As one of UniCare's designated Premier Agents, MedPlan Access has been working with UniCare since their arrival in the Midwest. We feel qualified to offer some perspectives on UniCare health insurance for Illinois residents.
UniCare rates for HSA-compatible products have been competitive since Health Savings Accounts began in January 2004, and UniCare has been our most recommended vendor.
UniCare began offering the $2500/$4950 Deductible plan a couple years prior to the start of HSAs. If there's an established health insurance plan with a more favorable rate adjustment history, we'd like to know about it.
Most health insurers charge lower rates for new customers and higher rates for their longer-term customers. This is known as durational rating, and UniCare doesn't do it.
In determining rate adjustments, UniCare makes no distinctions based on policy duration. This translates into superior long-term relative cost stability for UniCare clients.
UniCare customers still get premium increases, which are never popular. But the UniCare rate increases are even-handed, and long-term clients are not punished for their loyalty -- which happens far too often with other insurance companies.
UniCare's parent, Wellpoint Health Networks, is, by any measure, one of the USA's top few health insurance organizations. Their internal growth has been fueled by an impressive combination of well-designed products, sound underwriting, expansive networks, competitive pricing and solid management.
Wellpoint (UniCare) is the most innovative company in the individual health insurance business. They're also a leader in using the internet to make health insurance more accessible, and in providing clients with online tools for managing both their health insurance plans and their health.
UniCare products are characteristically designed with strong disincentives against using non-network providers (though the $2500/$4950 deductible plan, which has outstanding non-network benefits -- is a lone exception.). This motivates utilization of PPO hospitals and physicians, which is a key element in UniCare's competitive pricing.
So, as a general rule, don't purchase a UniCare product unless you expect to be using hospitals and physicians participating in UniCare's extensive PPO networks.
UniCare's HSA-compatible plans and all their other individual plans in Illinois and Indiana do not include coverage for routine maternity. If maternity benefits are important to you, UniCare is probably not your best choice.
During the first year of coverage, UniCare will always apply their pre-existing condition exclusion. It doesn't matter if you've got continuous prior coverage or if the health condition is disclosed on the application.
UniCare underwrites applications faster than most other health insurers. In our experience, UniCare's rate of application approval is average to above-average.
UniCare charges an additional 40% for smokers, which is a relatively large adjustment. In addition, UniCare, like just about every other health insurer, will assess additional premium for persons with ongoing health conditions or whose weight places them in higher risk categories.
Obtaining medical records can cause long delays in processing applications, so UniCare does much of their fact gathering through phone interviews with applicants.
Depending on an applicant's health circumstances, UniCare may still require medical records, though they'll pay administrative charges -- up to a limit -- required by the doctor or hospital.
For HSA administration, UniCare has established a referral relationship with JP Morgan Chase Bank (Chase), and we provide access to Chase HSA materials in this site.
However, with a Chase HSA, UniCare customers get no particular advantage they couldn't get from other quality HSA administrators. Of course, UniCare wouldn't recommend Chase if Chase didn't provide a solid HSA product, but there are other quality HSA administrators from which UniCare policyholders can choose.
In choosing an HSA administrator, you have many options. You can start your research by reviewing our list of many well known HSA administrators.
UniCare is an exceptionally well managed company with experienced employees and advanced administrative systems. When you call for assistance, customer hold times are typically short.
UniCare gets high marks for paying claims, which they process quickly. They also employ knowledgeable claim representatives. Claim disagreements are infrequent and typically resolved quickly.
Customer Service for Indiana policyholders is centered in UniCare's regional home office in Bolingbrook IL.
No one health insurance company is best for everybody. However, we believe UniCare is a consistent superior choice for Indiana insurance consumers.
