SC BlueCross, SC BlueChoice Urge Signups by December 15 for January 1 Coverage; December Events Scheduled Statewide

People purchasing individual or family insurance for 2015 must sign up by Dec. 15 for policies to go into effect Jan. 1. Representatives of BlueCross^® BlueShield^® of South Carolina and BlueChoice^® HealthPlan will be in numerous communities statewide in December to assist, including at the South Carolina BLUE^SM stores.

Customers currently holding policies should check to see if the additional options available for the coming year might be a better fit. They also can learn whether a change in their income might affect their current subsidy or enable them to qualify for a new subsidy to offset the cost.

“People not already in group plans can sign up for individual or family insurance anytime between now andFeb. 15, but they must sign up by Dec. 15 if they want coverage starting Jan. 1,” said BlueCross President Jim Deyling. “We have numerous ways they can learn what’s required of them by the Affordable Care Act, how insurance works, whether they qualify for a federal stipend to offset the cost, what the federal penalty is if they don’t make a purchase, and which of our plans are the best fit for them.”

The Affordable Care Act requires that nearly everyone hold insurance or pay a penalty when they file their federal taxes. The penalty increases for 2015 to 2 percent of household income or $325 per adult and $162.50 per child. whichever is greater.

Sources for consumer information:

• SC BLUE stores in Columbia, Greenville and Mount Pleasant (www.SCBLUEretail center.com)
• Toll-free phone lines (877-313-2583 for BlueCross and 888-213-2460 for BlueChoice^®)
• Websites (www.HCReasyinfo.com for BlueCross and www.healthinsurancesc.com for BlueChoice)
• Agent open houses
• SC BLUE mobile retail centers touring the state
• Independent agents with BlueCross information tables at Bi-Lo and Goodwill stores
• Liberty Tax franchises educating people and selling BlueCross health policies

Here’s where consumers can get their questions answered in December:

Anderson

• SC BLUE RV Tour Stop, 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Dec. 3-4, Goodwill, 2901-A S. Main Street

Bluffton/Beaufort

• Agent Open House, 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Dec. 1, Hampton Inn & Suites, 29 William Pope Drive, Bluffton

Columbia

• Health Care Reform 101 class, 6:15 p.m.-7:15 p.m., Dec. 8, SC BLUE store (1260 Bower Parkway in Columbiana Station)
• Health Care Reform: Understanding Subsidies class, 6:15 p.m.-7:15 p.m., Dec. 10, SC BLUE store
• Health Care Reform 101 class, 6:15 p.m.-7:15 p.m., Dec. 16, SC BLUE store
• Health Care Reform: Understanding Subsidies class, SC BLUE store, 6:15 p.m.-7:15 p.m., Dec. 18
• SC BLUE Day, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Dec. 20, EdVenture Children’s Museum (free entry)
• SC BLUE RV Tour Stop, 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Dec. 26-27, 120 Forum Drive (Bi-Lo), Village at Sandhill

Easley

• SC BLUE RV Tour Stop, 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Dec. 5-6, Goodwill, 811 Saco Lowell Road

Florence

• Agent Open House, 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Dec. 11, Hilton Garden Inn, 2671 Hospitality Blvd., Florence
• SC BLUE RV Tour Stop, noon-6 p.m., Dec. 14, 2640 West Palmetto St.
• SC BLUE RV Tour Stop, 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Dec. 15-17, West Palmetto St.

Georgetown

• Agent Open House, 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Dec. 4, Quality Inn & Suites, 210 Church St., Georgetown

Greenville

• Health Care Reform 101 class, 6:15-7:15 p.m., Dec. 1, SC BLUE store (1025 Woodruff Road in Magnolia Park)
• Health Care Reform: Understanding Subsidies class, 6:15 p.m.-7:15 p.m., Dec. 3, SC BLUE store
• Agent Open House, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Dec. 6, Hilton Greenville, 45 W Orchard Park Drive, Greenville
• Health Care Reform 101 class, 6:15-7:15 p.m., Dec. 16, SC BLUE store
• Health Care Reform: Understanding Subsidies class, 6:15 p.m.-7:15 p.m., Dec. 18, SC BLUE store

Mount Pleasant

• Insurance 101 class, 6 p.m.-7 p.m., Dec. 1, SC BLUE store (1795 Highway 17 North in Towne Centre Place)
• Health Care Reform 101 class, 6 p.m.-7 p.m., Dec. 8, SC BLUE store
• Health Care Reform: Understanding Subsidies, 6 p.m.-7 p.m., Dec. 10, SC BLUE store
• Health Care Reform 101 class, 6 p.m.-7 p.m., Dec. 16, SC BLUE store
• Health Care Reform: Understanding Subsidies, 6 p.m.-7 p.m., Dec. 18, SC BLUE store

Myrtle Beach

• SC BLUE RV Tour, 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Dec. 1-4, Doctors Care, 1220 21^st Ave. North
• Agent Open House, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Dec. 13, Hampton Inn at Broadway at the Beach, 1140 Celebrity Circle

North Charleston

• Agent Open House, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Dec. 6, Charleston Area Convention Center, 5001 Coliseum Drive

Spartanburg

• SC BLUE RV Tour Stop, 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Dec. 8-11, Doctors Care, 218 East Blackstock Road
• Agent Open House, 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Dec. 9, Spartanburg Marriott, 299 N. Church St.
• SC BLUE RV Tour Stop, 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Dec. 22-23, Doctors Care, 218 East Blackstock Road

Summerville

• SC BLUE RV Tour Stop, 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Dec. 9-12, Doctors Care, 410 North Main St.

Sumter

• SC BLUE RV Tour Stop, 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Dec. 29-31, Doctors Care, 2475 Broad St.

Rock Hill

• Agent Open House, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Dec. 13, Hilton Garden Inn, 650 Tinsley Way
• SC BLUE RV Tour Stop, noon-6 p.m., Dec. 14, 2174 Cherry Hill Road
• SC BLUE RV Tour Stop, 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Dec. 15-17, 2174 Cherry Hill Road

About BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina

Headquartered in Columbia, S.C., and operating in South Carolina for more than 65 years, BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. The only South Carolina-owned and operated health insurance carrier, BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina comprises more than 20 companies involved in health insurance services, U.S. DoD health program and Medicare contracts, other insurance and employee benefits services, and a philanthropic foundation that funds programs to improve health care and access to health care for South Carolinians.

About BlueChoice HealthPlan of South Carolina

Also headquartered in Columbia, S.C., BlueChoice HealthPlan of South Carolina is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. BlueChoice holds a “Commendable” accreditation from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) for its commercial business, as well as an NCQA “New Health Plan Accreditation” for its Medicaid business. BlueChoice offers four categories of group health plans, as well as individual plans for adults and families, and a South Carolina Medicaid product.

Both companies hold an A+ rating from A.M. Best.