Tag Archives: Raleigh

As reported in the news late last week, Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina recently requested an adjustment to their 2016 rate increase for North Carolina health plans sold on the health insurance marketplace. As we reported in June, Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBS-NC) originally proposed a 25.7% rate hike for marketplace plans in 2016. However, BCBS-NC recently announced on their website, that the requested rate increase would be revised based on two main factors:

“Early on, industry and government officials counted on two assumptions: A healthier mix of customers in the second year (2015), and a leveling-out of medical spending this year following a surge in demand for the initial year. We now have enough data to know that both of these assumptions have not proven true.”

Blue Cross Blue Shield NC rate increase: 34.6%

In addition, BCBS-NC also announced that they would discontinue the wider network PPO plans in 16 North Carolina counties for 2016: “In keeping with this approach, we will no longer offer Blue Advantage and Blue Select plans in the counties in the Charlotte, Raleigh and Durham markets.”

It is important to note, that in the Charlotte, Raleigh and Durham markets, BCBS-NC has experienced increased competition from United Healthcare and Coventry/Aetna – and Humana is expected to begin offering marketplace plans in these metro areas for 2016 as we previously reported. Click here to see all available marketplace plans in your area of North Carolina.

Of course, the Blue Cross Blue Shield NC rate increase request of 36.4% is still subject to regulatory review, and may not be approved by the North Carolina Department of Insurance. Stay tuned to NChealthconnector.org for breaking North Carolina health insurance news!

Click here to read the entire BCBS-NC blog release concerning the new 34.6% rate increase.

Bluecross Blueshield North Carolina 2015 ACA rates.

According to various sources around the web, Bluecross Blue Shield North Carolina on Wednesday released some limited rate information or 2015 marketplace health insurance plans.

The headline number for this story is that rates will rise “more than 13 percent on average”. Of course, that does not tell the entire story. As we recently saw in South Carolina , rate increases for ACA plans offered on the exchange will fluctuate quite a bit between different regions. We do not expect every Bluecross Blueshield customer to receive a 13% increase. Rates will vary across regions, as North Carolina has 16 distinct rating regions, each with differing rate increases. In addition, different types of plans will receive different increases:

Rate increase got you down? Click here to shop for a lower price!

Bluecross yesterday provided only one scenario of how rates would increase next year. For a 45-year old nonsmoker, the monthly premium rate would increase 15.6 percent – from $364.39 to $421.32 – on one of the most popular individual plans Blue Cross sold in Raleigh through the federal marketplace – a Silver plan.

Keep in mind, however, rate increases for Bronze and Gold plans will change by different amounts. We have also been told certain plans in specific areas may actually decrease a bit – stay tuned for more!

Of course, most North Carolina residents will also be able to choose a marketplace plan from Unitedhealthcare for 2015, as well as Coventry Healthcare in certain areas!

Our takeaway? If you need the most robust network options for North Carolina in 2015, Bluecross Blueshield of North Carolina may be your best bet. However, if you are willing to change doctors to accept an HMO or Tiered network structure, you may be able to save some money.

Beginning November 15, North Carolina residents can view 2015 rates and apply online from our frontpage (click the Blue button!).