Changes to the North Carolina Healthcare Marketplace for 2017
On November 1, 2016, open enrollment for the 2017 Healthcare Marketplace will begin in North Carolina and across the United States. This year, most North Carolina counties will only be able to select Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina as their individual provider, with a few counties having an option of either Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina or Cigna. What this means is if you previously had individual healthcare from another provider through the Marketplace or purchased as an individual, you will need to be mapped over, or migrated to Blue Cross Blue Shield, or Cigna in the counties it is available. Failure to migrate and secure health insurance will result in tax penalties of $375 or more for the year 2017.
North Carolina and the Affordable Care Act
Affordable healthcare for all Americans has been the goal of Obamacare, the Affordable Care Act. Over the years, necessary changes are made at the state and national levels to ensure the system works to provide healthcare for American citizens. Some sixteen million Americans have health insurance now as a result of the Affordable Care Act, and if you are one of them living in North Carolina, it is important to understand changes to the system that will begin in 2017.
Mapping Over or Migrating Over
The process of being moved from a current insurance provider to a new one because of availability is referred to as mapping over or migrating over. The process can be difficult, as the marketplace will focus chiefly on the cost comparison between plans from different companies. Some important things to keep in mind that the marketplace will not automatically perform when mapping over or migrating over to Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina or Cigna in available counties include:
- Remaining in the Network You Are Currently In
- Prescription Coverage
- Out-of-State Coverage
- Co-Pay
- And Other Important Health Considerations
Contact Independent Benefit Advisors for 2017 Healthcare Coverage
To remain with the same doctor, hospital, and network, receive the same prescription coverage, secure out-of-state coverage, and other important matters related to your health, all the while keeping out-of-pocket expenses low will be a difficult task when migrating. Contact Independent Benefit Advisors, and let us help with your migration or mapping over. We have years of experience in helping individuals select plans that meet their needs and budget. Contact us now online or call 919-303-9690. We proudly serve customers in Raleigh, Charlotte, Durham, Cary, Apex, Winston-Salem, Greensboro, Fayetteville, Wilmington, Asheville, and across North Carolina.
