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DURHAM – Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (Blue Cross NC) and North Carolina Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company (NC Farm Bureau Insurance) are enhancing their long relationship to better help North Carolinians in all 100 counties access high-quality, affordable health care. Blue Cross NC will now be the exclusive health insurance partner for NC Farm Bureau Insurance, adding needed resources to communities while bolstering career opportunities across the state.
“Blue Cross NC is excited to expand our relationship with NC Farm Bureau Insurance, bringing together two North Carolina companies with long-standing community ties to help residents in every county,” said Blue Cross NC President and CEO Dr. Tunde Sotunde. “This partnership is another way that we are collaborating to make health care more accessible and easier to navigate.”
Both Blue Cross NC and NC Farm Bureau Insurance have deep connections to communities across North Carolina. NC Farm Bureau Insurance has been in operation for 70 years and has offices and agents in all 100 counties, connecting members with a variety of insurance products, including Medicare and individual Affordable Care Act plans. NC Farm Bureau Insurance is one of the Farm Bureau family of companies. It has 621,000 members across the state who are served by 840 agents.
Blue Cross NC is a leading not-for-profit organization serving the state for 90 years offering health insurance in all 100 counties and through 10 retail stores across the state. The company’s employees live and work in 77 North Carolina counties. Farm Bureau agents also serve the communities in which they live and share valuable information to help their clients understand their insurance options and coverage.
“NC Farm Bureau has been deeply rooted in the communities where we live and do business for nearly 90 years. And being a good neighbor means taking care of one another,” said NC Farm Bureau President Shawn Harding. Harding added, “With agents and offices in all 100 counties, we are excited to continue our long history of providing quality insurance and honest, personal service with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina as our exclusive health insurance partner.”
Blue Cross NC is a key health insurance provider in rural areas of the state where many large, for-profit insurers do not offer plans. The Farm Bureau agents will have even more expertise to help North Carolinians navigate the complexities of individual and Medicare plans in particular. Data shows the growing need for more people and resources to navigate insurance options:
• Around 10,000 Americans age into Medicare eligibility every day (HHS.gov).
• Around 86% of Blue Cross NC ACA members purchase their coverage through the exchange.
• North Carolina experienced 19% growth in new ACA enrolleees in 2023.
Blue Cross NC currently offers Medicare Advantage plans and ACA plans in all 100 counties. For 2023, Blue Cross NC Medicare Advantage HMO and PPO plans were rated 4.5 out of 5 stars by Medicare, which demonstrates high performance and a commitment to improve care for seniors.
As part of Blue Cross NC’s exclusive status, the company will support additional product and industry training for NC Farm Bureau Insurance agents. Both companies are committed to growing together to serve North Carolina’s communities and partnering with local organizations.
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