North Carolina Resources
NC Department of Insurance
The Department of Insurance regulates the insurance industry, licenses insurance professionals, provides information about different types of insurance and handles consumer complaints about insurance problems and other insurance related matters. 800-546-5664
Division of Medical Assistance
Oversees Medicaid and NC Health Choice for Children. You may apply for North Carolina Medicaid and/or North Carolina Health Choice for Children at your local Department of Social Services. If you receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI), you are automatically covered for Medicaid. You may apply for SSI at the nearest local Social Security Office. You can call the SSA Office at 1-800-772-1213
Inclusive Health
Inclusive Health, also known as the North Carolina Health Insurance Risk Pool (NCHIRP), provides affordable, individual health insurance coverage for North Carolinians who do not have access to an employer health plan and face higher premiums due to a pre-existing medical condition. It will also offer coverage to individuals who are federally defined HIPAA eligibles or qualify due to loss of employment due to the effects of international trade under the Health Coverage Tax Credit.
South Carolina Resources
SC Department of Health and Human Services
The SC Department of Health and Human Services administers the state’s Medicaid program, which is funded by federal and state governments to provide medical care for needy persons who have low income, as well as the state Healthy Connections Choices, a state program that helps people in Medicaid enroll in health plans to get Medicaid services. You can apply for Medicaid online here or in person at the county offices of the Department of Health and Human Services, federally qualified rural health centers, and at most hospitals. If you need assistance in enrolling, call 1-888-549-0820. To enroll in a health plan through the Healthy Connections Choices program, click here.
SC Department of Insurance
The mission of the South Carolina Department of Insurance is to protect the insurance consumers, the public interest, and the insurance marketplace by ensuring the solvency of insurers, by enforcing and implementing the insurance laws of the State, and by regulating the insurance industry in an efficient, courteous, responsive, fair and equitable manner. The agency licenses insurance professionals, provides information about types of insurance and handles consumer complaints. For more information call 1-800-768-3467 or e-mail consumers@doi.sc.gov.
SC Health Insurance Pool
The South Carolina Health Insurance Pool (SCHIP) was created by the SC General Assembly in 1989 to make health insurance coverage available to residents of South Carolina who are either unable to obtain health insurance because of a medical condition or whose premium for health coverage exceeds 150% of the Pool rate. South Carolina chose to enhance the SCHIP program in 1997 so that it meets the requirements of the State Alternative Mechanism (SAM). The SCHIP coverage is not an insurance policy nor is it a Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina policy, although SCHIP coverage is administered by Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina. For more information call 803-788-0500, ext. 46401 (in Columbia) or 800-868-2500, ext. 46401 (Outside Columbia).