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Businesswoman talking to a man and a woman across a table
Health

How To Find Health Insurance Agents: A Complete Guide

Finding affordable health insurance that fits your needs can be difficult. Finding the right health plan is a daunting task with so many options available. Most people struggle to discover the perfect plan by themselves, not realizing there are health insurance agents who can help. So, how do I find a health insurance agent?
At Health Plans of NC, we are ready to help you find the health plan that suits your needs. It can be difficult to understand the fine print regarding health insurance plans. A qualified health insurance agent can walk you through the process so you don’t have to do it alone.
Finding the right health insurance plan starts with finding the right agent. This article focuses on what licensed agents do and where to find the right one for you.
HealthPlans of NC

Full length of encouraged calm retired man and woman are talking to each other while standing outdoors. They are carrying a suitcase while looking at each other with love.
Health

What Is Non-Medicare Insurance? Complete Guide

Living without health insurance can leave you financially vulnerable to sudden illness or injury. Many individuals with health insurance coverage may feel that their plans don’t fulfill their needs.
If this is the case, several options are available, and Non-Medicare is one of the most widely used. But what is Non-Medicare insurance? And do you benefit from choosing it?
This article will offer a comprehensive understanding of non-Medicare insurance and how it differs from other types of insurance plans.
HealthPlans of NC

Businessman talking to a man across a table
Health

What Questions To Ask Health Insurance Agents Before Getting A Plan?

Finding the right health insurance plan is no easy task. With so many options available, many people feel overwhelmed and settle for a health plan that doesn’t fully meet their needs. Working with a licensed insurance agent can make the process less stressful and give you better results. You may be wondering what questions to ask a health insurance agent.  
Before selecting a health insurance policy, ask your agent what questions to ask health insurance companies. Take the time to learn from your agent and get educated on all available health insurance plans. Insurance agents are a valuable resource because they work directly for the health insurance company.
This article is meant to offer questions to ask when getting health insurance. We’ll cover topics such as insurance types, costs, and claims. Asking the right questions can give you a fuller picture of all your options to make the best decision possible.
HealthPlans of NC

Health

What Is Individual Health Insurance?: A Complete Guide

When it comes to overall health and well-being, an individual health insurance plan may be the right option for you. While it may seem expensive with potential out-of-pocket costs, it is worth having. You can rest assured with a proper health insurance plan, as you will be covered for various services and procedures. But what is individual health insurance, and what does it cover?
With the help of a knowledgeable insurance agent, you can find a plan that is both affordable and provides extensive coverage.
The Importance of Receiving Health Insurance in North Carolina
HealthPlans of NC

Health

How Much Is Individual Health Insurance? A Complete Guide

There are several options you must consider when choosing a health insurance plan. Many people receive coverage through their workplace. On the other hand, Medicare (a public health program created by the federal government) might be the most suitable for the elderly or retired. However, there are also individual plans available from health insurance companies. But how much is individual health insurance, and what does it cover?
This option has recently gained traction as it provides greater customization opportunities and flexibility within different plans. In the following, we will explain what individual health insurance is, how much it costs, and why it might be the right choice for you.
Why Consider Getting Individual Health Insurance
HealthPlans of NC

Six smiling children
Health

How Much Is Health Insurance for Different Family Sizes?

Having a family is a big responsibility. The health and security of your loved ones should be your top priority. It’s necessary to ensure that you and your family receive the best coverage at an affordable price. But how much is health insurance for different family sizes? What are the things you need to know?
We understand the difficulties of finding the right health insurance. Considering all the costs and different coverage options can be pretty stressful. Choosing the appropriate coverage is an important decision. 
Health Plans of NC offers a wide range of health plans so you and your loved ones can find the coverage you deserve. We encourage you to learn more about the average cost of family health plans and how you can afford the best health plan available. Our experienced team of agents can give you the knowledge you need to feel confident in the insurance company and coverage you choose.
HealthPlans of NC

Shot of a young woman checking her results in the dentists office
Health, Dental

Why It’s Essential to Look After Your Dental Health

Dental health can impact your overall health. Over 100 diseases can appear in your mouth, making regular check-ups essential. Your family dentist can not only help you maintain good oral health but also help prevent serious health complications. Organizing the right level of dental insurance can allow you to access the ongoing dental care you need for you and your family to stay healthy.
HealthPlans of NC

Health Plans of North Carolina, Kelly Quinn

View point of young families dancing at beach on ring around the rosy style - Lifestyle joy concept with mixed race people having fun moment holding hands
Short Term, Health, Affordable Care Act, Individual/Family

Child Only Plans

As a parent, the right health insurance can provide peace of mind if your child becomes ill, experiences an injury, or requires urgent medical attention. Our agents at Health Plans of NC regularly help families find the right health insurance for their entire family, including recommendations for child-only health insurance.
HealthPlans of NC

Health Plans of NC, Kelly Quinn

Portrait of Senior Woman with Grey Short Hair in the City District. Older Business Woman with Eyeglasses is Carrying a Briefcase and Talking over her Mobile Phone During the Walk in the City Center.
Health, Individual/Family, Short Term

What Is Expat Health Insurance?

Expat health insurance, also known as expatriate medical insurance, offers health insurance coverage for anyone temporarily living outside of their home country. You can usually tailor your policy to suit your health needs, regardless of where you live. These plans can be an excellent option to provide private health insurance, which can be helpful if it's difficult to source quality healthcare where you live. 
HealthPlans of NC

Health Plans of NC, Kelly Quinn

Shot of a young pharmacist helping an elderly customer at the prescription counter.
Health, Medicare

Drug Pricing Law: How It Affects Your Medicare Coverage

U.S. President Joe Biden recently signed the Inflation Reduction Act authorizing the government to negotiate prices on some prescription drugs and allow the government to cap the costs of Medicare. With over 63 million Americans receiving Medicare health benefits, the law is likely to affect many people throughout the country, including those living in North Carolina. 
HealthPlans of NC

Health Plans of NC, Kelly Quinn

Father and mother waiting with young daughter at airport. Tourist family at airport terminal with luggage holiday.
Health, Short Term

What Is Travel Insurance & What Does It Cover

If you're lucky enough to be planning a trip, you may be thinking about whether purchasing travel insurance is necessary. To help you decide, consider the costs of not purchasing insurance if something goes wrong and whether you've got the funds to support you. For example, paying for additional accommodation costs if your travel arrangements are delayed or replacing essential items if your luggage is lost or delayed. Learning about what travel insurance covers can help you decide whether it's necessary for your upcoming trip.
HealthPlans of NC

Health Plans of NC, Kelly Quinn

Son, Daughter, Family, Embracing
Health, Vision

Everything You Need To Know About Vision Coverage

A good health insurance plan can help cover unexpected medical costs and prescriptions. In addition, ensuring you've got the right level of coverage to help protect your vision can be essential if you or your family are likely to need regular visits to the eye doctor. At Health Plans of NC, we specialize in assisting residents throughout North Carolina. Our dedicated and experienced health insurance agents can talk you through some of the best vision insurance plans available to get you the coverage you need. 
HealthPlans of NC

Health Plans of NC, Kelly Quinn

We resolve to make health care simpler
Health, Blue Cross NC

Using High-Tech & High-Touch To Simplify Healthcare

Perhaps more than any other industry, health care represents the collision of humanity and technology—nothing is more personal than our health care. But for many, determining the best option for care is an overwhelming process. Knowing when to seek care can be just as difficult as combing through the volume of medical information offered online. This can lead to people spending more time, more money and using more services across the health care system than necessary.
At Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (Blue Cross NC), we are working to provide a more simplified health care experience for our members. By combining technology and human interaction, we’re helping members find the right resources for their care journeys.
High-Tech: Putting the Right Tools in the Hands of Members
HealthPlans of NC

Blue Cross NC

Nurse with patient on sofa
Health, Covid 19

Post Pandemic Healthcare Issues

With restrictions now eased and the world returning to a ‘new normal’ post pandemic, there are still ongoing health issues facing many North Carolinians. The stressful events we’ve experienced during the past three years, including significant changes to our normal lifestyle, are likely to have long-term effects on many people’s physical and mental health.
HealthPlans of NC

Health Plans of NC, Kelly Quinn

Family walking in a field holding hands
Health, Medicare

Common Allergies In North Carolina & Health Plan Treatment Options

Discover the most common allergies in North Carolina, including the tests and treatment options available under Medicare and private health insurance. 
HealthPlans of NC

Health Plans of NC, Kelly Quinn

Woman with blood pressure cuff looking at another woman taking her blood pressure
Health

What You Need to Know About High Blood Pressure and Health Insurance

High blood pressure, otherwise known as hypertension, is a fairly common condition that can eventually lead to health problems like heart disease and strokes if left untreated. With almost half of all American adults experiencing high blood pressure at some point in their lives, monitoring your blood pressure levels is crucial to maintaining your health. Keep reading to find out about high blood pressure health insurance coverage.
HealthPlans of NC

Health Plans of NC, Kelly Quinn

Woman at a shared counter with laptop, phone, pen, and notebook
Health, Covid 19

What Do Covid Restrictions Being Lifted Mean For Your Return To Work?

With Covid restrictions being lifted in the US, there are many steps currently being taken now by businesses and governments to get people back to work. While there may still be many uncertainties regarding the Covid-19 pandemic, many companies are reevaluating their current health and safety protocols and looking to adjust workplace guidance. Meaning more and more people are being asked to return to the workplace. 
HealthPlans of NC

Health Plans of NC, Kelly Quinn

Man carrying grocery bag talking to female grocery store employee
Health, Affordable Care Act, Individual/Family, Medicare

Medicaid Program Underway in North Carolina to Help with Food and Shelter

In March 2022, Medicaid launched the Healthy Opportunities Pilot, a program to support up to 20,000 low-income North Carolina residents. The program, a $650 million initiative, aims to test whether Medicaid funding should be used differently to better support the social problems that affect people’s health.
HealthPlans of NC

Health Plans of NC, Kelly Quinn

Five professionally dressed people smiling in an office hallway
Health, Affordable Care Act, Individual/Family, Medicare

The Top Three Benefits of Using a Health Insurance Agent

It’s only natural that you’ll have questions if you’re considering enrolling in a health insurance plan. The good news is that the Affordable Care Act means you can get assistance when selecting your plan. You can either work with an experienced, licensed health insurance agent or an authorized individual Marketplace representative called a Navigator to help answer your questions. Although a licensed agent and a Navigator do share some similarities, there are some differences. It can be more beneficial to use a licensed agent over an unlicensed, government-trained representative. Here are our three top benefits of why you should choose a licensed agent.
HealthPlans of NC

Health Plans of NC, Kelly Quinn

Man and woman talking at a desk
Health, Affordable Care Act, Individual/Family, Medicare

Do I Need a Health Insurance Agent?

Selecting the right health insurance can be time-consuming and often overwhelming. There is a vast range of medical health insurance available via the Health Insurance Marketplace and private insurance agencies.
HealthPlans of NC

Health Plans of NC, Kelly Quinn

Man reading bills at kitchen counter
Health, Medicare, Individual/Family

Help Understanding Your Medical Bills

If you’ve received a confusing medical bill, it’s essential to understand what you’re being charged for before you pay the bill.
HealthPlans of NC

Health Plans of NC, Kelly Quinn

Three coworkers with laptops sitting together at a long table
Health, Individual/Family, Group

How A Job Change Can Impact Your Health Insurance

Are you considering a job change or thinking about becoming self-employed? If so, it’s essential to consider the impact this change could have on your health insurance, including your coverage and costs. Here’s what you need to know about how a job change could impact your NC health insurance.
HealthPlans of NC

Health Plans of NC, Kelly Quinn

We resolve to make health care more affordable.
Health, Blue Cross NC, Individual/Family

Pulling Back The Curtain On Healthcare Costs

While the COVID-19 pandemic may have brought renewed urgency to the issue, the need for more cost transparency has long been part of the conversation about the future of health care. Beneath the partisan wrangling in Washington lies a serious issue. Not only is health care expensive, but it can be difficult for consumers to know just how much care costs until the final bill arrives.Managing medical costs starts with knowing what they are in the first place. At Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina, we support the concept of cost transparency. We’re leading the way in making it a reality, not only for our members, but for all North Carolinians.
Cost transparency at your fingertips
It’s hard to believe, but the cost for many common procedures can vary by thousands – in some cases tens of thousands of dollars – within the same city. When consumers don’t have easy access to this information, they are not only in the dark about the total cost of their care, but more importantly how much it will cost them out-of-pocket. A Blue Cross NC analysis showed that some North Carolinians will spend up to 25% of their take-home pay solely on medical expenses. That can be a massive financial burden for families to bear.An early innovator in cost transparency, Blue Cross NC launched a groundbreaking cost comparison tool in 2012 that enables members to compare cost and quality for common procedures before they make important care decisions. Just as consumers can shop for cars or smart phones by doing research before making a purchase, we’re empowering patients to be better informed health care consumers. When patients see that costs for the same surgery in the same area can vary by as much as $19,000, they realize they can choose more affordable options.[1] In 2015, we went a step further and made the tool available to all North Carolinians. Everyone in North Carolina, whether they are a Blue Cross NC member or not, can quickly search for common procedures like MRIs, knee replacements or mammograms and see how the cost compares between nearby providers.
HealthPlans of NC

Blue Cross NC

Woman holding Covid-19 rapid test
Health, Covid 19

COVID-19 Healthcare Articles

Here is a list of articles that we’ve published regarding COVID-19 since the pandemic began to help you to synthesize how to go about protecting yourself and your family.
Post-Pandemic Healthcare Issues
How To Tell Fact From Fiction With COVID-19 Information
HealthPlans of NC

Health Plans of NC, Kelly Quinn

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