UniCare Health Insurance
Company Of Illinois
UniCare of Illinois is a national health insurance company that functions as a subsidiary of WellPoint. UniCare offers a wide variety of HMO and PPO plans in the state of Illinois. UniCare offers very competitive rates for individuals, families and the self employed in the state of IL. Let’s take a look at the Illinois UniCare product line and then also at some of their underwriting requirements and little quirks to see if a UniCare health insurance plan may be the best choice for you and your family!
Illinois UniCare - Product Line
UniCare’s most popular plans in Illinois are its traditional PPO FIT plans. UniCare’s traditional PPO network is very large with many participating physicians, hospitals and facilities across IL. The FIT plan product line includes the FIT 500, FIT 1000, FIT 1500, FIT 2000, FIT 3000, and the FIT 5000 (with the number describing the amount of the calendar year plan deductible).
Each of the FIT plans allow for unlimited Doctor visit copays ($30 each office visit). Each of the FIT plans also allow for unlimited prescription drug copays (both retail pharmacy and mail order). Generic prescription drug copays are $10 for a retail pharmacy prescription (up to a 30 day supply) and $20 for a mail order prescription (up to a 60 day supply). Brand name prescription drug copays are $30 for retail pharmacy formulary and $50 for retail pharmacy non-formulary and $60 for mail order formulary and $100 for mail order non-formulary (retail pharmacy allows up to a 30 day supply while mail order service allows for up to a 60 day supply).
It is important to note that just like almost every other Illinois health insurance plan you will save money if you choose a generic prescription over a name brand prescription because not only are the copays higher for name brands but you will have to first satisfy a separate name brand prescription deductible of either $250 (for the FIT 500 and the FIT 1000) or $500 (all other FIT plans).
Each of the FIT plans allow for lifetime maximum coverage of up to $5,000,000 per covered person. Preventative care screenings including procedures like pap smears, mammograms, and PSA tests are also covered 100% (deductible is waived) up to an annual benefit of $300 per person. Preventative care for children (up to age 6), including immunizations, are also covered 100% up to $300 per child per year. Outside of the aforementioned copays for Doctor’s office visits, prescriptions, and preventative care benefits then almost everything else will be subject to the plan deductible and then either 80/20 or 70/30 coinsurance (with an annual out of pocket maximum specific to the plan that you choose).
Illinois UniCare - Traditional PPO Network
The IL UniCare PPO network is quite extensive and allows discounted rates to UniCare members that choose to go to a provider that is in-network. (Out-of-network benefits are typically covered at 60%). UniCare members can also expect to see sizable discounts in their health care when they see an in-network physician or hospital due to the in-network negotiated rates.
Illinois UniCare - Parent Company is WellPoint, Inc.
UniCare’s parent company is WellPoint, Inc. (WellPoint is one of the largest health insurance companies in the United States along with the likes of United Healthcare, Aetna, various Blue Cross Blue Shield licensees, and others). WellPoint trades on the NYSE with the ticker symbol WLP. WellPoint serves the needs of over 50 million combined members and specialty members.
Illinois UniCare – Things to Know
UniCare has a very strong network in Illinois but if you anticipate having to go out of network for many of your health care services then you may be better served looking at some other Illinois health benefit providers (unless the UniCare rates are much cheaper). One additional thing to note about UniCare is that UniCare does not offer maternity insurance so if you choose one of their plans then you will be responsible to pay for any pregnancy costs. If you are debating becoming pregnant and having maternity insurance is important to you then you may want to look instead at an IL health insurance company that offers a maternity benefit.
That being said, UniCare is a very strong Illinois health insurance company with top notch health plans (FIT, the Saver 2000, and Sound health plans), a strong network, and very competitive rates (UniCare also does not practice durational rating – meaning that you will not be hit with extremely high rate increases the longer that you are with them [of course, rates will still increase year after year just like with any other Illinois health plan because of inflation, claims experience of the company as whole and most importantly – you are a year older!].
Why not take a few moments and use our free quote finder to compare UniCare health insurance quotes against other top IL companies like BCBS of IL, Humana, Golden Rule United Healthcare, Assurant, Celtic and more? Compare free Illinois health insurance quotes now!