Find Your Most Affordable Health Insurance Plan in Wilkes County
in North Carolina
Wilkes County residents can compare 17 health insurance options for 2026.
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 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.
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 Wilkes County, NC with Health Plans of NC. Health Plans of NC helps Wilkes County residents find and compare health insurance plans that connect them with local providers like Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Wilkes Medical Center, at no cost to you. Whether you work for Tyson Foods, JELD-WEN, or are self-employed in the Wilkesboro area, licensed agents are ready to help you enroll in the right 2026 coverage.
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 Wilkes County |
Wilkes County is home to 65,983 residents, with 0.0% population growth since 2020 and 3.3% of residents born outside the United States, reflecting a community with steady and diverse healthcare coverage needs. Major local employers such as Wilkes County Schools, Tyson Foods, Wake Forest Baptist Health, Wilkes County government, and JELD-WEN anchor the workforce and create a range of coverage situations from employer-sponsored plans to individual market options. Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Wilkes Medical Center serves as the primary health system for the county, making plan network compatibility with that system a key factor when choosing coverage.
ACA Marketplace coverage is available to Wilkes County residents who do not have access to job-based insurance through employers like JELD-WEN or Tyson Foods.
Medicaid coverage is available to qualifying low-income Wilkes County adults and families following North Carolina's Medicaid expansion in December 2023.
Employer-sponsored group health plans are offered by major Wilkes County employers including Wilkes County Schools, Wake Forest Baptist Health, and Tyson Foods.
COBRA continuation coverage allows Wilkes County workers who leave employers like JELD-WEN or Wilkes County government to temporarily keep their existing group plan.
Short-term health plans may provide limited gap coverage for Wilkes County residents between jobs or waiting for a qualifying enrollment event.
Small business SHOP Marketplace plans allow smaller Wilkes County employers to offer group health coverage to their employees through ACA-compliant options.
For 2026, Blue Cross NC offers plans in Wilkes County across three distinct provider networks, giving residents the ability to choose coverage that aligns with their preferred hospitals and doctors. The available networks include Blue Advantage, Blue Care, and Blue Local with Atrium Health, each structured as a PPO and offering different levels of statewide and local provider access. Blue Local with Atrium Health is specifically available in Wilkes County and is designed to connect enrollees directly with Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Wilkes Medical Center and related facilities.
Blue Advantage, a PPO network, includes over 95% of North Carolina doctors in-network and provides the broadest access to providers across the state including specialists beyond Wilkes County.
Blue Care, a PPO network, covers over 92% of North Carolina doctors in-network and offers broad statewide access for Wilkes County residents who see providers in surrounding areas.
Blue Local with Atrium Health, a PPO network, is available in Wilkes County and is built around Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Wilkes Medical Center at 1370 W D St in North Wilkesboro.
PPO plan structures across all three Blue Cross NC networks allow Wilkes County residents to see out-of-network providers, though at higher cost-sharing compared to in-network visits.
Residents who regularly use Hugh Chatham Memorial Hospital in Elkin or Ashe Memorial Hospital in Jefferson should verify network coverage under their chosen plan before enrolling.
Health Plans of NC agents can compare all three Blue Cross NC networks side-by-side to help Wilkes County residents confirm their specific doctors and hospitals are in-network before selecting a plan.
Bronze plans in Wilkes County start at approximately $403.47/month before subsidies. With a median household income of $50,438, many residents qualify for premium tax credits. Subsidies may reduce your monthly premium significantly based on income.
Bronze plans in Wilkes County start at $403.47 per month for a 35-year-old before premium tax credits, offering the lowest monthly premium with higher deductibles.
Silver plans start at $518.72 per month before subsidies and are the only tier eligible for cost-sharing reductions that lower deductibles, copays, and out-of-pocket maximums.
Gold plans start at $536.24 per month before subsidies and offer lower out-of-pocket costs at the point of care, making them a strong choice for residents with frequent medical needs.
Wilkes County residents with household incomes near or below the county median of $50,438 often qualify for premium tax credits that meaningfully reduce monthly costs across all metal tiers.
Households earning between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level are eligible for ACA premium tax credits, and those at lower income levels may also qualify for enhanced cost-sharing reductions on Silver plans.
Some lower-income Wilkes County residents may qualify for a $0 premium Silver plan after subsidies are applied, making Silver-level coverage potentially free on a monthly basis.
For 2026, Blue Cross NC is the sole ACA Marketplace carrier offering plans in Wilkes County, with a total of 17 plans available to individuals and families. These 17 plans span three provider networks, Blue Advantage, Blue Care, and Blue Local with Atrium Health, all structured as PPO plans that allow some level of out-of-network access. Blue Local with Atrium Health connects Wilkes County enrollees directly to Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Wilkes Medical Center and its affiliated providers in North Wilkesboro, while Blue Advantage and Blue Care extend access to a broader range of providers across North Carolina. The network you choose directly affects which hospitals and doctors you can see at in-network rates, making it critical to confirm that your preferred providers, whether at Hugh Chatham Memorial Hospital, Ashe Memorial Hospital, or a local primary care clinic, are covered before you enroll. Health Plans of NC compares all 17 Blue Cross NC plans side-by-side at no cost to help Wilkes County residents find the right combination of network access, plan type, and price.
Blue Cross NC, offering 17 ACA Marketplace PPO plans in Wilkes County for 2026 across the Blue Advantage, Blue Care, and Blue Local with Atrium Health networks.
North Carolina expanded Medicaid in December 2023, extending free or low-cost coverage to adults earning up to 138% of the federal poverty level, which opened eligibility to tens of thousands of previously uninsured residents across the state. In Wilkes County, approximately 8,000 residents remain uninsured, representing an uninsured rate of 11.4%, and many of these individuals may now qualify for Medicaid or subsidized Marketplace coverage without realizing it. Wilkes County's poverty rate of 16.4% means a substantial share of the local population may be eligible for Medicaid at little or no cost. Children in families earning up to 210% of the federal poverty level may qualify for NC Health Choice, the state's CHIP program, and Health Plans of NC can check your eligibility for free with a single call.
Working adults in Wilkes County earning at or below 138% of the federal poverty level may qualify for full Medicaid coverage following North Carolina's 2023 expansion.
Children in Wilkes County households may qualify for NC Health Choice (CHIP), providing low-cost coverage for families who earn too much for Medicaid but still need affordable pediatric care.
Pregnant women in Wilkes County are eligible for Medicaid coverage that includes prenatal care, labor and delivery, and postpartum services through qualifying income thresholds.
Wilkes County's poverty rate of 16.4% means a significant portion of local residents may qualify for Medicaid, cost-sharing reductions, or other low-cost coverage options available in 2026.
People with disabilities and low-income seniors in Wilkes County may qualify for Medicaid programs that cover long-term services, prescription drugs, and care coordination support.
Health Plans of NC licensed agents serve Wilkes County residents at no cost and can compare every available 2026 plan side-by-side to find the option that best fits your budget, your providers, and your healthcare needs. Call 800-797-0327 today to get a free personalized quote and complete your enrollment with expert guidance.
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 Wilkes 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 |
|---|---|---|
Alleghany Memorial Hospital | 233 Doctors St, Sparta, NC 28675 | (336) 372-5511 |
Ashe Memorial Hospital | 200 Hospital Ave, Jefferson, NC 28640 | (336) 846-7101 |
Atrium Health Wake Forest Bapt | 1 Medical Center Blvd, Winston Salem, NC 27157 | (336) 713-4500 |
Atrium Health Wake Forest Bapt | 1 Medical Center Blvd, Winston Salem, NC 27157 | (336) 716-2011 |
Atrium Health Wake Forest Bapt | 1370 W D St, North Wilkesboro, NC 28659 | (336) 651-8100 |
Atrium Health Wake Forest Bapt | Medical Center Blvd, Winston Salem, NC 27157 | (336) 716-2011 |
Atrium Health Wake Forrest | 250 Hospital Dr, Lexington, NC 27292 | (336) 248-5161 |
Davie Medical Ctr | 329 NC Highway 801 N, Bermuda Run, NC 27006 | (336) 998-1300 |
Hugh Chatham Memorial Hospital | 180 Parkwood Dr, Elkin, NC 28621 | (336) 527-7000 |
Lifebrite Community Hosp-Stks | 1570 NC 8 And 89 Hwy N, Danbury, NC 27016 | (336) 593-2831 |
Northern Regional Hospital | 830 Rockford St, Mount Airy, NC 27030 | (336) 719-7000 |
Novant Health Forsyth Med Ctr | 3333 Silas Creek Pkwy, Winston Salem, NC 27103 | (336) 718-5000 |
Novant Health Kernersville Med | 1750 Kernersville Medical Pkwy, Kernersville, NC 27284 | (336) 564-4000 |
Novant Health Med Park Hosp | 1950 S Hawthorne Rd, Winston Salem, NC 27103 | (336) 718-0785 |
Novant Health Rehab Hosp An | 2475 Hillcrest Center Cir, Winston Salem, NC 27103 | (336) 754-3500 |
Novant Health Thomasville Med | 207 Old Lexington Rd, Thomasville, NC 27360 | (336) 472-2000 |
Old Vineyard Behavioral Health | 3637 Old Vineyard Rd, Winston Salem, NC 27104 | (336) 794-3550 |
Stokes Reynolds Meml Hosp Inc | , Danbury, NC 27016 | (336) 593-5356 |
Watauga Medical Ctr | 336 Deerfield Rd, Boone, NC 28607 | (828) 262-4100 |
Clinic | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
Appalachian Regional | 194 Doctors Dr, Boone, NC 28607 | (828) 386-2663 |
Appalachian Regional | 200 Hospital Ave # 6, Jefferson, NC 28640 | (828) 386-2663 |
Atrium Health Wake Forest Bapt | 10 Medical Park Dr # 1, Lexington, NC 27292 | (336) 716-9253 |
Bethany Medical Ctr | 1908 Caudle Dr # 100, Mount Airy, NC 27030 | (336) 883-0029 |
Boone Urology Ctr | 400 Shadowline Dr # 103-104, Boone, NC 28607 | (828) 264-5150 |
Cone Health Medcenter Krnrsvll | 1635 N Carolina Highway 66 S, Kernersville, NC 27284 | (336) 992-5100 |
Cone Health Medcenter Krnrsvll | 1635 NC 66 S, Kernersville, NC 27284 | (336) 992-5100 |
Cone Health Outpatient Rehab | 1635 N Carolina 66 # 255, Kernersville, NC 27284 | (336) 992-4820 |
Department Of Emergency Med | Medical Center Blvd, Winston Salem, NC 27157 | (336) 716-4625 |
Harmony Center For Women | 381 Deerfield Rd, Boone, NC 28607 | (828) 268-8970 |
Hoots Memorial Hospital | , Yadkinville, NC 27055 | (336) 679-6728 |
Lexington Medical Ctr | 811 W Main St, Lexington, NC 27293 | (803) 936-7203 |
Lung Center | 870 State Farm Rd # 100, Boone, NC 28607 | (828) 386-2746 |
Novant Health Bariatric Sltns | 760 Highland Oaks Dr # 200, Winston Salem, NC 27103 | (336) 277-4380 |
Novant Health Ortho-Sports | 7138 Village Medical Cir, Clemmons, NC 27012 | (336) 893-2400 |
Sneak-A-Peek | 2501 Neudorf Rd, Clemmons, NC 27012 | (336) 247-5141 |
Thomasville Medical Ctr | 6233 Denton Rd, Thomasville, NC 27360 | (336) 476-2537 |
Wake Forest Bapt Health Davie | 329 N Carolina Highway 801 N, Bermuda Run, NC 27006 | (336) 998-1300 |
Watauga Medical Ctr Outpatient | 1200 State Farm Rd, Boone, NC 28607 | (828) 262-4153 |
WFU Baptist Medical Ctr | Medical Center Blvd, Winston Salem, NC 27157 | (336) 713-7700 |
WFU Baptist Medical Ctr | Orthopaedic Surgery, Winston Salem, NC 27157 | (336) 716-2093 |
WFUBMC | 1450 Professional Park Dr, Winston Salem, NC 27103 | (336) 659-2701 |
Wilkes Regional Med Ctr Axlry | 500 Courthouse Dr, Wilkesboro, NC 28697 | (336) 651-8100 |
Wilkes Regional Medical Ctr | 1370 W D St, North Wilkesboro, NC 28659 | (336) 651-8100 |
Wilkes County ZIP Codes include: 28606, 28624, 28635, 28649, 28651, 28654, 28656, 28659, 28665, 28669, 28670, 28674, 28685, and 28697
