Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (Blue Cross NC) announced it will issue $200 million in health and wellness retail cards to more than 600,000 eligible subscribers, or households, across the state. The cards will be pre-loaded with funds that will help many North Carolinians pay for health, wellness, and household expenses, including food, during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Eligible subscribers are those enrolled in individual under 65 and fully insured employer plans, including vision and dental plans. These customers can expect to receive their cards in the mail between Oct.19 and Nov. 7. “We recognize the unexpected hardship and uncertainty many of our members face because of COVID-19,” said Tunde Sotunde, MD, Blue Cross NC President and CEO. “At Blue Cross NC, we are committed to the well-being of our members and we want to help them prioritize and pay for their health and wellness during this time.” Eligible subscribers will receive a health and wellness retail card with a balance between $100 and $500, depending on the products they’re enrolled in.
Eligible customers include those with fully insured medical, vision and dental plans from Blue Cross NC. The health and wellness retail cards aren’t applicable to the following plan types: Medicare, Federal Employee Program (medical, vision or dental products), Student BlueSM, State Health Plan and self-insured group medical plans. The health and wellness retail cards can be used for health-related expenses such as over-the counter medications, food, first aid supplies, baby care items, exercise equipment, vitamins and more at a variety of retailers including Walmart, Walgreens, CVS, Rite Aid, Dollar General and Family Dollar. The cards cannot be used to pay for insurance premiums, prescription drugs, tobacco, alcohol or firearms.