Columbia - Open Enrollment for individual health insurance begins Sunday, and Blue Cross® BlueShield® of South Carolina and BlueChoice® HealthPlan of South Carolina are ready to provide access to health care coverage at highly competitive rates.

The companies’ South Carolina BLUEâ„  stores will be open this Sunday, 12 p.m.-5 p.m., and the mobile sales and education RVs will start their road tour around the state on the same day.

It is estimated that more than 400,000 of the state’s citizens are uninsured. Blue Cross urges all South Carolinians to purchase insurance as required by the law or to do a health insurance check-up if they already hold insurance. Both companies have increased the number of plans available, a number of which in the silver metal category have the lowest rates of any plan in many parts of South Carolina. BlueCross has 22 plans available and BlueChoice has 31 plans available. In addition, people currently receiving a subsidy to reduce monthly premiums should revalidate the subsidy amount for 2016.

“We are responding to the marketplace,” said Jim Deyling, BlueCross President. “This year, we are increasing the number of health plans available to include even more competitively priced options”

The Affordable Care Act requires nearly everyone to hold health insurance, or face a significantly increased fine in 2016 that amounts to $695 per household adult and $375 per household child under 18, or 2.5 percent of household income, whichever is greater. People not already covered by a group plan or Medicaid, must sign up for insurance during Open Enrollment Nov. 1-Jan. 31.

Sources for consumers’ information:

Websites SouthCarolinaBlues.com and BlueOptionSC.com.
Visit one of our SC BLUEâ„  retail stores to speak face-to-face with an agent. Locations can be found at www.scblueretailcenters.com.
Visit independent agents across the state, to include some State Farm agents as well as some Liberty Tax agents.

SC Blue RV Tour Stops

Aiken: Nov. 23-25 and Dec. 28-31, 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Planet Fitness, 2531 Whiskey Rd.
Anderson: Dec. 7-12, 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Doctors Care, 2126 N. Highway 81.
Greenville: Dec. 13, 12 p.m.-5 p.m., 16-17, 9 a.m.-6 p.m., and Jan. 11-16, 2016, 9 a.m.-6 p.m., SC BLUEâ„  Retail Center (Magnolia Park Mall), 1025 Woodruff Rd.
Hardeeville: Nov. 9-14, 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Walmart, 4400 U.S.-278.
Myrtle Beach: Nov. 30-Dec. 5, 9 a.m.-6 p.m., and Jan. 4-9, 2016, 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Doctors Care, 1221 21st Ave North.
North Charleston: Nov. 1, 12 p.m.-5 p.m., Nov. 2-7, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.,Walmart, 7400 Rivers Ave.
Rock Hill: Dec. 13, 12 p.m.-5 p.m., 14-17, 9 a.m.-6 p.m., and Jan. 18-23, 2016, 9 a.m.-6 p.m, Doctors Care, 2174 Cherry Rd.
Spartanburg: Nov. 16-21, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. and Jan. 25-31, 2016, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.,Walmart, 141 Dorman Centre Dr.

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 HEALTH PLAN OF SOUTH CAROLINA

Also headquartered in Columbia, S.C., BlueChoice HealthPlan of South Carolina is an independent licensee of the BlueCross BlueShield Association. BlueChoice HealthPlan has an A+ rating from A.M. Best and 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 HealthPlan offers four categories of group health plans, as well as individual plans for adults and families, and a South Carolina Medicaid product.