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use high-tech and high-touch to make health care easier to navigate.

Technology and human interaction shouldn’t be mutually exclusive. Blue Cross NC is using both to help provide a more simplified health care experience for consumers.

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Perhaps more than any other industry, health care represents the collision of humanity and technology. Nothing is more intensely personal than our health care. Yet the sheer volume of information from various sources—not to mention the way we interact with this information—means technology is an important part of the equation. Consider this: People with low health literacy tend to have poorer health and spend more on care. Why? Because they struggle with knowing when and where to seek care. This often means they use more services across the health care system.1 Technology can be invaluable in helping deliver information that helps ensure consumers are more informed and engaged throughout the whole process.

High-Tech: Putting the Right Tools in the Hands of Consumers

As people continue to take a more active role in managing their health care, ease and access are becoming increasingly sought-after. That’s why Blue Cross NC offers tools that make it easier than ever for customers to access information and services when and where they need them. Here are a few:

telemedicine

Telehealth 

Telehealth – Even in its infancy, we recognized that telehealth had the potential to make health care more available, convenient and affordable. Today, we cover more than 50 types of telemedicine visits. Allowing customers to meet with a primary care doctor (and even certain specialists) on their devices provides 24/7 convenience at prices similar to an office visit. The long-term benefits of customers getting the right care when and where they need it are priceless.

DrugFInderTool

Find a Drug Tool

The online Find a Drug tool allows consumers to search for detailed prescription drug information specific to a Blue Cross NC health insurance policy. It provides price estimates for brand-name prescriptions as well as generic options at common retail pharmacies. Blue Cross NC members can even access extra features like price comparisons and refill quantity options.

BlueConnect

Blue Connect 

Our mobile app, Blue Connect enables customers to view plan benefits, claims status and Member ID cards on the go. It also includes access to tools like an urgent care finder, find a drug tool and doctor search tool. And customers can even connect with a customer service representative through click-to-call functionality and in-app messaging.

High-Touch: Making It Personal

In certain situations—particularly when making sense of a health insurance plan or when managing complex or chronic conditions—information overload can contribute to stress and confusion. That’s why Blue Cross NC also offers members several ways to connect with a real person to discuss their care—either over the phone or face-to-face, whichever they prefer.

CareManager

Care Managers

Care Managers –  Blue Cross NC employs more than 70 certified health care professionals including nurses, social workers, dieticians and behavioral health specialists who proactively reach out to customers living with complex and chronic health conditions to assist them with:

  • Understanding their conditions and care options
  • Coordinating with various specialists to make sure they get the care they need
  • Finding more affordable prescription drug options
  • Recommending and supporting lifestyle changes that can improve their health
  • Connecting with valuable community resources that can support their care
BC NC Centers Icon

Blue Cross NC Centers

Blue Cross NC Centers – At Blue Cross NC centers in Raleigh, Charlotte and Boone, customers can sit down with a Blue Cross NC employee one-on-one to help make sense of their health insurance plans and receive expert advice on how to get the most out of them. Each location also showcases our commitment to total health, offering wellness services like nutrition counseling, on-site preventative care, health education and fitness classes.

HealthLineBlue

Health Line Blue

Health Line Blue – our 24/7 nurse line. This popular, round-the-clock resource provides customers with advice on everything from minor illnesses to medications and side effects from licensed nurses. In a nutshell, it offers peace of mind that no technology alone can.

A lot has changed in the 85 years our company has served North Carolina, but whether it’s through an app, email, over the phone or in-person, we’re always working to make easy access to the right information a top priority.

  1. “Industry slow to improve patient health literacy.” Modern Healthcare (November 2018). Accessed November 2018.

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