Find Your Most Affordable Health Insurance Plan in Monroe, North Carolina
in North Carolina
Union County residents can compare 16 health insurance options for 2026.
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 Home with Novant Health is a good option if you wish to get care from Novant Health’s provider network and its affiliated doctors and hospitals. Since the majority of doctors in this plan are in the same network, it’s easier for them to work together on your behalf.
Novant Health’s network of hospitals, doctors and affiliated providers including over 2,000 physicians.2
A provider network that includes more than 850 locations, including Novant Health’s not-for-profit integrated system of 19 medical centers.2
All doctors outside the Novant Health provider network are considered out-of-network and not covered for Blue Home with Novant Health. 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 Novant Health to bring you Blue Home with Novant Health. Blue Home with Novant Health is a health insurance plan offered by Blue Cross NC that provides access to a limited network of providers. Novant Health is an independent company that is solely responsible for the physicians and medical facilities it owns and operates. Novant Health does not offer Blue Cross or Blue Shield products or services.
Novant Health, www.novanthealth.org/home/about-us/company-information.aspx (Accessed August 2024).
Blue Home with Novant Health is available on and off Marketplace to residents of these North Carolina counties: Cabarrus, Davidson, Forsyth, Mecklenburg, Rowan, Stokes, Union, 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.
Blue Care is available in all North Carolina counties, except: Alamance, Caswell, Chatham, Durham, Franklin, Johnston, Lee, Orange, Person, and Wake.
in Union County
Find affordable health insurance in Monroe, North Carolina, NC with Health Plans of NC. Health Plans of NC helps Monroe, North Carolina residents find affordable, ACA-compliant health coverage for 2026, with local expertise connecting families to plans that work with providers like Atrium Health Union and Novant Health Monroe Medical Center. Whether you are self-employed, between jobs, or working for one of Monroe's major employers, our licensed agents compare every available plan at no cost so you can enroll with confidence.
Plan Network | Type | Network Coverage |
|---|---|---|
Blue Advantage | PPO | Largest nationwide network, 95%+ of NC doctors in-network |
Blue Care | PPO | Broad statewide network, 92%+ of NC doctors in-network |
Blue Local with Atrium Health | PPO | Available in Monroe, North Carolina |
Blue Home with Novant Health | PPO | Available in Monroe, North Carolina |
Monroe, North Carolina is home to 35,596 residents, with no measurable population change since 2020 and a foreign-born population share of 17.8 percent, reflecting a diverse community with a wide range of health coverage needs. Major employers including Union County Schools, Atrium Health Union, the County of Union, ATI Specialty Materials, and Tyson Foods drive demand for both employer-sponsored and individual market coverage options throughout Union County. Residents who receive care at Atrium Health Union or Novant Health Monroe Medical Center have access to multiple coverage pathways depending on their income, employment status, and household size.
ACA Marketplace coverage is available for Monroe residents who are self-employed, between jobs, or whose employers such as ATI Specialty Materials do not offer group benefits.
Medicaid coverage is available for qualifying low-income Monroe residents, including many workers employed by smaller local businesses who do not receive workplace benefits.
Employer-sponsored group health insurance is offered by large Monroe employers like Union County Schools and Atrium Health Union, typically sharing premium costs between employer and employee.
COBRA continuation coverage allows Monroe residents who lose job-based insurance, such as those transitioning out of Tyson Foods employment, to temporarily maintain their existing plan.
Short-term health plans may provide limited bridge coverage for Monroe residents experiencing a gap between jobs or waiting for an ACA open enrollment period.
Small business SHOP Marketplace plans are available for Monroe small business owners who want to offer group health benefits to their employees across Union County.
For 2026, Monroe, North Carolina residents can choose from 16 Blue Cross NC ACA Marketplace plans offered across four distinct plan networks, each connecting enrollees to different combinations of local hospitals and physician groups. The available networks include Blue Advantage and Blue Care, which are PPO plans offering broad statewide and nationwide provider access, as well as Blue Local with Atrium Health and Blue Home with Novant Health, which are PPO plans built around specific regional health systems serving Monroe. Selecting the right network is critical for Monroe residents who want to ensure that their preferred local providers are covered under their 2026 plan.
Blue Advantage, a PPO network, provides access to the largest nationwide provider network with over 95 percent of North Carolina doctors participating as in-network providers.
Blue Care, a PPO network, offers broad statewide coverage with over 92 percent of North Carolina doctors in-network, giving Monroe residents wide access to specialists across Union County.
Blue Local with Atrium Health, a PPO network, is built around the Atrium Health system and is available to Monroe, North Carolina residents who prefer coordinating care through Atrium Health Union.
Blue Home with Novant Health, a PPO network, is available in Monroe, North Carolina and centers care coordination through Novant Health Monroe Medical Center and its affiliated providers.
All four plan networks cover the 10 ACA essential health benefits, including preventive care, emergency services, prescription drugs, and mental health services for Monroe enrollees.
Monroe residents who regularly use both Atrium Health Union and Novant Health Monroe Medical Center should review Blue Advantage or Blue Care plans to maximize flexibility across both health systems.
Bronze plans in Monroe, North Carolina start at approximately $463.63/month before subsidies. Silver plans start at $593.60/month. Gold plans start at $626.35/month. With a median household income of $67,265, many residents qualify for premium tax credits. Subsidies may reduce your monthly premium significantly based on income.
Bronze plans start at $463.63 per month in Monroe, North Carolina for a 35-year-old, offering the lowest monthly premiums with higher out-of-pocket costs when care is needed.
Silver plans start at $593.60 per month and are the only tier eligible for cost-sharing reductions, which lower deductibles and copayments for qualifying Monroe enrollees.
Gold plans start at $626.35 per month and provide the lowest out-of-pocket costs throughout the year, making them well-suited for Monroe residents who use medical services frequently.
Monroe residents with household incomes between 100 and 400 percent of the federal poverty level qualify for premium tax credits that reduce the cost of any of the 16 available plans.
Some Monroe households with incomes near the federal poverty level may qualify for enhanced subsidies that bring monthly Silver plan premiums to zero dollars or close to it.
Monroe residents should ask a Health Plans of NC agent to calculate their exact subsidy amount based on their household size and income relative to the federal poverty level.
For 2026, Blue Cross NC is the sole ACA Marketplace carrier serving Monroe, North Carolina, offering 16 plans in Rating Area 5 across four plan networks: Blue Advantage, Blue Care, Blue Local with Atrium Health, and Blue Home with Novant Health. All four networks are structured as PPO plans, giving Monroe residents the ability to see specialists without referrals while still benefiting from in-network cost savings at local facilities. Blue Local with Atrium Health connects enrollees directly to Atrium Health Union and its affiliated providers, while Blue Home with Novant Health centers care through Novant Health Monroe Medical Center. The network a Monroe resident selects determines which local doctors, specialists, and hospitals are covered at the lowest cost-sharing tier, making it essential to verify that preferred providers are in-network before finalizing enrollment. Health Plans of NC licensed agents compare every available Blue Cross NC plan side by side at no cost, helping Monroe residents identify the right network and benefit structure for their household.
Blue Cross NC: PPO plans across four networks, 16 total ACA Marketplace plans available in Monroe, North Carolina for 2026, covering the full Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Catastrophic tier range.
North Carolina expanded Medicaid in December 2023, extending free or low-cost coverage to adults earning up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level, opening a significant new coverage pathway for Monroe residents who previously fell into the coverage gap. Currently, 17.8 percent of Monroe residents, approximately 6,000 people, remain uninsured, and many of them may now be eligible for Medicaid or a subsidized Marketplace plan under the expanded rules. Children in families earning up to 210 percent of the federal poverty level may qualify for NC Health Choice, the state's CHIP program, providing low-cost comprehensive coverage for minors in Monroe households. Health Plans of NC offers free eligibility screening so Monroe residents can quickly find out whether they qualify for Medicaid, CHIP, or a subsidized Marketplace plan.
Working adults in Monroe who earn low wages and do not have access to affordable employer-sponsored coverage may now qualify for full Medicaid benefits under NC expansion.
Children in Monroe households with incomes up to 210 percent of the federal poverty level can access NC Health Choice, which provides comprehensive low-cost pediatric coverage.
Pregnant women in Monroe may qualify for expanded Medicaid coverage throughout pregnancy and during the postpartum period under North Carolina's eligibility guidelines.
Monroe residents with disabilities who meet income and functional requirements may qualify for Medicaid, providing coverage for long-term services, medications, and specialist care.
With a poverty rate of 13.9 percent in Monroe, North Carolina, a meaningful share of the local population may qualify for Medicaid or heavily subsidized Marketplace coverage and should verify their eligibility at no cost with Health Plans of NC.
Health Plans of NC licensed agents serve Monroe, North Carolina residents at no cost, comparing every available 2026 ACA Marketplace plan side by side and guiding households through the full enrollment process from eligibility screening to plan selection. Call us today at 800-797-0327 to speak with an agent who understands the Monroe market and can help you find the right coverage for your family or business.
Call 800-797-0327 (toll free) to speak with a licensed Health Plans of NC agent serving Monroe, North Carolina
Email [email protected] with questions about plans available in your zip code
Find a licensed agent and book directly at healthplansofnc.com/agents
No cost, no pressure. Compare every 2026 plan available in Monroe, North Carolina at no charge.
Monroe, North Carolina ZIP Codes include: 28110, 28111, and 28112
