Blue Cross Blue Shield NC mistakenly sends notices with incorrect, higher rates
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (WTVD) -- The state's largest insurer admitted Thursday that thousands of its policy holders might have gotten a case of unnecessary sticker shock when it sent incorrect notices detailing rate hikes in their health insurance premiums.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina said on its Behind BCBSNC blog that 42,000 customers received letters this week with incorrect premium amounts. Of that number, the insurer said 38,000 got a rate that is too high, and about 4,000 received lower rates than what they should be.
The error affects customers who are grandfathered into the Affordable Care Act and have Blue Advantage health plans with $15 co-pays for primary care office visits.
"We're human and sometimes we make mistakes. We regret that it happened and we're working to fix it," officials wrote in the blog.
Blue Cross previously announced its new plans issued under the Affordable Care Act would have average premium increases of 13.5 percent, while rates for transitional plans will go up by 19.2 percent.
Customers should receive new notices with corrected rates the week of Nov. 3. BCBSNC says customers can find out their new rates sooner by calling the customer service number listed on the notice.
