North Carolina residents can choose from a range of insurance plans. There are many options for you, regardless of whether you do not have insurance or are unemployed. There's no reason not to have coverage. The ability to have health insurance can help prevent you from being left without cover and incurring huge medical bills.
North Carolina health insurance costs
While the cost of health insurance in North Carolina is low compared to other states, there is some variation from county to county. North Carolina's average cost for health insurance is $6,352 per individual and $25,408 per household. This is $629 lower than the national average. As with other states, the cost of North Carolina's health insurance varies depending upon the type of policy you choose and the population that you insure. Check out the table below to see how insurance rates in North Carolina compare.
Blue Cross Blue Shield controls almost 97% of North Carolina’s individual insurance market. According to federal data, North Carolinians paid a lower premium in 2021 compared to 2019. North Carolina has one the highest rates of enrollees who have received subsidies or premium tax credits. In fact, 93% North Carolina residents got some kind of subsidy that helped lower the cost for their coverage. North Carolinians received a higher average monthly subsidy than other Americans. North Carolina's average monthly subsidy amount was $568 in comparison to the $491 national median.
Pre-existing condition exclusions
North Carolina has exclusions on individual health insurance policies that cover pre-existing conditions. If the policyholder had creditable coverage in the past, this exclusion may be reduced. Creditable coverage means that it covers a preexisting condition within six month of the policy date.
Prior to the Affordable Care Act, insurers could deny coverage or charge higher premiums for people with certain health conditions. This was not always the case. A survey showed that almost a quarter of all individuals who had pre-existing conditions were denied insurance coverage or charged more. In addition, 54 percent of people with individual market insurance were concerned about dropping coverage due to pre-existing conditions.
Premiums
In North Carolina, the average premium for family health insurance plans was $18,211 in 2018, compared with just over $12,000 in 2008. There is a wide variation in the distribution of premiums between counties. North Carolinians who had employer-sponsored health insurance spent nearly 14 percent of their state’s median income. This is compared to just under eleven percent in 2008. Comparatively, 8 percent of Americans spent their income on health care in 2008 and 11.5 percent in 2018, respectively.
Americans are now able to afford health insurance thanks to the Affordable Health Act. The Affordable Care Act's Health Insurance Marketplace allows individuals to purchase health insurance in North Carolina for less than $600 per month. Private insurers or the Marketplace can provide health insurance plans. North Carolina offers two options for enrolling in health insurance plans: private or marketplace. A person must first have a qualifying incident before they can apply for an Exchange plan.
Short-term plans
A great way to bridge between regular and short-term health insurance is through short-term health insurance plans. They can be beneficial for people who are newly divorced, retire early, or are just looking to supplement their current coverage. Short-term plans are typically less restrictive than standard health insurance. This is why it's so important to compare features between each plan. To make the best decision, compare premiums and deductibles as well as copays and maximum benefits.
North Carolina residents are able to get temporary coverage with short-term health insurance plans. These policies replace individual insurance policies and can last up 36 months. Some plans can be renewed for a longer period of time. These plans are very affordable, especially if your employer doesn't offer coverage.
Medicare coverage
Medicare coverage is available for seniors living in North Carolina. There are many plans you can choose from. Many of them are tiered and provide different levels coverage. There are many supplemental options available, some even offering prescription drug coverage. Original Medicare provides the most basic coverage, and you can choose any provider in the U.S.
Original Medicare is Medicare’s most basic form. This includes doctor visits, mental healthcare services, ambulance services, as well durable medical equipment. Original Medicare does no cover prescription drugs. However you can get coverage through Medicare Part D. Some plans include vision and/or hearing coverage, as well as fitness programs.