Get the health insurance you need in North Carolina.
Health insurance helps pay for the costs of medical care, but HealthInsurance.org reports that as of 2009, as many as 15.9 percent of North Carolina's residents do not have health insurance. Many people receive health insurance through their employers, but if you are self-employed, have recently lost employment, have had a change in family status resulting in the loss of health insurance or are not eligible for health insurance through your employer, you will have to find your own insurance. Research your options carefully before making your final decision.
Instructions
1. Look into your COBRA (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act) options. Through COBRA, you can continue to pay for your health insurance plan if you have lost coverage from your employer. COBRA also applies to those who have lost insurance through death or divorce. It guarantees that you can get the same insurance at the same rate that your employer paid for 18 months. However, you have to pay the same premiums your employer was paying---a cost that may be too high for some people.
2. Compare the costs of major insurance carriers. You can purchase an individual or family plan directly from a major insurance company, such as Blue Cross Blue Shield, Humana or Aetna. Look at the monthly cost of the insurance and the cost of your deductible---the amount you have to pay---to see which plan is the best deal. You should also ask local doctors and hospitals which insurance plans they accept.
3. Check if you qualify for low-income health insurance. Individual health insurance plans are prohibitively expensive for many families. North Carolina offers these families assistance through Medicaid Health Check and Health Choice for Kids. These programs have maximum income limits, which vary based on your particular circumstances, such as pregnancy or the number of people in your family.
4. Join a risk pool if you cannot get health insurance because of pre-existing conditions. If you have certain pre-existing conditions, such as heart disease or diabetes, you may be unable to get an individual plan with an insurance company. North Carolina offers the North Carolina Health Insurance Risk Pool (NCHIRP), which allows people with pre-existing conditions to purchase health insurance plans.
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