Thousands of NC Blue Cross Customers Could Face Higher Premium Costs

Around 50,000 customers of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina could soon face changes in their health care premium costs. Next year, they'll make the switch to the Affordable Care Act, in some cases paying twice as much or more for insurance.

Blue Cross will notify customers in September that their current policies will expire.

The affected customers are on so-called “grandfathered plans.” They were allowed to remain in effect after the Affordable Care Act went into effect, per President Obama's promise. The plans don't comply with the federal requirements for health insurance -- and would not be legal to sell today.

According to the News and Observer, when comparing premiums, the company says women over 50 and young men will generally pay more for ACA coverage, while older men and young women will pay less.

The Durham insurer says ACA plans provide better coverage than previous ones, including maternity, but it will cost more.

Blue Cross says some customers who move to the ACA will benefit from federal subsidies to offset the insurance hikes, but not all.