Special Enrollment Period
Consider choosing a plan that includes the Atrium Health doctors and hospitals you trust.
Due to exceptional circumstances caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) for the Individual Health Insurance Marketplace is being offered from February 15, 2021 to August 15, 2021. This is an opportunity for individuals and families needing health insurance coverage to compare health insurance plans and enroll in a plan for 2021. In addition, individuals or families who already enrolled in an individual health insurance plan for 2021 may change their plan with some restrictions.
Key dates
-
Special Enrollment Period begins:
February 15, 2021 -
Special Enrollment Period ends:
August 15, 2021 -
Coverage begins:
The first of the month after plan selection
Why choose Atrium Health?
When you choose a health insurance plan with Atrium Health you get:
- Unmatched, world-class care from the region’s only nationally ranked health system which includes Levine Cancer Institute, Levine Children’s Hospital, Sanger Heart & Vascular Institute and more
- Access to one of the largest primary care networks in the region, on-demand care including urgent care and online video health visits, and the region's only Level I trauma center
- Peace of mind that you can keep your out-of-pocket costs down when you get care from us
Which plans include Atrium Health providers?
Atrium Health doctors and hospitals are in-network for the following individual health insurance plans for 2021:
Metro Charlotte, NC area
- Blue Local with Atrium Health from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina
- Blue Advantage from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina*
York and Lancaster Counties, SC
- BlueEssentials from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of South Carolina+
- BlueOption from BlueChoice HealthPlan*+
*Individual plans only available off of the Individual Health Insurance Marketplace
+Atrium Health physicians in South Carolina and Atrium Health hospitals and physicians in North Carolina counties bordering South Carolina are in-network
View a complete list of NC plans by county
View a complete list of SC plans by county
Important
The following individual health insurance plans do NOT include Atrium Health doctors and hospitals:
- Blue Home with Novant Health from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina
- Blue Value from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina
- Bright Health
- Other non-Atrium Health Blue Local products from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina
- Ambetter from Absolute Total Care
If you have a medical emergency, you should go to the closest hospital emergency room. Atrium Health hospitals provide services to all patients seeking treatment for an emergency medical condition, regardless of their health insurance plan or ability to pay for emergency services.
How to enroll in or change plans
For more information or to change your plan, you can:
- Visit healthcare.gov and/or
- Talk with your health insurance agent
Frequently asked questions
The marketplace is an online resource where you can shop for, compare, and enroll in or update a health insurance plan. You can also see if you’re eligible for savings.
Due to the exceptional circumstances caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, many Americans remain uninsured or underinsured and still need affordable health coverage. To help improve access to health insurance, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will provide a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) for individuals and families to apply and enroll in the coverage they need. This enrollment period will be available to consumers in both North Carolina and South Carolina.
From February 15, 2021 to August 15, 2021, those who are eligible will be able to select a health insurance plan with coverage starting the first of the month after plan selection. Current marketplace enrollees will also be able to change to any available plan in their area at the same level of coverage as their current plan.
A "network" is a group of doctors and hospitals that participate in a health insurance plan. Usually, your out-of-pocket costs are lower if you seek care from doctors and hospitals that belong to your health insurance plan’s network.
Most health insurance plans have networks of doctors, hospitals, pharmacies and other healthcare providers. Depending on the type of health coverage you choose, your care may only be covered if you go to a provider who is in-network. If staying with your current doctors is important to you, be sure to check if they are included before making a decision.
- Health insurance helps you pay for your care. It’s impossible to predict what your medical bills will be each year; having coverage gives you the peace of mind that you are protected from very high medical expenses.
- Studies show that people with health insurance are much more likely than those without it to use preventive health services and necessary prescription drugs. They are also less likely to incur medical debts.
Out-of-pocket costs are your total expenses for medical care that are not paid by your health insurance plan.
Whether you’re applying for the first time or are looking to change your 2021 individual health insurance plan, you can:
- Visit healthcare.gov for a full listing of plans by state and a checklist of documents you need and/or
- Talk with your health insurance agent