Unicare Family Medical

Plans Designs

UNICARE is a national organization dedicated to the delivery of quality health care plans and products working together with its customers, consultants, brokers, providers and employers. Providing managed care and specialty health care services throughout the United States, UNICARE Life & Health Insurance Company is an operating affiliate of WellPoint Health Networks Inc. (NYSE:WLP www.wellpoint.com), one of the nation's largest publicly traded managed care companies serving the health care needs of 7.5 million medical and over 31 million specialty products members.

UNICARE is committed to redefining the industry through a new generation of consumer-friendly products that put individuals back in control of their health and financial future. UNICARE will focus its activities over the next three years on making this vision a reality.

UNICARE is an innovative company with innovative ideas about healthcare. Unicare has a vision of putting individuals in control of their healthcare through the creation of quality, affordable and flexible health plans. If you are looking for a health plan for yourself, your family or your employees, UNICARE has "The Cure for Healthcare." Unicare’s new PERFORMANCE plans, introduced during the summer of 2000 are currently offered in Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Texas and Virginia.

Special Features

UNICARE offers Traditional and PPO plans with Copayment's and Rx Card. Liberal underwriting allows people with certain medical conditions such as controlled diabetes to get insurance at reasonable rates. Stand Alone child policies available. As of 12/1/2000, UNICARE-Illinois switches their PPO network to Unicare Classic Plus, formerly know as Rush-Pru network, from CCN.. The only downside to Unicare plans that we see is that Maternity is not available. Nonsmoker discount of up to 40%

Rates and Service

UNICARE plans are unique in the plan is designed with specific price points in mind. In order to keep prices stable, Unicare amends their plans to control claims rather than raise rates. The in-network benefits are very good, non network benefits have large out of pocket exposure potentials. Rates are consistently the most competitive as UNICARE attempts to build critical levels of market penetration. The combination of non-network out of pocket exposure and market goals give UNICARE some of the best rates around.

Customer Service has pro’s and cons. Current wait times on the phone are unacceptable. Average wait times can be as high as 30 minutes during peak times. Unicare aggressively defends its block of business from preexisting condition abuses. The customer service centers ability to manage the large number of records that are requested is also a liability. That said, Unicare pays the super-majority of its claims fast and efficiently. Claims representatives are skilled, and pleasant with the authority to get the obvious goofs fixed quickly. Overall, service is above average.

Underwriting and Billing

Underwriting is thorough but UNICARE will take on some risks that many carriers will not. You can expect medical records to be asked for if. You would expect thorough underwriting with rates somewhere between 10-35% less than other carriers. Billing is by monthly bank draft or quarterly billing. Initial premiums can be paid via credit card.

Renewal Rate History

In 1999, Unicare raised rates for the first time in 2 years. As of 8/2000, Unicare introduced new plan designs. Old plans will migrate to the new plan design. Over 50% of the members will experience a DECREASE in rates with the migration to the new product. No additional increase is expected in the next 12 months.