N.C. Individual Health Market To Gain Competitors

North Carolina consumers could soon pay lower premiums for individual health insurance, thanks to an increase in competition.

For years, consumers here have relied almost entirely on Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina for individual policies.

WellPath Select, a Morrisville-based subsidiary of Coventry Health Care, is set to start offering insurance plans for individuals and families on Oct. 1.

Also, UnitedHealthcare subsidiary Golden Rule Insurance Co. has applied to sell new individual policies in North Carolina after a hiatus of at least a decade.

Blue Cross in 2004 insured 99 percent of individual customers, according to the Department of Insurance. The remainder was covered by about 14 other companies.