Blue Cross NC Centers Go Beyond Selling Insurance

Many people drive by the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (Blue Cross NC) Center on Freedom Drive each day and aren’t aware of the resources this office provides to the Charlotte community.

Blue Cross NC Centers provide face-to-face support enrolling in a Blue Cross NC plan, finding a health care provider and understanding health insurance benefits. However, these centers serve another purpose, too – improving the health and well-being of the communities we serve by providing a space for members in the community to move, learn and connect.

“Through our Blue Cross NC Centers, we are able to meet our members where they are, in cities across North Carolina,” said Alec Hoffman, Blue Cross NC Retail Store Director. “We want individuals to know that we are here to support them in living their healthiest lives.”

Blue Cross NC Centers’ Raleigh location.

Blue Cross NC centers provide a welcoming space to engage in physical activity and connect with people who share similar interests and goals, with programs and classes specifically designed to promote whole-person health, including:

• Physical activity and learning opportunities: From yoga and Tai Chi, to Bingo and cooking classes, Blue Cross NC Centers help facilitate connection and are open to anyone in the community.
• Healthy food: The most popular event at Blue Cross NC centers is Bingo, where enthusiasts are able to receive a healthy meal while they play. Since Bingo began, Blue Cross NC has served nearly 2,000 meals across its centers in Boone, Charlotte, and Raleigh. In addition, Blue Cross NC provides Bingo participants with resources for long-term food security support.
• Community connection: Representatives from local non-profits volunteer to call the games of Bingo and engage with participants. These conversations help participants know where to turn for resources and feel more at ease about asking for help. Individuals can also participate in community events at the centers, like bike builds, clothing donations, or Share Your Holiday, to support families in need.
• Preventive Care and Plan Education: Prevention is a key component of health care. The centers host flu shot clinics and provide education on health insurance. For individuals interested in speaking with someone about plan options in person, Blue Cross NC Centers are staffed with authorized agents who can help them find the best plan for themselves and their families.

The University of Michigan’s 2023 National Poll on Healthy Aging noted that one in three adults between 50 and 80 years old said they felt isolated from others, and that stat only tells part of the story of what the Surgeon General has called our national epidemic of loneliness. Feeling disconnected can pose serious health concerns, including increasing the risk of heart disease (29%), stroke (32%), dementia (50%) and even premature death (60%).

For more information, and to find the nearest Blue Cross NC center, visit bluecrossnc.com/contact-us/locations.