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in North Carolina
Columbus County is home to around 56,000 North Carolinians. It’s an excellent base for families who enjoy various outdoor activities and cultural experiences. It’s home to five state parks, including Lake Waccamaw State Park, which has a swimming area, picnic sites, and some great hiking trails suitable for families. The county also has fantastic beaches, with access to the Atlantic Ocean and the Cape Fear River. Many indoor activities are available, including visiting the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences or the North Carolina Maritime Museum.
Families enjoy living in Columbus County because of its family-friendly community, affordability, excellent schools, and easy access to healthcare. The median home value is $96,300, a big draw card for families seeking affordable housing. In addition, the student-to-teacher ratio in the county is 15:1, offering plenty of support for kids' education. It’s also within easy driving distance of several major cities to access additional amenities, such as Wilmington, Raleigh, and Charlotte.
For healthcare, families can access the Columbus Regional Healthcare System, which provides the community with a wide range of medical services. Other options include Novant Health Brunswick Medical Center or New Hanover Regional Medical Center, which both offer high-quality medical care for families. There are several towns in Columbus County (zip codes 28472, 28420, and 28463), including Tabor City, a small town home to around 3,900 people, famous for its annual North Carolina Yam Festival. Whiteville, with 5,5500 residents, is the largest town in the county and boasts several historical sites, while Fair Bluff is a charming town with a small population of 900 people.
Good option if you are flexible which doctors you see or if your doctor or hospital are 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.
Limited statewide network for savings
Includes CaroMont Health, Frye Regional, New Hanover, Novant Health, UNC Health Alliance and Wake Forest Baptist Health
The following doctor/hospital networks are considered out-of-network for Blue Value: Atrium Health, Catawba Valley Health System, Duke Health and WakeMed. Out-of-state providers are also out-of-network. When traveling outside of North Carolina or the U.S., only emergency services 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.
Good option if you want a broad choice of in-network doctors, specialists and hospitals.
Our largest statewide network. Full statewide network with the most provider choice. More than 95% of doctors and 98% of hospitals in North Carolina are in-network (A1)
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.
Health Plans of NC, Kelly Quinn
A1. Blue Cross NC Provider Internal Data; percentages indicated represent Blue Cross NC's PPO Network as of July 22, 2022. Note: Not all plans are available in all areas.
B1. 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.
B2. NovantHealth, www.novanthealth.org/home/about-us/company-information.aspx (Accessed August 2022).
C1. Blue Cross NC has collaborated with Atrium Health to bring you Blue Local with Atrium Health. Blue Local with Atrium Health is a health insurance plan offered by Blue Cross NC that provides access to Atrium Health’s limited network of providers. Atrium Health is an independent company that is solely responsible for the physicians and medical facilities it owns/operates and does not offer Blue Cross or Blue Shield products or services.
C2. U.S. News & World Report, www.health.usnews.com/best-hospitals/area/nc/levine-childrens-hospital-PA6360280 (Accessed September 2022).
C3. AtriumHealth, www.atriumhealth.org/about-us/newsroom/news/2020/07/atrium-health-earns-multiple-honors-by-us-news-world-report (Accessed September 2022).
C4. AtriumHealth, www.atriumhealth.org/about-us (Accessed September 2022).
D1. Blue Cross NC has collaborated with Wake Forest Baptist Health to bring you Blue Local with Wake Forest Baptist Health. Blue Local with Wake Forest Baptist Health is a health insurance plan offered by Blue Cross NC that provides access to a limited network of providers. Wake Forest Baptist Health is an independent company that is solely responsible for the physicians and medical facilities it owns and operates. Wake Forest Baptist Health does not offer Blue Cross or Blue Shield products or services.
D2. WakeForestBaptistHealth, www.wakehealth.edu/-/media/WakeForest/Clinical/Files/About-Us/2019FactBook.pdf (Accessed September 2022).
E1. Blue Cross NC has collaborated with UNC Health Care to bring you Blue Home with UNC Health Alliance. Blue Home with UNC Health Alliance is a health insurance plan offered by Blue Cross NC that provides access to a limited network of providers. UNC Health Care is an independent company that is solely responsible for the physicians and medical facilities it owns and operates. UNC Health Care does not offer Blue Cross or Blue Shield products or services.
E2. UNC Health, www.unchealthcare.org/health-alliance/ (Accessed August 2022).
E3. U.S. News and World Report, www.health.usnews.com/best-hospitals/area/nc/university-of-north-carolina-hospitals-6360260 (Accessed September 2022).
E4. U.S. News and World Report, www.health.usnews.com/best-hospitals/area/nc/rex-healthcare-6361210 (Accessed September 2022).
U9144b, 9/22
Columbus County ZIP Codes include: 28423, 28424, 28430, 28431, 28432, 28436, 28438, 28439, 28442, 28450, 28455, 28456, 28463, and 28472