Find Your Most Affordable Health Insurance Plan in Cherokee County
in North Carolina
Cherokee County residents can choose from two healthcare options: Blue Advantage and Blue Care.
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 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 North Carolina
Find affordable health insurance in Cherokee County, NC with Health Plans of NC. Cherokee County, NC, located in the mountains of western North Carolina, is home to nearly 29,197 residents who rely on a range of health insurance options to access quality local care. Health Plans of NC helps Cherokee County families compare coverage from Blue Cross NC, the carrier serving this market, across 81 available plans. With an uninsured rate of 14.8%, representing approximately 4,000 Cherokee County residents without coverage, finding the right plan at the right price is a critical local need.
Cherokee County residents have access to a wide variety of health insurance options through the ACA marketplace, Medicaid, and employer-sponsored plans, with 81 total plans available through Blue Cross NC in this region. Families in Murphy, Andrews, and surrounding communities can choose coverage that connects them to local facilities like Erlanger Western Carolina Hospital and Murphy Medical Center, which provides emergency, surgical, and primary care services. Whether you are a young family relocating for Cherokee County's affordability and outdoor lifestyle or a long-term resident seeking better coverage, there is a plan designed to fit your situation.
Low-premium, high-deductible marketplace plans serve healthy, younger Cherokee County adults who want to protect against catastrophic costs while keeping monthly expenses manageable, with starting prices at $427.27 per month before subsidies.
Mid-tier marketplace plans with moderate deductibles and copays serve Cherokee County families who visit providers like Murphy Medical Center or the Murphy Medical Center Emergency department regularly throughout the year.
Higher-premium, comprehensive marketplace plans serve Cherokee County residents with ongoing medical needs, chronic conditions, or frequent specialist visits to facilities like Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates in Murphy or Asheville Cardiology Associates.
Medicaid and NC Medicaid Expansion coverage serves Cherokee County residents earning at or near the federal poverty level, especially important given the county's 14.6% poverty rate and median household income of $51,496.
Employer-sponsored group health plans serve Cherokee County workers employed through local healthcare systems, public school employees benefiting from the county's 90% graduation rate driven school system, and other area businesses.
Short-term and supplemental coverage options serve Cherokee County residents in transitional situations, such as those who recently changed jobs in a county with a 4.6% unemployment rate or those aging into Medicare eligibility.
Blue Cross NC and other leading carriers offer ACA-compliant plans in Cherokee County. There are 81 plans available for 2025. Our agents compare every plan side-by-side at no cost.
Blue Cross NC, offering 81 marketplace plans to Cherokee County residents across all available coverage levels
Bronze plans in Cherokee County start at approximately $427.27/mo/month before subsidies. With a median household income of $51,496, many residents qualify for premium tax credits. Subsidies may reduce your monthly premium significantly based on income.
The benchmark marketplace plan in Cherokee County starts at $427.27 per month before subsidies, but federal premium tax credits can reduce costs substantially for households earning between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level.
Cherokee County residents with a household income near the county median of $51,496 often qualify for meaningful ACA subsidies that bring monthly premiums well below the unsubsidized starting price.
Residents earning up to 138% of the federal poverty level may qualify for NC Medicaid Expansion coverage, which is especially relevant given Cherokee County's 14.6% poverty rate and concentration of lower-income households.
Families with children in Cherokee County may qualify for NC Health Choice, the state's CHIP program, providing low-cost or no-cost coverage for qualifying minors even when parents do not qualify for Medicaid.
Cherokee County's 14.8% uninsured rate, representing approximately 4,000 people, suggests a significant portion of residents may be unaware of subsidy eligibility or $0 premium plan options available through Blue Cross NC.
Workers employed in Cherokee County's healthcare, education, or small business sectors should compare employer plan costs against subsidized marketplace options, as marketplace coverage may be more affordable depending on household size and income.
North Carolina expanded Medicaid in December 2023. Cherokee County residents earning up to 138% of the federal poverty level may qualify for free or low-cost coverage. Currently 14.8% of Cherokee County residents (about 4,000 people) are uninsured. Many may now qualify. Children in families earning up to 210% FPL may qualify for NC Health Choice (CHIP). Call Health Plans of NC for a free eligibility check.
Cherokee County is home to 29,197 residents. The median household income is $51,496. The county has grown 1.5% since 2020. The uninsured rate is 14.8%. 1.9% of residents are foreign-born. Health Plans of NC helps Cherokee County residents find the right plan at no cost.
Hospital | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
Angel Medical Ctr | 124 One Center Ct, Franklin, NC 28734 | (828) 524-8411 |
Cherokee Indian Hospital | 1 Hospital Rd, Cherokee, NC 28719 | (828) 497-9163 |
Erlanger Western Carolina Hosp | 3990 E US 64 Alt, Murphy, NC 28906 | (828) 837-8161 |
Harris Regional Hospital | 68 Hospital Rd, Sylva, NC 28779 | (828) 586-7000 |
Haywood Regional Medical Ctr | 262 Leroy George Dr, Clyde, NC 28721 | (828) 456-7311 |
Highlands-Cashiers Hospital | 190 Hospital Dr, Highlands, NC 28741 | (828) 526-1200 |
Swain Community Hospital | 45 Plateau St # 230, Bryson City, NC 28713 | (828) 488-2155 |
Transylvania Regional Hospital | 260 Hospital Dr, Brevard, NC 28712 | (828) 884-9111 |
Unity Healing Ctr | 448 Sequoyah Trl, Cherokee, NC 28719 | (828) 497-1800 |
Clinic | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
Angel Medical Ctr | 56 Medical Park Dr, Franklin, NC 28734 | (828) 542-8411 |
Asheville Cardiology Assoc | 190 Hospital Dr # 104, Highlands, NC 28741 | (828) 274-6000 |
Atlanta Gastroenterology Assoc | 145 Medical Park Ln # K, Murphy, NC 28906 | (404) 257-9000 |
Center For Family Medicine | 55 Holly Springs Park Dr, Franklin, NC 28734 | (828) 349-3550 |
Haywood Regional Medical Ctr | , Waynesville, NC 28786 | (828) 452-8070 |
Mission Community Primary Care | 57 White Owl Ln, Cashiers, NC 28717 | (828) 743-2491 |
Mission Health Ctr Highlands | 190 Hospital Dr, Highlands, NC 28741 | (828) 526-4942 |
Mission Urology-Brevard | 89 Hospital Dr # C, Brevard, NC 28712 | (828) 883-5858 |
Murphy Medical Ctr Emergency | 3990 E US 64 Alt, Murphy, NC 28906 | (828) 837-8300 |
Murphy Medical Ctr Human RSRCS | , Murphy, NC 28906 | (828) 835-7683 |
Murphy Medical Ctr Radiology | 3990 E US 64 Alt, Murphy, NC 28906 | (828) 835-7540 |
Murphy Medical Ctr | 3990 E US Highway 64 Alternate, Murphy, NC 28906 | (828) 835-7502 |
Murphy Medical Ctr | 4130 115 Highway 64 E, Murphy, NC 28906 | (828) 835-7505 |
Orthopedics-Sports Medicine | 190 Riverview St, Franklin, NC 28734 | (828) 349-8260 |
Ozarks Medical Ctr | PO Box 330, Marble, NC 28905 | (417) 257-5802 |
Primary Care Franklin | 190 Riverview St, Franklin, NC 28734 | (828) 349-6800 |
VA Medical Ctr | 45 HI Lane St, Canton, NC 28716 | (828) 298-7911 |
Cherokee County ZIP Codes include: 28901, 28903, 28905, and 28906
