Healthcare News & Blog

Medicare

Medicare, Health

Hospital-at-Home and Medicare: What NC Patients Need to Know

Cone Health is ending its NC hospital-at-home program despite a Medicare waiver through 2030. Learn what it means for your coverage and care options.
HealthPlans of NC

Medicare, Individual/Family, Health

Medicare in NC: What the CenterWell Deal Means for You

BlackRock is buying into CenterWell clinics. Here's what NC Medicare patients need to know about coverage, enrollment, costs, and plan options for 2026–2027.
HealthPlans of NC

Affordable Care Act, Individual/Family, Medicare

Health Insurance for NC Early Retirees Under 65

Retiring before 65 in NC? Learn how to bridge the gap to Medicare with ACA Marketplace plans, COBRA, and other health coverage options available in North Carolina.
HealthPlans of NC

Medicare, Individual/Family

Medicare Advantage Star Ratings in NC: What They Mean for You

Learn how Medicare Advantage star ratings work in NC, what the Alignment Healthcare CMS lawsuit means, and how to choose the right plan during 2026 Open Enrollment.
HealthPlans of NC

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.
HealthPlans of NC

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.
HealthPlans of NC

female agent smiling as she speaks to family of clients
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.
HealthPlans of NC

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.
HealthPlans of NC

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.
HealthPlans of 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.
HealthPlans of NC

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.
HealthPlans of NC

Older couple reviewing papers together at a table with a tablet
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.
HealthPlans of NC

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.
HealthPlans of NC

Couple reviewing a form together at the kitchen table
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.
HealthPlans of NC

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.
HealthPlans of NC

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.
HealthPlans of NC

Pharmacist handing a prescription bag to a smiling couple
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.
HealthPlans of NC

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.
HealthPlans of NC

Older couple reviewing paperwork at the kitchen table
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.
HealthPlans of NC

Older couple reviewing documents and a laptop at the kitchen table
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.
HealthPlans of NC

Older couple comparing paperwork at a table at home
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.
HealthPlans of NC

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.
HealthPlans of NC

Woman reviewing paperwork with a health care worker in a clinic
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.
HealthPlans of NC

Older woman going over a form with an agent at her kitchen table
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.
HealthPlans of NC

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