- Allows early prescription drug refills
- Extends deadlines for claims submissions
- Allows 30 day extension to pay premiums for members
Durham, N.C. – As the effects of Hurricane Matthew are felt along the North Carolina coast, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (Blue Cross) has taken steps to ensure customers’ health care coverage needs are uninterrupted by the storm.
“Member health and safety are our primary concern and we are taking these steps to help customers focus on their most immediate needs,” Blue Cross President and CEO Brad Wilson said. “These steps will ensure that our customers can get the health care and medications they need during and after the storm.”
Effective immediately, the following policies are in place for Blue Cross customers and enrolled accounts affected by the storm, as long as a state of disaster is in place:
- Allow members and employers within the disaster area to delay paying their premiums for 30 days.
- Allow members in the disaster area to get an early prescription drug refill or replace a lost or destroyed prescription – if they make a request within 29 days of the disaster declaration.
- Blue Cross will also provide a 30-day extension for deadlines related to:
- Submission of claims
- Filing of appeals
- Requests for authorization of medical services
- Additions of newborn and adopted children to a medical policy.
- Members within a disaster area who need additional flexibility on premium payments, medications or other requirements should call the customer service number on the back of their member card.
Please remember: Blue Cross always advises members to go to the nearest hospital in an emergency.
About Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina:
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina improves the health and well-being of our customers and communities by providing innovative health care products, services and information to more than 3.89 million members, including approximately 1 million served on behalf of other Blue Plans. Since 1933, we have worked to make North Carolina a better place to live through our support of community organizations, programs and events that promote good health. We have been recognized as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies by Ethisphere Institute every year since 2012. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Visit Blue Cross online at bcbsnc.com. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.