BCBSNC® 2021 Plans and Premiums
Changes are coming to the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina® plans and premiums available to ACA customers in 2021. North Carolina consumers can expect to see an increase in their BCBSNC® 2021 premiums for plans purchased through the Federal Health Insurance Marketplace, and in some counties fewer plan choices will be available. The Asheville Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina® Store is here to assist you in keeping your insurance premiums as low as possible! We can help you to evaluate the 2021 BCBSNC® health insurance plans available to ACA customers, as well as apply for premium subsidies to keep your costs as low as possible.
Why the Increase in BCBSNC® 2021 Premiums?
BCBSNC® 2021 premiums are expected to increase beginning January 1. According Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina®, the premium increases are a result of a disproportionately high number of unhealthy individuals enrolling in health insurance and utilizing expensive healthcare services. Like all insurance providers, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina® needs younger, healthier customers to enroll in coverage to help offset the costs of insuring those with chronic conditions. Unfortunately, fewer healthy individuals enrolled in BCBSNC® plans than those with chronic illnesses, like cancer and diabetes.
According to Patrick Getzen, vice president and chief actuary for BCBSNC®, ACA customers are using a larger number of health care services and more expensive services than customers had historically, and the trend is expected to continue. This results in a continued pressure to increase premiums. BCBSNC® has proposed an average premium rate increase of 34.6% for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina® 2021 health insurance plans. The rate increase will apply to NC health insurance plans offered both on and off the Health Insurance Marketplace. For more information, see: What’s Shaping 2021 Rates for ACA Customers?
What changes are coming to BCBSNC® 2021 Plans?
An analysis of ACA customers enrolled in Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina® health insurance plans found that ACA enrollees tend to have chronic health conditions and utilize expensive services, such as emergency room visits, in high numbers. In addition to increased premium rates, the high number of sicker individuals utilizing insurance is also impacting the availability of certain health insurance plans in North Carolina.
BCBSNC® is changing the availability of plans offered to ACA customers in 2021 through the Federal Health Insurance Marketplace. While the health insurance provider will continue to offer health insurance plans in all 100 counties in North Carolina, Blue Advantage® and Blue Select® plans won't be offered in 16 counties beginning in 2021.
Those 16 counties that will be impacted are:
- Charlotte: Mecklenburg, Cabarrus, Rowan, Stanly, Union and Anson counties
- Durham: Durham, Orange, Person, Alamance, Caswell, Chatham and Lee counties
- Raleigh: Wake, Johnston and Franklin counties
BCBSNC® ACA customers in the 16 counties impacted by the removal of Blue Advantage® and Blue Select® plans from the Marketplace will only be offered Blue Value® and Blue Local® plans (if available) from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina® in 2021. These customers will be mailed notices informing them of their options in October.
If you were previously enrolled in a Blue Advantage® or Blue Select® plan and will be required to change health insurance plans in 2021, The Asheville Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina® Store is here to help! We can help you evaluate your new plan options and find the closest matching alternatives, with the most affordable coverage.
