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About us

Our commitment to affordability

Affordable care should be within everyone’s reach. We’re digging deeper to uncover the root causes driving costs higher to find solutions that make health care better for all.
The high cost of health care

Each year, $4.9 trillion1 is spent on health care in the United States. That's nearly one-fifth of the country's gross domestic product,2 and costs keep going up.

North Carolina alone spent $94.5 billion3 – 15.7% of our gross state product4 – on health care in 2020, and today, the situation is even more urgent.

Between 1991 and 2020, the average annual growth rate of health care spending in North Carolina was 6.5%,2 surpassing the national average and making North Carolina one of the most expensive states for health care. 

If other items experienced the same cost inflation we’ve seen with health care expenditures over the last 60 years, you’d be spending: 

  • $18.94 for a gallon of gas
  • $230,000 for a midsize car
  • $1.3 million average cost for a single-family home
Challenges in our state include:

Limited access to care

Limited access to care in some areas of the state often delays treatment, leading to expensive emergency room visits and hospitalizations.

 

Chronic health conditions

Chronic health conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and obesity are more prevalent in our state and require ongoing treatment and expensive medications.

Consolidation

Consolidation provides more leverage for health care systems to demand higher payments, which raises premiums for members.

Fragmentation and complexity

Fragmented systems — like medical, dental, vision, behavioral, and pharmacy — make it difficult to navigate care and can lead to duplicate tests, missed follow-ups, or mismanaged health conditions. This drives up costs.

Price variation and lack of transparency

Price variation and lack of transparency makes it hard for consumers to shop for affordable care.

50+ health insurance mandates

The more than 50 health insurance mandates in North Carolina drive up health insurance costs for businesses and individuals.
Taking bold action to help your dollar go further

As a purpose-driven, not-for-profit health insurer that doesn't answer to shareholders, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (Blue Cross NC) is doing more than making commitments. We’re making progress. 

By identifying the underlying causes of soaring costs, and by being more efficient, more transparent, and more innovative, we’re advancing care for all North Carolinians.

We’re simplifying how members navigate their care by giving them tools to make informed, cost-saving decisions. We’re addressing the needs of our communities by listening firsthand to their most pressing challenges. And, we’re bringing health care providers, policymakers, and everyday citizens together to reduce the cost of care in our state.
Improving access

No matter where a member lives or how much money they make, they should be able to access quality health care. We're improving access to care through our industry-leading Blue Premier℠ program, initiatives that save members money on prescription drugs, and innovative partnerships that expand and enhance care delivery. 

By directly addressing the fragmented health care system and working with suppliers, we can focus on patients receiving higher quality, more affordable health care.

$1 billion

saved by members through our Blue Premier value-based care program since launching in 2019.

See how we're saving members money

$380 million

saved in medical expenses in 2023 by negotiating with drug manufacturers and implementing targeted cost savings efforts.

Learn how we're making prescriptions more affordable

More Than a Script gives members more personalized care at the pharmacy

The program reimburses independent pharmacists for working closely with members to manage their conditions, making health care more affordable and accessible.

Read more

Blue Cross NC funding program to train more doctors for rural North Carolina

The program is designed to address the state’s shortage of primary care doctors, and ultimately increase access, lower costs, and improve health outcomes.

Read more

Blue Cross NC acquires FastMed’s NC locations

The acquisition allows Blue Cross NC and FastMed to ensure access to quality, affordable care to any North Carolinian, regardless of their health insurance.

Read more

Building healthier communities

Our health care system should reflect the needs of the many different communities it serves. We have traveled to all 100 counties in North Carolina to meet with leaders and support solutions that empower individuals to achieve better health, address barriers to care, and ensure our purpose-driven approach creates lasting value for both our business and those we serve.

From tackling youth mental health issues, to improving health through food and expanding access to care, Blue Cross NC is committed to creating healthier futures for all North Carolinians.

See How We're Putting Our Purpose Into Action
Premium transparency

Health care doesn’t have to feel so complicated.

At Blue Cross NC, we’re finding ways to help members navigate the health care system, from cost comparison tools to find the best price on a procedure or prescription to customer service advocates and nurses who can help understand options, so you can make the best decision for your unique situation.

For each dollar of premiums paid to Blue Cross NC, 87 cents goes toward paying medical expenses, including:

  • 28 cents for professional services
  • 26 cents for outpatient services
  • 18 cents for pharmacy costs
  • 15 cents for inpatient services

Of each dollar, 13 cents goes toward Blue Cross NC plan administration and taxes, including:

  • 10 cents for customer service and operating expenses
  • 2 cents for taxes
  • 1 cent is profit
It’s time to fix what’s broken

The health care system is broken and it’s too expensive. It is inefficient, inaccessible for many, and burdened by unsustainable costs. We are working with providers and hospitals to collaborate, and find solutions, but we need everyone to come to the table to build a better, more affordable health system for all.

It’s time to have a real conversation about why North Carolina is the most expensive state in the country for health care, and understand what’s driving up costs and what can be done to make it better.