Medicare
Medicare NC: Enrollment Deadlines & Late Penalties Explained
Missing Medicare enrollment windows in NC can mean permanent premium penalties. Learn every deadline, how to apply, and how to protect your coverage.
Health, Affordable Care Act, Medicare
Rural NC Health Care Costs: What You Need to Know
Two in three rural voters worry about affording health care. Learn what coverage options exist in NC, how costs work, and how to lower your health care bills.
Blue Cross NC, Individual/Family, Affordable Care Act, Medicare, Health
2027 Open Enrollment & Special Enrollment Periods: Key Dates and Information
Open Enrollment for 2027 individual and family health plans runs November 1, 2026 through January 15, 2027. Enroll by December 15 for coverage starting January 1. Medicare’s Annual Enrollment Period runs October 15 to December 7, 2026.
Health Plans of NC Staff
Medicare
Medicare Enrollment Deadlines in NC: Avoid Costly Penalties
Miss a Medicare enrollment window in NC and face permanent premium penalties. Learn IEP, GEP, and SEP deadlines to protect your health coverage and wallet.
Health, Affordable Care Act, Medicare
WakeMed-Atrium Merger: What NC Patients Should Know Now
Atrium Health raised executive pay 21% in 2025 while pursuing a WakeMed deal. Here's how the merger could raise your health insurance costs in NC.
Medicare
Where to Get Free Medicare Help in North Carolina
North Carolina residents have several free places to get Medicare help, and each does a different job. Here's what Medicare, SHIIP, licensed agents, insurance companies and Social Security can and can't do for you.
Medicare
Switching From Medicare Advantage Back to Medigap in North Carolina
Leaving a Medicare Advantage plan is simple during the right enrollment window. Buying a Medigap policy afterward can be harder. Here's how North Carolina residents can tell whether they have a guaranteed right to buy one.
Medicare, Health
Medicare Open Enrollment in NC: Key 2027 Changes
Medicare Annual Enrollment runs October 15 – December 7, 2026. Here's what's changing for 2027 in North Carolina — provider networks, drug costs, and insurer pullbacks — and how to review your plan before the deadline.
Health, Affordable Care Act, Medicare
NC Health Plan Drug Formularies: What You'll Pay
Learn how drug tiers, prior authorization, and coverage rules affect your prescription costs across North Carolina ACA and Medicare health plans.
Health, Medicare, Affordable Care Act
GLP-1 Drugs and Long-Term Health Coverage in NC
GLP-1 medications may need to be taken indefinitely — here's what NC residents need to know about insurance coverage, Medicare, and ACA plan rules in 2026.
Health, Medicare, Affordable Care Act
Bridging the Gap: Health Coverage From 60 to Medicare
Retiring before 65 in NC? Learn how ACA plans, COBRA, and spousal coverage can bridge your health insurance gap until Medicare begins at 65.
Medicare
Medicare NC: Enrollment Windows and Late Penalties
NC residents: learn when to enroll in Medicare, how to avoid permanent late penalties, and which plan types are available in North Carolina in 2026.
Health, Affordable Care Act, Medicare
Prescription Drug Coverage in NC: Formularies, Tiers & PA Rules
Learn how formularies, drug tiers, prior authorization, and step therapy affect your prescription costs on NC marketplace and Medicare health plans.
Health, Affordable Care Act, Medicare
Western NC Hospital Expansion: What It Means for Your Coverage
Four health systems want 92 new beds in western NC, and residents oppose Mission's bid. Here's how the outcome could affect your health plan and coverage options.
Medicare
Medicare Supplement Plans in NC: Medigap Explained
Learn how Medigap plans work in North Carolina, what each lettered plan covers, how much they cost, and how to choose the right Medicare supplement for your needs.
Medicare
Medicare NC Enrollment Deadlines & Coverage Windows
Learn when NC seniors can enroll in Medicare, how IEPs and SEPs work, and how to avoid costly late-enrollment penalties. Plain-language guide for 2026.
Medicare
Original Medicare Vs. Medicare Advantage in NC: 2027 Guide
North Carolina Medicare beneficiaries choose between Original Medicare, usually paired with a Medigap policy and a Part D plan, and an all-in-one Medicare Advantage plan. Here's how the two paths compare for 2027.
Health, Individual/Family, Medicare
Rural Healthcare Access & Network Adequacy in NC
Learn how to evaluate provider networks for health plans in rural North Carolina and find coverage that gives you real, nearby access to the care you need.
Health, Medicare, Affordable Care Act
Rural Health Care in NC: Your Coverage Options in 2026
From Medicaid changes to Medicare and ACA plans, here's what rural North Carolina residents need to know about their health coverage options in 2026.
Medicare
Medicare Part D in NC: Drug Plans, Costs & Enrollment
Learn how Medicare Part D prescription drug plans work in North Carolina — formularies, costs, coverage gaps, and how to avoid late-enrollment penalties.
Health, Affordable Care Act, Medicare
Health Insurance for NC Early Retirees Before Medicare
Retiring before 65 in NC? Explore ACA Marketplace subsidies, COBRA, spousal plans, and cost strategies to bridge the gap until Medicare starts.
Health, Affordable Care Act, Medicare
How to Fight a Denied Health Insurance Claim in NC
Learn how to appeal denied health insurance claims in NC. Step-by-step guidance for ACA marketplace and Medicare plans, deadlines, documents, and free resources.
Health, Affordable Care Act, Medicare
Cyclospora Outbreak 2026: What NC Residents Must Know
Two active Cyclospora outbreaks — including a Taco Bell cluster in 9 states — put NC residents on alert. Learn symptoms, safe foods, and how your health plan covers care.
Health, Affordable Care Act, Medicare
NC Health Care Affordability Commission: What It Means for You
NC's new Health Care Affordability Commission held its first meeting July 21, 2026. Learn what it could mean for your health insurance costs and coverage options.