.  In addition, the new application provides BCBS applicants navigation panel links, radio buttons for health questions, red text showing where an error occurred, the ability to change effective dates before accepting a final rate and plan, and the ability to view 2010 rates.  Dental effective dates will now coincide with health effective dates for applicants as well. 

Click here to request a Personalize Quote and Online Application for Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina!  It will be our pleasure to assist you with your health insurance needs!

For more information on health insurance coverage in North Carolina and how to utilize My Member Services, 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.

BCBSNC Doubles The Number Of Providers Using Electronic Prescribing
More Than 87 Percent Of North Carolina Pharmacies Use Eprescribe
 

Chapel Hill – More North Carolinians will benefit from increased prescription accuracy and safety because of the growing popularity of ePrescribe, a statewide electronic prescribing initiative of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina.

The latest ePrescribe results show the number of doctors using electronic prescriptions in the last quarter has now doubled to more than 2,000. In addition, more than 87 percent of North Carolina pharmacies now use electronic prescribing to meet customers’ prescriptions needs. 

“Our results show steady growth and adoption of electronic prescribing for both North Carolina physicians and pharmacies,” said Dr. Ron Smith, BCBSNC vice president of Employer Health and Corporate Pharmacy. “This is good news for patients. ePrescribe puts patients’ medical and drug histories at physicians’ fingertips, so they can see at-a-glance any possible drug interactions. They also can see the patient’s health plan formulary and can discuss the cost implications of various drug choices while their patient is in the office.”

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Breast cancer is a malignant (cancerous) tumor that starts from cells of the breast. The disease occurs mostly in women, but men can get breast cancer as well. The information referenced in this post only pertains to breast cancer in women.   A woman’s breast is made up of glands that make breast milk (lobules), ducts (small tubes that connect lobules to the nipple), fatty and connective tissue, blood vessels, and lymph (pronounced limf) vessels. Most breast cancers begin in the ducts (ductal carcinoma), some begin in the lobules (lobular carcinoma), and the rest in other tissues. 
 
The American Cancer Society breast cancer screening guidelines are for women at average risk for cancer (unless otherwise specified) and without any specific symptoms.  Mammograms are used to uncover early signs of breast cancer.  A mammogram is a special type of X-ray of the breasts. Mammograms can show tumors long before they are big enough for you or your health care provider to feel. Mammograms are quick and easy. You stand in front of an X-ray machine. The person who takes the X-rays places your breast between two plastic plates. The plates press your breast and make it flat. This may be uncomfortable, but it helps get a clear picture. You will have an X-ray of each breast. A mammogram takes only a few seconds and it can help save your life. 
 
The American Cancer Society’s recommendations are for yearly mammograms starting at age 40 and continuing for as long as a woman is in good health.  Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina’s Blue Advantage Plan covers screening mammograms beginning at age 35 along with the doctor’s interpretation of the results.  More frequent or earlier mammograms will be covered as recommended by a doctor when a female member is considered at risk for breast cancer.  A member is at risk if she has a personal history of breast cancer;  has a personal history of biopsy-proven benign breast disease;  has a mother, sister or daughter who has or has had breast cancer;  has not given birth before the age of 30.  
 
Content of this article from American Cancer Society and Medline Plus
As of the date of this article, Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina covers mammograms one of two ways:  They are covered 100% if done for screening/prevention purposes (by themselves with no other service done in conjunction).  However, if done in conjunction with a surgery, they will be subject to your deductible.

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.

A traditional PPO, BCBSNC’s Blue Advantage offers great coverage, a range of premium and deductible options to meet your budget.  You can provide coverage for your child/children or for your entire family.  Often times, if covered under a group sponsored plan, an employee will move their children to a private plan to save in premium.

•   Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina has a broad range of premium and deductible options for you to pick from.  With predictable co-payments and the largest provider network in the State of North Carolina, this local company has been serving the State of North Carolina for more than 70 years offering North Carolinians the most popular individual health insurance plan in the state. (more…)

  

IS ANYTHING BEING DONE? YES!

The problem of uninsured Americans – North Carolinians specifically –
has been decades in the making. But some initiatives are making significant differences now. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina has taken steps to make health care more accessible and affordable for everyone by:
• Working with the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association to cut fraud, waste and abuse – saving subscribers more than $240 million nationally in 2004 alone.* BCBSNC efforts reduced fraud, waste and abuse by nearly $10 million within the state in 2006.**
• Making the cost of prescription drugs more affordable by providing incentives to customers to use generic drugs, and piloting programs such as electronic prescribing.
• Showing real results in helping members make good choices about activity and nutrition, and manage their chronic conditions through our Member Health PartnershipsSM. This program helps them save money and avoid illness down the road.
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THE INVINCIBLES

They’re young. They’re just starting out. They’re often paid lower wages. And, in some cases, they can’t imagine themselves as sick or helpless. They’re used to being covered on their parents’ plans, but they’ve reached the age when they’re no longer eligible for dependent coverage.  Whatever the reason, those from 18 to 34 comprise the group that’s most likely not to have health insurance coverage.* As a result, preventive care is neglected, routine checkups are delayed, and needless financial and physical suffering is experienced (more…)

Facts

The impact of being uninsured*
• The uninsured have a 25 percent greater chance of
premature death.
• Nationally, there are 18,000 avoidable deaths annually among
the non-elderly due to lack of health insurance coverage.
• Uninsured women suffering from breast cancer have a 30-50
percent greater risk of death than those who are insured.
• Low-income uninsured.**
– 4.5 times more likely to have diabetes
– 30 percent more likely to have high blood pressure
– 50 percent more likely to have high cholesterol
– Almost twice as likely to have fair or poor health
Help for the “uninsurable”
• BCBSNC estimated in 2006 that a high-risk pool in North Carolina
could cover 9,000 “medically uninsurable” citizens, requiring
a subsidy of approximately $40 million a year.*
• North Carolina legislators are considering creating a state high-risk pool with premiums for eligible individuals capped at 175 percent of individual standard rates.**

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. 

BCBSNC data. 2006.
House Bill 265, 2007 Session of the N.C. General Assembly.
Institute of Medicine and the National Academy of Sciences, ”Covering the Uninsured: Being Uninsured Has Adverse Health Consequences.” Fact Sheet. N.C. Task Force on Covering the Uninsured. April 2006.
Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Survey Data. Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention. 2003.

ABOUT NORTH CAROLINA HEALTH INSURANCE:

 Residents of North Carolina have a variety of health insurance plans they can research and qualify for.  The most important question is, what is the best and most affordable plan for you and your family?  Our agency has written for some of the top companies in North Carolina throughout our career.  We have recently become exclusive agents for Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina, a company providing healthcare coverage for residents of North Carolina.  You may ask, why exclusive for BCBSNC?  It really revolves around customer service and products offered for health insurance coverage in North Carolina.  As an agency doing business for 34 years in North Carolina, we take tremendous pride in offering the best health insurance plans on the market with a company that we have 100% confidence in how they treat our clients as well as the products they offer.  There are so many health insurance plans in North Carolina that are being offered today, it is our job to determine what will work best for our clients and provide the best NC health coverage and affordability that is offered on the market today.   So, lets talk about North Carolina health insurance plans and highlight what we think is the best product on the market and provide the best health coverage for you and your family. (more…)

24-hour Health Information Line

Your child has a fever. What are your options? Your doctor has recommended surgery. Do you know what to expect? With Health Line Blue, the answers are just a phone call or click away.

It’s like having your own personal nurse
BCBSNC’s specially trained Health Line Blue nurses can answer your medical questions, offer support and send you free educational videotapes and brochures on many health topics. They can also help you partner with your doctor to make informed decisions and assist you in navigating the health care system.

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Blue Points

Earn prizes for taking an active role in your health.
Physical activity can help reduce the risk of cancer, heart disease, diabetes and other health conditions. That’s why we created Blue PointsSM, our physical activity and wellness incentive program available exclusively for BCBSNC members.

Just 30 minutes a day of physical activity or participation in wellness activities earns points toward prizes like electronics, sports equipment, clothing and more!* Collect points and select prizes from our four Blue Points prize levels (B, L, U, and E). Special prizes are available for children ages 6 - 12 through Blue Points for KidsSM.

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