North Carolina Health Insurance

How healthy is living in North Carolina?

North Carolina held on to the #36 spot in the 2008 ranking of the healthiest states by the United Health Foundation.

The state's best and worst category rankings:

• Prevalence of binge drinking – 8th
• Occupational fatalities – 20th
• Number of primary care physicians – 25th
• Prevalence of obesity – 40th
• Prevalence of smoking – 42nd
• Children (under 18) in poverty – 42nd
• Infant mortality – 44th

See the United Health Foundation's latest findings on North Carolina.

Does North Carolina have a risk pool for the uninsurable?

North Carolina Health Insurance Risk Pool (NCHIRP)
Toll-free 1-866-665-2117

Risk pools are state-sponsored programs to help people with a history of medical problems in their family to purchase coverage. These pools are for people who can afford to buy health insurance, but are not able to get underwritten in the private market because of a pre-existing health condition. These programs can vary significantly from state-to-state in price, benefits and number of people served. Often insurance companies doing business in the state are required to contribute to the poolto keep it in the black. In the best cases they allow people to be able to switch jobs or become self-employed without the fear of losing their health insurance coverage. Find more on risk pools here.

Mini-meds a guaranteed-issue option for those who are medically uninsurable

An option for the medically uninsurable is a guaranteed-issue mini-med health insurance plan. There is no underwriting and no health questions are asked.

These plans provide basic coverage but are not designed to help with catastrophic expenses. They can often count as creditable coverage, eliminating the waiting period for pre-existing conditions if you later move to an employer-based plan. Read more here.

Cover The Uninsured's guide on finding health insurance in North Carolina

Cover The Uninsured is a national effort to highlight the fact that too many Americans are living without health insurance and to demand solutions from our nation's leaders. Read more information on its efforts. It is a project of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

• Cover The Uninsured's facts on the uninsured in North Carolina and all other states.
• Its guide on how to find health insurance in North Carolina.
• Materiales En Español – Guías para encontrar cobertura de seguro de salud.

USNews health insurance rankings for North Carolina

US News does an annual ranking of what it considers the best health insurance plans in each state. Visit its reports on various health insurance or medical insurance plans being offered in North Carolina.

Official State Goverment Sites with North Carolina Health Insurance Information

North Carolina Medicaid -- serves about 20 percent of the state's population, whose low income prevents them from purchasing health insurance in the private market.

North Carolina Health Choice (NCHC) for Children -- for families who make too much money to qualify for Medicaid but too little to afford rising health insurance premiums so they are able to get free or reduced price comprehensive health care for their children.

Non-profit site(s) of interest to North Carolinans

The North Carolina Institute of Medicine (NC IOM) -- is an independent, non-profit organization that serves as a non-political source of health policy analysis and advice in North Carolina.