Find Your Most Affordable North Carolina Health Insurance Plan
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Wake County
in North Carolina
At a Glance
Wake County is a bustling county in North Carolina. It’s in the state's center and is home to over 1.1 million people. With a thriving economy, diverse culture, excellent schools, and top-quality healthcare facilities, Wake County is a great place for families. A strong job market and access to multiple amenities are just a few reasons families choose to live in Wake County. Wake County features a vibrant downtown area with world-class museums and art galleries. For those who enjoy eating out, many excellent dining options are available. The city of Raleigh is the county seat. Other towns popular with families include Cary, Apex, and Wake Forest, which offer a range of family-friendly amenities.
Visit Raleigh's North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences or Museum of Art. Explore Pullen Park or take a stroll around the scenic Lake Johnson. Attend a live performance at Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts. Venture to the charming town of Cary and visit the Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve. Explore historic downtown Wake Forest or Apex. Sample local beers at one of the area's many craft breweries. Catch a game at PNC Arena, home to the NHL's Carolina Hurricanes. Visit the State Capitol building and explore City Market for unique shopping and dining experiences.
Healthcare
Wake County is a thriving center for medical care and healthcare facilities. Home to Raleigh, the state capital, and other major towns like Cary, Apex, and Wake Forest, the county boasts an extensive array of hospitals, clinics, and specialized healthcare facilities, all catering to a diverse populace.
A significant player in Wake County's healthcare landscape is the WakeMed Health & Hospitals System, a nonprofit organization comprising multiple facilities throughout the county. The system's flagship, WakeMed Raleigh Campus, is a tertiary care hospital that provides a comprehensive range of services, including a renowned heart center, Level I Trauma Center, and a dedicated children's hospital. Other WakeMed locations throughout Wake County, such as WakeMed Cary Hospital and WakeMed North Hospital, offer high-quality care closer to home for residents in those areas.
Duke Health also extends its services into Wake County, with Duke Raleigh Hospital offering a broad range of services, including cancer treatment, heart care, orthopedics, and neurosciences. The hospital is known for its commitment to high-quality patient care and innovative medical practices.
Rex Healthcare, a member of the UNC Health system, is another crucial healthcare provider in Wake County. Its main facility, UNC REX Hospital in Raleigh, offers various services, including heart and vascular, cancer care, women’s health, and surgical services. Along with the main hospital, Rex has numerous satellite offices and specialty clinics scattered throughout the county.
Various specialized medical facilities also serve Wake County. The WakeBrook campus, operated by UNC Health Care, provides various services for mental health, substance use, and crisis care. Holly Hill Hospital provides inpatient treatment and outpatient services for a range of mental health conditions, including addiction recovery.
The county also houses multiple urgent care centers and primary care clinics, ensuring residents can access non-emergency care after hours and on weekends. Facilities such as FastMed Urgent Care, NextCare, and Duke Health offer urgent care services in multiple locations across the county.
Wake County is abundant in facilities and its healthcare workforce, thanks in part to numerous education and training programs in the area. The county is home to several universities and colleges with medical and health science programs, such as North Carolina State University and Wake Technical Community College, contributing to a steady pipeline of healthcare professionals in the region.
In the realm of public health, the Wake County Human Services Public Health Division offers various services. These include family health services, environmental health and safety, public health preparedness, and chronic disease prevention. They work to promote and protect public health across the county.
Senior residents of Wake County are well-catered to multiple long-term care and assisted living facilities. Spring Arbor of Apex, Sunrise of Raleigh, and Brookdale Cary are among the many facilities that provide specialized care for the aging population.
Wake County, North Carolina, is home to a wide-ranging, high-quality healthcare landscape. Wake County offers its residents comprehensive medical care from state-of-the-art hospitals to specialty clinics, from urgent care centers to long-term care facilities. As the county continues to grow, the challenge lies in ensuring all residents, particularly those in underserved communities, have equal access to these healthcare resources. The medical and healthcare facilities of Wake County, backed by dedicated professionals, continue to evolve, innovate, and strive to provide the best possible care for all who live in this vibrant region.
Plans Available
Best for
Good option if you wish to get care from UNC Health, UNC Health Alliance and its affiliated doctors and hospitals. (E1)
Since the majority of doctors in this plan are in the same network, it’s easier for them to work together on your behalf.
Network
Hospitals and providers including 1,200+ primary care providers (E2) Includes UNC Medical Center
UNC Medical Center, is nationally ranked in 4 adult and 7 pediatric specialties by U.S. News (E3)
UNC Rex, rated by U.S. News as high performing in 17 adult procedures and conditions (E4)
All doctors outside the UNC Health Alliance provider network are considered out-of-network for Blue Home with UNC Health Alliance, including: Cone Health, 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.
Availability
Blue Home with UNC Health Alliance is available on and off Marketplace to residents of these North Carolina counties: Alamance, Caswell, Chatham, Durham, Franklin, Johnston, Lee, Nash, Orange, Person, and Wake.
Best for
Good option if you want a broad choice of in-network doctors, specialists and hospitals.
Network
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)
Availability
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.
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Recently, this option has gained traction as it provides greater customization opportunities and flexibility within different plans. In the following, we will explain what individual health insurance is, how much it costs, and why it might be the right choice for you.
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Footnotes
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
Wake County ZIP Codes include: 27502, 27511, 27512, 27513, 27518, 27519, 27523, 27526, 27529, 27539, 27540, 27545, 27560, 27571, 27587, 27588, 27591, 27592, 27597, 27601, 27602, 27603, 27604, 27605, 27606, 27607, 27608, 27609, 27610, 27611, 27612, 27613, 27614, 27615, 27616, 27617, 27619, 27620, 27621, 27622, 27623, 27624, 27625, 27626, 27627, 27628, 27629, 27634, 27635, 27636, 27640, 27650, 27656, 27658, 27661, 27668, 27675, 27676, 27690, 27695, 27697, 27698, and 27699