Blue Cross Blue Shield to open more retail stores in NC

Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina, which opened its first retail store in Morrisville earlier this year, is planning to open five more stores in locations across the state.

Company representatives said the idea for stores was prompted by the Affordable Care Act. The stores will be a place where customers can go to ask questions and get answers about how the reform will affect them.

Another big reason for the storefronts, they said, is attracting people who are uninsured and will now be looking for coverage under the new law.

“In North Carolina, there are a little over 1 million uninsured people. We anticipate of that 1 million, there will be 800,000 with tax credits and subsidies to buy health insurance, so that’s the marketplace that’s coming to us,” said Roy Watson, director of sales.

In addition to the Morrisville store, the company has a second store in Hickory, which opened in July. They plan to add two stores in Charlotte, one in Greensboro and one in Asheville.

Officials with the North Carolina Department of Insurance said Thursday they are unaware of any other insurers with plans for retail locations. But there are other states that have them.