
Gaston County residents can choose from four healthcare options: Blue Advantage, Blue Care, Blue Value, and Blue Local Atrium.
Blue Value is a good fit if you are flexible about which doctors you see – or if your doctor or hospital is part of this smaller network. The network is statewide, making it easy to get in-network care if you travel or have a child away at college within North Carolina.
Limited statewide network for savings
Network includes, but is not limited to, Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, CaroMont Health, Duke LifePoint Healthcare, Novant Health and UNC Health Alliance.
The following doctor/hospital networks are considered out-of-network for Blue Value: Atrium Health (not including Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist), Duke Health and WakeMed. Out-of-state providers are also out-of-network. When traveling outside of North Carolina or the United States, only emergency services and urgent care will be covered at the in-network benefit level. All other non-emergency covered services will be covered at the out-of-network benefit level.
Blue Value is available on and off Marketplace to residents of these North Carolina counties: Alexander, Brunswick, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Cleveland, Columbus, Duplin, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, New Hanover, Onslow, Pender, and Surry.
Blue Advantage gives you access to our largest nationwide network. This is a good option if you want a broad choice of in-network doctors, specialists and hospitals.
More in-network providers in North Carolina, with over 95% of doctors and 98% of hospitals in-network1
Fewer restrictions on which providers you can see
Nationwide access to in-network providers through BlueCard®2
Emergency services covered at the in-network benefit level regardless of where you go for care
Notes
Blue Cross NC Provider Internal Data; percentages indicated represent the Blue Cross NC PPO Network as of April 7, 2025.
Covered in nearly 200 countries and territories worldwide through the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association BlueCard program. www.geo-blue.com/ (Accessed March 2025). BlueCard coverage varies for each Blue Cross and Blue Shield plan. For more complete details, including benefits, limitations, and exclusions, please refer to your certificate of coverage.
Blue Advantage is available on and off Marketplace to residents in all North Carolina counties EXCEPT the following, where it is available only off Marketplace: Alamance, Anson, Cabarrus, Caswell, Chatham, Cleveland, Davidson, Davie, Durham, Forsyth, Franklin, Gaston, Johnston, Lee, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Orange, Person, Rowan, Stanly, Stokes, Surry, Union, Wake, and Yadkin.
Blue Local with Atrium Health is a good option if you wish to get care from Atrium Health and its affiliated doctors and hospitals. Since the majority of doctors in this plan are in the same health care system, it’s easier for them to work together on your behalf.
A provider network that includes: Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center – named “Best Hospital” in the Charlotte metro region.2
Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist (pre-eminent academic health system).3
Two children’s hospitals: Levine Children’s Hospital (nationally ranked in eight specialties)4 and Brenner Children’s Hospital.
Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Comprehensive Cancer Center – one of only three comprehensive cancer centers in North Carolina.5
26 hospitals and more than 650 care locations in NC and SC.6
All doctors outside the Atrium Health provider network are considered out-of-network and not covered for Blue Local with Atrium Health, including: CaroMont Health, Cone Health, Novant Health and their affiliated providers. Out-of-network benefit coverage is not available except for emergency services, urgent care and for medically necessary covered services when an in-network provider is not reasonably available per the access to care standards of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (Blue Cross NC).
Out-of-state providers are also out-of-network and not covered. When traveling outside of North Carolina or the United States, only emergency services and urgent care will be covered at the in-network benefit level. All other non-emergency services will be out-of-network and not covered.
Notes
Blue Cross NC has collaborated with Atrium Health to bring you Blue Local with Atrium Health, a health insurance plan offered by Blue Cross NC that provides access to Atrium Health’s comprehensive network of providers. Atrium Health is an independent company and is solely responsible for the physicians and medical facilities it owns/operates. Atrium Health does not offer Blue Cross or Blue Shield products or services.
Atrium Health, atriumhealth.org/about-us/newsroom/news/atrium-health-earns-multiple-us-news-and-world-report-honors (Accessed September 2023).
Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, www.wakehealth.edu/about-us (Accessed August 2022).
Atrium Health, www.atriumhealth.org/about-us (Accessed August 2022).
Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, www.wakehealth.edu/locations/facilities/comprehensive-cancer-center (Accessed September 2023).
Atrium Health, https://2023yir.advocatehealth.org/ (Within the full report) (Accessed September 2024).
Blue Local with Atrium Health is available on and off Marketplace to residents of these North Carolina counties: Anson, Cabarrus, Cleveland, Davidson, Davie, Forsyth, Gaston, Guilford, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Randolph, Rowan, Stanly, Stokes, Union, Wilkes and Yadkin.
Blue Care gives you access to our largest statewide network. This is a good option if you want a broad choice of in-network doctors, specialists and hospitals.
More than 92% of doctors and 97% of hospitals in North Carolina are in-network.1
All doctors outside the Blue Care provider network are considered out-of-network and not covered. Out-of-network benefit coverage is not available except for emergency services, urgent care and for medically necessary covered services when an in-network provider is not reasonably available per the access to care standards of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (Blue Cross NC).
Out-of-state providers are also out-of-network and not covered. When traveling outside of North Carolina or the United States, only emergency services and urgent care will be covered at the in-network benefit level. All other non-emergency services will be out-of-network and not covered.
in Gaston County
Gastonia is a city located in Gaston County, North Carolina. The city has a population of 77,027, a median age of 40.3 years, and an average household income of $50,722. Its strong community spirit, access to amenities, and affordable cost of living make it a popular choice with young families. The city is home to various parks and playgrounds, including Lineberger Park and Rankin Lake Park, and its historic downtown area features several unique shops and restaurants. The Schiele Museum of Natural History and Planetarium also offers a range of educational exhibits and programs suitable for all ages.
With a growing economy, the area has several major employers, highly rated public schools, healthcare facilities, and CaroMont Regional Medical Center. The hospital offers 435 beds and specializes in emergency care, cancer treatment, and cardiac care. There are also many physicians for families to choose from in the city to get the care they need for their families.
The population of Gaston County is 225,949 and covers an area of 364 square miles. Gastonia has several zip codes, including 28052, 28053, 28054, 28055, and 28056. If you’re looking for a family-friendly community to call home, Gastonia’s amenities and family-friendly activities make the city a top choice.
Gastonia, North Carolina ZIP Codes include: 28052, 28053, 28054, 28055, and 28056