If you’re thinking of enrolling in a Medicare Advantage plan (also known as Medicare Part C) in North Carolina to meet your various health insurance needs, you’re not alone. Show
According to 2019 Census data estimates, approximately 1.8 million people ages 65 and older live in North Carolina accounting for nearly 17% of the state’s total population. Considering that North Carolina’s average life expectancy is 78 years, keeping your health insurance coverage active after retirement is important for both physical and financial well-being. Identifying the best Medicare Advantage plan for you and your specific needs can be a daunting task. To assist your search, Forbes Health created a snapshot below of the market specific to your locale to help you better understand how many options you have, how extensive coverage in your area is and how much you can expect to pay each month for a plan. What’s more, we created a downloadable checklist with the goal of simplifying your Medicare Advantage enrollment experience. Since Medicare Advantage plan eligibility is largely dependent on where you live, we gathered data specific to an urban, suburban and rural location in North Carolina to show how plan availability, monthly premium rates and in-network maximum out-of-pocket amounts can vary. How to Pick the Best Medicare Advantage Plan in North CarolinaWith that snapshot of your state’s Medicare Advantage coverage in mind, it’s time to consider the details involved in identifying the best plan for you and your health needs, from in-network hospitals and providers to drug formularies and deductibles. For those approaching the age of 65, navigating another qualifying event or looking to review their plan options ahead of the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment period (which runs from January 1 to March 31 annually), we created the downloadable checklist below to help simplify your enrollment experience.  Your Medicare Advantage Plan Shopping Checklist (Text Version)Compare Top Medicare Plans From Blue Cross Blue Shield, a Forbes Health 5-Star Rated Carrier Click Get A Quote or call 1-877-898-0206 to speak with a licensed insurance agent. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)What is Medicare Advantage, also known as Medicare Part C?Medicare Advantage (Medicare Part C) is a type of health insurance provided by private insurance companies to U.S. adults ages 65 and up, as well as younger individuals with certain disabilities and health conditions. The federal government pays a flat fee per enrollee to the insurance companies, which then provide the core benefits of Original Medicare, payment to care providers and other added benefits. How does Medicare Advantage differ from Original Medicare?Medicare Advantage covers everything included in Original Medicare, but most Medicare Advantage plans also include prescription drug coverage (Part D), and some plans provide dental and vision coverage and hearing aids and fitness benefits as well. These additional coverages and benefits vary by plan. While there are several distinctions between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage, one difference to note is people enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan are responsible for paying both the monthly premium associated with Original Medicare Part B ($164.90 for most people in 2023) and the monthly premium associated with their Medicare Advantage (Part C) plan, which is described in the data above. What insurance companies are the top providers of Medicare Advantage plans?Humana, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, United Healthcare and Aetna are the top Medicare Advantage providers, according to a Forbes Health analysis of U.S. insurance companies that offer these types of plans nationwide. We evaluated each provider based on the number of states they provide coverage in, the variety of benefits they offer, how they’re ranked by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and how they’re ranked in terms of their financial health by agencies like A.M. Best and how agencies like J.D. Power rank them regarding consumer feedback. Medicare Supplement plans in North Carolina cost around $108 per month for 65-year-olds and roughly $160 per month for 75-year-olds. Those eligible for Medicare tend to purchase Plan F or Plan G for their comprehensive coverage. Plan F has a monthly average cost of $198.32, and Plan G is around $101.30. However, Plan F is only available to individuals that were eligible for Medicare before 2020. Plan N is the next most popular Medigap plan. It offers similar coverage to Plan F and G but doesn’t include the excess Part B charge. Its average cost is $97.10 per month at age 65 and $136.44 at age 75. To rank the best companies for these three plans, MoneyGeek analyzed average premiums and benefits collected in our methodology. To get additional information about the different types of plans and coverages, check out our guide on finding the best Medicare Supplement plan.
Best Medicare Supplement Plans in North CarolinaBest Medicare Supplement Plan G in North CarolinaThe best Medigap Plan G in North Carolina is with Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina at $107.50 per month on average. This provider also has a high-deductible plan with an average monthly premium of $41. Note that MoneyGeek’s rankings only include companies that provide online quotes. There may be other Medicare Supplement plan providers in North Carolina that don’t have online estimates but offer better rates for your needs. MoneyGeek Top Pick
In North Carolina, Medigap Plan G from Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina costs approximately $107.50 per month, about $12.40 cheaper per month than the $119.90 average monthly cost of Plan G in the state. With this plan, you can take advantage of benefits like a fitness membership and foreign travel emergency care. It also includes Blue-to-Blue, which lets you switch Medicare plans without additional medical exams and health questions. You can also go for Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina’s high-deductible plan. You have to pay for Medicare-covered costs, such as coinsurance and copayments, up to a deductible of $2,490 per year, but you have a lower monthly premium of around $41. The Cost of Medicare Supplement Plan G in North CarolinaMedicare Supplement Plan G in North Carolina has a monthly average cost of $119.90. The most affordable Plan G in North Carolina for 65-year-olds is from Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina, averaging $74.30 per month. That is around $45.50 cheaper than the most expensive Plan G in the state from Cigna at $119.80 per month on average. Remember, your actual premium may change based on how old you are, discounts and medical underwriting factors. Scroll for more
Providers Offering Plan G in North CarolinaForty-four companies offer Medigap Plan G in North Carolina, but not all of them provide online estimates. MoneyGeek collected contact information for all Medicare Supplement plan providers in North Carolina to help you find one that best suits your needs. We also laid down their pricing methods to show you which may charge more depending on your age. Providers Offering Plan G in North CarolinaScroll for more
What Does Plan G Cover?Every Medigap plan is standardized and must have certain benefits. However, Plan G doesn’t cover the Part B deductible and only covers 80% of foreign travel exchange up to your plan limits. In addition to the standard coverage, some providers include additional benefits in their plans, such as Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina’s Blue-to-Blue. Required Benefits of Plan G in North Carolina
Best Medicare Supplement Plan F in North CarolinaIn North Carolina, Cigna offers the best Medigap Plan F, with an average monthly premium of $170.28. It’s important to note that MoneyGeek’s ranking only includes companies that give online quotes. Other providers that offer quotes via other methods may have more competitive rates. MoneyGeek Top Pick
Plan F from Cigna, averaging $170.28 monthly, is about $28.02 cheaper than the $198.30 average monthly premium of Plan F in North Carolina. It offers benefits such as a 24/7 health information line and the Healthy Rewards program, which gives you discounts on health and wellness programs and services. The Cost of Medicare Supplement Plan F in North CarolinaNorth Carolina Medicare recipients pay an average of $198.30 monthly for Medigap Plan F. The cheapest Plan F in North Carolina for 75-year-olds is from Cigna at an average cost of $170.30 per month. Meanwhile, the priciest plan is offered by UnitedHealthcare at roughly $212.30 per month. That’s a difference of around $42 per month. Take note: actual rates can change based on how old you are when you buy, your current age, discounts and medical underwriting factors. Scroll for more Providers Offering Plan F in North CarolinaIn North Carolina, there are 43 companies offering Medicare Supplement Plan F. However, not all of them have online quotes available. To help you find a North Carolina company and plan for your specific needs, MoneyGeek collected the Plan F providers’ contact information and their pricing methods to show you which may charge more based on age. Providers Offering Plan F in North CarolinaScroll for more
What Does Plan F Cover?Plan F is standardized and features certain benefits, just like all Medicare Supplement plans. But even though it has comprehensive coverage, it only covers 80% of foreign travel exchange within your plan’s limits. Some providers include additional benefits outside the standard coverage. An example is Cigna’s Healthy Rewards program. Required Benefits of Plan F in North Carolina
Best Medicare Supplement Plan N in North CarolinaCigna offers the best Medicare Supplement Plan N in North Carolina, costing an average of $85.67 per month. However, there may be other providers with better rates or benefits that were excluded from MoneyGeek’s ranking because they don’t provide online estimates.
MoneyGeek Top Pick
Averaging $85.67 monthly, Cigna’s Medigap Plan N in North Carolina is around $31.13 more affordable than the $116.80 average cost of Plan N in the state. Cigna includes additional benefits, such as a Healthy Rewards program and a 24/7 health information line. The Cost of Medicare Supplement Plan N in North CarolinaIn North Carolina, the average cost of Medicare Supplement Plan N is $116.80 per month. For a 65-year-old looking for Plan N in North Carolina, the cheapest provider is Cigna, with an average monthly cost of $85.70. On the flip side, the most expensive company is UnitedHealthcare, with a monthly average premium of $101.10. That shows you can save up to $15.40 every month if you shop around and compare rates. Remember, rates may change depending on several factors, including your provider, age, discounts and medical underwriting. Scroll for more
Providers Offering Plan N in North CarolinaForty-three companies offer Medigap Plan N in North Carolina, but not all of them provide online estimates. MoneyGeek gathered contact details of all Plan N providers in North Carolina to help you find the best suited for your needs. We also included their pricing style so you can see which charges more depending on age. Providers Offering Plan N in North CarolinaScroll for more
What Does Plan N Cover?Like other Medigap plans, Plan N follows a standard and includes certain benefits. However, it doesn’t cover the Part B deductible or Part B excess charge. It does cover 80% of foreign travel exchange within your plan’s limits. Depending on the provider, additional benefits may be included in your plan, such as with Cigna, the health information line. Required Benefits of Plan N in North Carolina
Best Medicare Supplement Plans in North Carolina: Other Plan TypesThere are other plan types available in North Carolina aside from Plan F, G and N. These include Plan A, B, C, D, K, L and M. However, they are less popular because they don’t provide comprehensive coverage. Using our criteria for affordability and benefits, MoneyGeek identified the best companies for these plans if they had online quotes available. We determined that UnitedHealthcare for Medicare Supplement Plan A, B, C, D, K and L is the best. Keep in mind that Plan C won’t be available to you in North Carolina or anywhere else if you became eligible for Medicare after January 1, 2020. The Best Medicare Supplement in North Carolina - Alternate Plans
How to Find the Best Medicare Supplement Plans in North CarolinaMedicare Supplement in North Carolina is a complicated subject, so finding the right plan might be challenging. MoneyGeek created a chart for all plan types using our gathered pricing data and analysis to help you compare Medicare Supplement plans in North Carolina. North Carolina Medicare Supplement Plans Comparison ChartCoverage and availability can vary among Medigap plan types. For example, Plan F and C are the most comprehensive, but new enrollees cannot purchase them. They were replaced by Plan G and D. Use our chart below to compare Medicare Supplement plan coverages and average rates in North Carolina. Medicare Supplement Comparison Chart
The Cost of Medicare Supplement Plans in North CarolinaHow much you pay for a Medicare Supplement plan in North Carolina depends on your chosen plan type and provider. Cigna offers the lowest monthly premium for Plan F and N, while Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina is the cheapest option for Plan G. UnitedHealthcare has the cheapest rates for most other letter plans (A, B, C, D, K and L) in North Carolina. Medigap plans are typically priced using one of the following styles:
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FAQs About Medicare Supplement Plans in North CarolinaTo better understand Medicare Supplement plans in North Carolina, MoneyGeek answered some frequently asked questions about the subject. MethodologyMoneyGeek collected data from the biggest Medicare Supplement/Medigap providers in North Carolina for 65-year-olds and 75-year-olds. Plans were only rated as one of the best if we could obtain an accurate quote from the provider online. MoneyGeek’s scoring system weighted affordability 75% and benefits 25%. A Medigap provider received 5% for every benefit, up to a maximum of 25%. About the Author sources
What is the best Medicare Supplement in NC?The best Medicare Supplement or Medigap plans in North Carolina are with Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina and Cigna.
Which Medicare Supplement plan has the highest level of coverage?Medicare Supplement Plan F is the most comprehensive Medigap option available, providing beneficiaries with 100% coverage of Medicare-covered medical expenses after Original Medicare pays its portion.
Is there a Medicare Supplement that covers everything?Overview. Medigap Plan F is the most comprehensive Medicare Supplement plan. Also referred to as Medicare Supplement Plan F, it covers both Medicare deductibles and all copays and coinsurance, leaving you with nothing out-of-pocket. This post has been updated for 2022.
What is the Medicare deductible for 2022?The 2023 Medicare Part A deductible for each benefit period is $1,600 (an increase of $44 from $1,556 in 2022).
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