Our commitment to affordability
The high cost of care in North Carolina
Understanding the crisis
Health care costs are rising fast, and the strain is showing across the system. The gap between what care costs and what families and employers can afford to pay is widening.
When costs go up, premiums often follow. That can shrink coverage options and leave people with fewer, more expensive choices. It’s a cycle that puts the entire health care system at risk.
At Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (Blue Cross NC), we’re not just naming the problem. We’re partnering with providers, employers, and communities to test solutions, improve care delivery, and lower costs over time.
In a series of articles for the Triangle Business Journal, President and CEO Tunde Sotunde, MD, MBA, FAAP, has been exploring what’s driving these costs and what it will take to change the trajectory.
Solutions that help our members and 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.
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.
With initiatives with goals like tackling youth mental health issues or improving health through food and expanding access to care, Blue Cross NC is committed to creating healthier futures for all North Carolinians.
Empowering our members
Health care doesn’t have to feel so complicated.
We’re putting resources and tools in our members' hands, like an in-network doctor search to find care nearby, a member knowledge center to help them navigate their insurance with confidence, and a member portal to manage their care and benefits all in one place.
As part of making health care easier to understand and more transparent, we routinely report how we allocate premium dollars so members know where their money goes.
Of each dollar, 14 cents goes toward Blue Cross NC plan administration and taxes,4 including:
- 10 cents for customer service and operating expenses
- 3 cents for taxes
- 1 cent is net income (fully insured business income after taxes)
For each dollar of premiums paid to Blue Cross NC, 86 cents goes toward paying medical expenses,4 including:
- 27 cents for professional services
- 25 cents for outpatient services
- 19 cents for pharmacy costs
- 15 cents for inpatient services