Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois - HSA
BlueExtras
Personal Health Manager
- Illinois' Most Popular Health Insurance
- Submit BCBSIL's Official Online Application
Our Comments on BCBSIL
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois provides Illinois' most popular health insurance products. Here's why:
Quality Benefits
BCBSIL health insurance plans tend to be more generous and subject to less severe limitations and exclusions.
Great Provider Network
The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois PPO network is easily the most extensive in Illinois. In addition, BCBSIL members get preferred access to Blue Cross and Blue Shield PPO providers in all other states.
Competitive Rates
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois individual health insurance products are offered at competitive prices. Many people are under the impression you have to pay a lot extra for BCBSIL protection. It's not so.
In addition, through health insurance rate increases have become a certainty of American life, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois premium adjustments tend to be more moderate than those of most other health insurers. Correspondingly, BCBSIL policyholders maintain their policies longer than do policyholders of other health insurance companies.
A Mutual Insurance Company
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois is a division of Health Care Services Corporation (HCSC), a mutual insurance company. Because mutual insurance companies don't have to be concerned with Wall Street expectations, they can operate with a more long-term view -- which usually means greater stability for their policyholders.
Underwriting
All health insurance companies have their own particular underwriting rules. A person rejected by one insurance company may easily obtain coverage from another health insurer. It's no different with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois.
Our observation is that about 75% of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois applicants are able to obtain full coverage without restrictive contingencies. This is consistent with performance of the overall health insurance industry.
- Liberal guidelines on height/weight
BCBSIL is likely to charge less for health people who are moderately overweight. - Low rates for smokers
BCBSIL adds 25% to the rates of smokers. That's not bad compared to the extra charges assessed by many other health insurers. - Less frequent use of exclusion amendments
Compared to most of the competition, BCBSIL is less likely to place medical condition-specific exclusion amendments in your policy. This means superior outcomes for people with non-severe asthma and hypertension. - Favorable on mild depression and anxiety
BCBSIL is also a preferred alternative for people being treated for moderate anxiety/depression -- as long as there hasn't been counseling in the last six months.
On the other hand, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois underwriting guidelines are definitely more conservative for nervous/mental health conditions requiring ongoing counseling and/or more than one medication. If this describes you, don't bother applying to BCBSIL.
Durational Rating
After you've been insured under Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois for a few years, your rate increases tend to escalate. This is know as "durational rating" and just about all health insurers do it to some extent.
However, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois allows existing policyholders to submit a "new business application" subject to medical underwriting review. If the application is approved, the member qualifies for competitive "new business" rates.
If you're a healthy long-term BCBSIL policyholder and you're concerned you're paying more than you need to, you've got nothing to lose by submitting a new business application.
BCBSIL Application Process
Compared to most other health insurers, the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois application process takes longer -- but it's usually worth the wait.
For fastest BCBSIL results, use the Online Application, which reduces processing time by about a week. A completely healthy person with a clean medical history may be approved within a few days, though a 2-3 week wait is more typical.
In evaluating applications, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois makes extensive use of phone interviews. This is a fast way to clarify applicant health information, and minimizes the need for medical record review -- which often adds weeks to application processing time.
Customer Service
The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois administrative experience is better than most. Physician and hospital familiarity with BCBSIL procedures has something to do with it.
In our view, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois customer service representatives tend to be more knowledgeable, which is a consequence of the BCBSIL's size, stability and effective employee training programs.
BCBSIL customer service phone wait times are typical of the industry. Waits are longer during peak call hours like Monday morning or Friday afternoon, but that hardly makes BCBSIL unusual.
Keep in mind, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois is a classic giant insurance bureaucracy. They're proficient at routine tasks, but one shouldn't expect speedy resolution involving more complicated problems. In such circumstances, it's best to consult with an experienced health insurance professional.
