The state Department of Insurance has approved subsidized health care plans that will be available under the Affordable Care Act.
Several details of the plans remain sealed as trade secrets, including rates, deductibles and how many were approved. Marni Schribman of the state Insurance Department says the plans will be part of North Carolina's health care exchange, which is scheduled to launch in October.
"The federal government will be operating the marketplace in North Carolina. However, any insurance plan that is going to be sold in North Carolina has to be approved by the Department of Insurance, so this was the first step for insurance companies to move forward with possible participation in the health care exchange," Schribman said.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina will be the only provider to offer coverage in every county. Coventry Health Care of the Carolinas and FirstCarolinaCare have also applied to operate in some parts of the state.
Federal health officials will decide in September which health care plans to approve for the exchange.