Find Your Most Affordable Health Insurance Plan in Cleveland County
in North Carolina
Cleveland 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 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 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 North Carolina
Find affordable health insurance in Cleveland County, NC with Health Plans of NC. Health Plans of NC helps residents of Cleveland County, NC find the right health insurance plan for 2026, with access to coverage options through Blue Cross NC and local health systems like Atrium Health Cleveland serving the Shelby area.
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 Value | HMO | Value-focused HMO with lower premiums |
Blue Local with Atrium Health | PPO | Available in Cleveland County |
Cleveland County is home to 100,170 residents, a community that has grown 0.7 percent since 2020 and includes 3.0 percent foreign-born residents who may have unique coverage needs and eligibility considerations. Major employers such as Atrium Health, Cleveland County Schools, Walmart, the County of Cleveland, and Gardner-Webb University provide a mix of employer-sponsored and marketplace coverage pathways for working families. Health systems including Atrium Health Cleveland and Atrium Health anchor the local provider landscape, and Health Plans of NC can help any resident navigate the full range of available coverage types at no cost.
ACA Marketplace plans are available to Cleveland County residents who work for employers like Gardner-Webb University or Walmart and need individual or family coverage outside of a job-based plan.
Medicaid coverage is available to qualifying low-income adults and families in Cleveland County, with eligibility expanded through NC Medicaid to reach more working residents employed by local businesses and institutions.
Employer-sponsored insurance is offered by major Cleveland County employers including Atrium Health, Cleveland County Schools, and the County of Cleveland, providing group coverage to a significant share of the workforce.
Short-term health plans can serve Cleveland County residents who are between positions at employers like Walmart or Gardner-Webb University and need temporary coverage while awaiting a new benefits period.
COBRA continuation coverage allows Cleveland County residents who lose job-based insurance from employers such as Atrium Health or Cleveland County Schools to maintain their existing plan for a limited period.
Small business SHOP Marketplace plans are available to small employers throughout Cleveland County who want to offer group health benefits to their employees through ACA-compliant coverage options.
For 2026, Cleveland County residents can choose from plans offered across four Blue Cross NC networks, each connecting enrollees to different combinations of local and regional providers including Atrium Health Cleveland in Shelby and Atrium Health Kings Mountain. The available networks include both PPO and HMO structures, giving residents flexibility in how they access primary care, specialist visits, and hospital services. Health Plans of NC agents can walk through each network option in detail to help residents confirm that their preferred doctors and facilities are included before enrolling.
Blue Advantage, a PPO plan, connects Cleveland County enrollees to the largest nationwide network with more than 95 percent of NC doctors in-network, including providers at Atrium Health Cleveland.
Blue Care, a PPO plan, offers broad statewide network access with more than 92 percent of NC doctors in-network, giving Cleveland County residents strong access to regional specialists and hospitals.
Blue Value, an HMO plan, is a value-focused option with lower monthly premiums, designed for Cleveland County residents who want cost-efficient coverage and are comfortable with HMO coordination requirements.
Blue Local with Atrium Health, a PPO plan, is specifically available in Cleveland County and built around the Atrium Health system, including Atrium Health Cleveland and Atrium Health Kings Mountain.
Each network plan is structured to give Cleveland County residents in-network access to Atrium Health facilities, with plan selection determining the breadth of additional regional and national provider access.
Health Plans of NC compares all four network options side-by-side at no cost, helping Cleveland County residents match a plan network to their preferred providers before the enrollment deadline.
Bronze plans in Cleveland County start at approximately $443.10/month before subsidies. With a median household income of $55,769, many residents qualify for premium tax credits. Subsidies may reduce your monthly premium significantly based on income.
Bronze plans in Cleveland County start at $443.10 per month for a 35-year-old, offering the lowest monthly premiums with higher deductibles for those who want basic coverage.
Silver plans start at $569.49 per month and are the only tier eligible for cost-sharing reductions, which lower deductibles and copays for qualifying Cleveland County residents.
Gold plans start at $588.91 per month and feature lower out-of-pocket costs throughout the year, making them a strong fit for residents who use healthcare services frequently.
Cleveland County residents with household incomes near or below 150 percent of the federal poverty level may qualify for enhanced subsidies that reduce monthly Silver plan premiums to as little as $0.
Premium tax credits are calculated based on household income relative to the federal poverty level, and many Cleveland County families at or near the median income qualify for meaningful monthly savings.
Health Plans of NC agents provide free subsidy calculations for every Cleveland County resident, ensuring enrollees understand exactly how much they will pay after tax credits are applied.
Blue Cross NC is the ACA Marketplace carrier serving Cleveland County for 2026, offering a total of 16 plans across four distinct provider networks. Those networks, Blue Advantage, Blue Care, Blue Value, and Blue Local with Atrium Health, span both PPO and HMO plan types, giving Cleveland County residents meaningful choices in how they structure their coverage. The Blue Local with Atrium Health network is especially relevant for Cleveland County residents, as it is built around the Atrium Health system that includes the county's primary hospital facilities in Shelby and Kings Mountain. The network a Cleveland County resident selects determines which doctors, specialists, and facilities are covered at in-network rates, making plan comparison a critical step before enrolling. Health Plans of NC compares every available Blue Cross NC plan side-by-side at no cost, helping residents identify the right combination of network, cost-sharing, and provider access.
Blue Cross NC, offering both PPO and HMO plan types across 16 total ACA Marketplace plans available in Cleveland County for 2026.
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, which has opened eligibility to thousands of previously uninsured Cleveland County residents. Cleveland County currently has an uninsured rate of 10.4 percent, representing approximately 10,000 residents without coverage, many of whom may now qualify for Medicaid or subsidized marketplace plans. Children in families earning up to 210 percent of the federal poverty level may be eligible for NC Health Choice, the state's CHIP program, providing low-cost pediatric coverage across the county. Cleveland County's poverty rate of 17.2 percent means a substantial portion of the population may qualify for Medicaid at no cost, and Health Plans of NC can perform a free eligibility check for any resident.
Working adults in Cleveland County who earn low wages and do not have access to affordable employer coverage may qualify for NC Medicaid under the 2023 expansion.
Children in Cleveland County whose family incomes fall at or below 210 percent of the federal poverty level may be eligible for NC Health Choice CHIP coverage with little or no monthly premium.
Pregnant women in Cleveland County are eligible for Medicaid coverage with higher income thresholds than standard adult eligibility, helping ensure access to prenatal and delivery care.
Low-income seniors in Cleveland County who qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid can receive dual coverage that reduces or eliminates out-of-pocket costs for medical and long-term services.
Cleveland County residents with qualifying disabilities may be eligible for Medicaid regardless of age, with Health Plans of NC able to help identify the correct program and assist with the application process.
Health Plans of NC licensed agents serve Cleveland County residents at no cost, comparing every available 2026 plan side-by-side to find the right fit based on budget, preferred providers, and coverage needs. Call 800-797-0327 today to speak with an agent who can guide you through enrollment and make sure you never pay more than you have to for health coverage.
Call 800-797-0327 (toll free) or 704-303-8256 to speak with a licensed agent and schedule a free appointment
Email [email protected] with questions about plans available in Cleveland County
Find a licensed agent and book directly at healthplansofnc.com/agents
No cost, no pressure. Health Plans of NC agents work for you, not the carrier.
Hospital | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
Atrium Health Cabarrus | 920 Church St N, Concord, NC 28025 | (704) 403-3000 |
Atrium Health Cleveland | 201 E Grover St, Shelby, NC 28150 | (980) 487-3000 |
Atrium Health Kings Mountain | 706 W King St, Kings Mountain, NC 28086 | (980) 487-5000 |
Atrium Health Lincoln | 433 Mcalister Rd, Lincolnton, NC 28092 | (980) 212-2000 |
Atrium Health Pineville | 10628 Park Rd, Charlotte, NC 28210 | (704) 667-1000 |
Atrium Health Stanly | 301 Yadkin St, Albemarle, NC 28001 | (704) 984-4000 |
Atrium Health Union West Hosp | 1000 Healing Way, Matthews, NC 28104 | (800) 821-1535 |
Atrium Health Union | 600 Hospital Dr, Monroe, NC 28112 | (980) 993-3100 |
Atrium Health University City | 8800 N Tryon St, Charlotte, NC 28262 | (704) 863-6000 |
Atrium Health Waxhaw | 2700 Providence Rd S, Waxhaw, NC 28173 | (704) 667-6800 |
Atrium Health's Carolinas Med | 1000 Blythe Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28203 | (704) 355-2000 |
Carolinas Continue Care Hosp | 10648 Park Rd, Charlotte, NC 28210 | (704) 667-8050 |
Carolinas Continuecare Hosp | 8800 N Tryon St # 4, Charlotte, NC 28262 | (704) 863-8300 |
Carolinas Healthcare Syst | 501 Billingsley Rd, Charlotte, NC 28211 | (704) 444-2400 |
Carolinas Rehabilitation | 1100 Blythe Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28203 | (704) 355-4300 |
Caromont Regional Medical Ctr | 2525 Court Dr, Gastonia, NC 28054 | (704) 834-2000 |
Catawba Valley Medical Ctr | 810 Fairgrove Church Rd, Hickory, NC 28602 | (828) 326-3000 |
Davis Regional Medical Ctr | 218 Old Mocksville Rd, Statesville, NC 28625 | (704) 873-0281 |
Frye Regional Medical Ctr | 420 N Center St # 20, Hickory, NC 28601 | (828) 315-5000 |
Iredell Memorial Hospital | 557 Brookdale Dr, Statesville, NC 28677 | (704) 873-5661 |
Jeff Gordon Children's Ctr | 920 Church St N, Concord, NC 28025 | (704) 403-3000 |
Lake Norman Regional Med Ctr | 171 Fairview Rd, Mooresville, NC 28117 | (704) 660-4000 |
Levine Children's Hospital | 1000 Blythe Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28203 | (704) 381-2000 |
Novant Health Charlotte Ortho | 1901 Randolph Rd, Charlotte, NC 28207 | (704) 316-2000 |
Novant Health Hemby Children's | 200 Hawthorne Ln, Charlotte, NC 28204 | (704) 384-4021 |
Novant Health Huntersville Med | 10030 Gilead Rd, Huntersville, NC 28078 | (704) 316-4000 |
Novant Health Matthews Med Ctr | 1500 Matthews Township Pkwy, Matthews, NC 28105 | (704) 384-6500 |
Novant Health Mint Hl Med Ctr | 8201 Healthcare Loop, Charlotte, NC 28215 | (980) 302-1000 |
Novant Health Presbyterian Med | 200 Hawthorne Ln, Charlotte, NC 28204 | (704) 384-4000 |
Novant Health Rowan Med Ctr | 612 Mocksville Ave, Salisbury, NC 28144 | (704) 210-5000 |
WG Hefner Salisbury Dept | 1601 Brenner Ave, Salisbury, NC 28144 | (704) 638-9000 |
Cleveland County ZIP Codes include: 28017, 28020, 28038, 28042, 28073, 28086, 28089, 28090, 28136, 28150, 28151, 28152, and 28169
