A profit crying: blue cross and blue shield of North Carolina.

A profit crying: Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina started waiving co-pays on generic-drug prescriptions through the end of the year, offering free flu shots and covering treatment of obesity. Such benevolence has raised suspicion that the nonprofit is trying to avoid another embarrassment of riches: It posted $196.3 million of net income in 2003, up from $76 million the year before.