If you are a Medicare member, your plan services may be different from other Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (Blue Cross NC) health plans.
Log In
When you or a loved one need medical care, it can be confusing to know where to go to get the right treatment.
Telehealth, the emergency room, urgent care, and your doctor's office all serve different purposes. Because each facility provides different kinds of care based on severity, the cost and time you can expect to wait differ with each.
| Primary care doctor (PCP) | Telehealth | Urgent care | Emergency room | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Services | Primary care physicians provide complete, overall care. They can perform regular check-ups, manage routine labs, and address minor health issues such as sprains, earaches, colds, and strep throat. | Telehealth is best for when you don't need a physical exam. An appointment can help with minor heath issues like aches, bug bites, and colds. | An urgent care facility can treat moderate illnesses and injuries like asthma attacks or cuts that need stitched. They can also conduct diagnostic testing. | Emergency rooms specialize in providing immediate, critical care for life-threatening conditions and injuries like major broken bones, loss of consciousness, head trauma, and seizures. |
| Average visit time | 18 minutes1 | 16 minutes2 | 60 minutes3 | More than two hours4 |
| Average member cost5 | $30 | $59 | $73 | $545 |
Member Knowledge Center
Our Knowledge Center features helpful articles with simple and reliable information for all your insurance questions, like how to submit a claim and how to find the right doctor.
It's easy for Blue Cross NC members to manage their plans and access tools, documents, and benefits on the go with Blue Connect℠.
You can find your Rx letter code in the lower right corner of your member ID card (shown in the blue circle below). If you don't have a letter on your member ID card, please log in to Blue Connect℠ to find the name of your drug plan.
If you have a Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (Blue Cross NC) plan, you'll find the name of your plan at the top of your member ID card.
You'll find the name of your Medicare plan at the top right of your member ID card or the bottom left. You can also find more plan details in the center of your card, below your Subscriber ID.
During 2025, our offices are closed in observance of the following holidays:
- New Year's Day: January 1
- MLK Day: January 20
- Memorial Day: May 26
- Independence Day: July 4
- Labor Day: September 1
- Thanksgiving: November 27
- Day after Thanksgiving: November 28
- Christmas Eve: December 24
- Christmas Day: December 25
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability in its health programs and activities. Learn more about our non-discrimination policy and no-cost services available to you.
Information in other languages: Español 中文 Tiếng Việt 한국어 Français العَرَبِيَّة Hmoob ру́сский Tagalog ગુજરાતી ភាសាខ្មែរ Deutsch हिन्दी ລາວ 日本語
© 2025 Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina. ®, SM Marks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans. All other marks and names are property of their respective owners. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.