FAQs

Enrollment

How can I cover my newborn from birth?

How do I obtain coverage for my new adopted child?

How do I add or delete family members?

Can I cover a dependent who lives out-of-state or my child away at school?

How often can I change benefit plans?

How long can my children remain covered?

How long can my child be covered if he or she has disabilities?

Q: How can I cover my newborn from birth?
A: If you are adding a newborn child to your coverage, you must notify your group administrator or employer. For the newborn to be covered from birth, please complete the proper form as soon as possible. If you need to change your coverage type (for instance from an Individual to a Family plan), you must notify BCBSNC within 30 days. (NOTE: Some employer groups have opted for a 60-day notice. Please review your Member Guide to find out which guideline applies to you.)

Q: How do I obtain coverage for my new adopted child?
A: If you are adding an adopted child to your coverage, you must notify your employer or group administrator, provide documentation of the adoption, as needed, and complete the proper form. For the adopted child to be covered from the date of placement in the home, please complete the proper form as soon as possible. If you need to change your coverage type (for instance from an Individual to a Family plan), you must notify BCBSNC within 30 days. (NOTE: Some employer groups have opted for a 60-day notice. Please review your Member Guide to find out which guideline applies to you.)

Q: How do I add or delete family members?
A: If you are adding or removing a family member to or from your health coverage, you should notify your group administrator and complete any required forms within 30 days of the event.
Note: When adding a dependent to your coverage, the proper form must be completed within 30 days after the dependent becomes eligible for coverage in order to be effective on the date the dependent becomes eligible.

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Q: Can I cover a dependent who lives out-of-state or my child away at school?
A: Answers vary according to plan. For more information, please visit the FAQs on your plan's Member page.

Q: How often can I change benefit plans?
A: Many groups only offer one health benefit plan. Groups offering more than one health benefit plan may have an annual or open enrollment period in which to change to a different benefit plan. Please contact your group administrator for more information.
An open enrollment period is a period of at least 10 days during which your employer will allow you to enroll or to make changes/adjustments to your coverage. Open enrollment periods are held once a year for those employer groups that offer open enrollment. Review your Member Guide or contact your Group Administrator for additional information regarding plan changes.

Q: How long can my children remain covered?
A: You or your spouse's unmarried dependent children are eligible for coverage until their 19th birthday, unless they are enrolled in a licensed or accredited school as a full-time student. Most of our plans cover these types of students until they are 26 years old. Please review your Member Guide for your policy's age limit for full-time students.

Q: How long can my child be covered if he or she has disabilities?
A: An unmarried dependent child who is either mentally retarded or physically handicapped and incapable of self-support may continue to be covered under the health benefit plan regardless of age if the condition exists and coverage is in effect when the child reaches the age of 19. The handicap must be medically certified by the child's doctor and may be verified annually by BCBSNC.

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