Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina ranked second best in a survey of customer satisfaction among South Atlantic region health plans.

The health insurer scored a 714 on a 1,000 scale, besting the regional average by 14 points. The national average for 137 health plans in 17 regions was 696, the lowest average in the five years the survey has been performed.

The J.D. Power and Associates’ U.S. Member Health Insurance Plan Study  measures member satisfaction by examining coverage and benefits; provider choice; information and communication; claims processing; statements; customer service; and approval processes.

The only insurer performing better than Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina in the region was Kaiser Foundation Health Plan (747).

Other results for the region included Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia (704), Aetna (699), UnitedHealthcare (695), and Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina (671).

The 2011 U.S. Member Health Insurance Plan Study is based on responses from more than 34,000 members of commercial health plans. There were 2,684 members in Pennsylvania. The study was fielded in December 2010 and January.