Guide To Health Insurance.org

About UniCare

UniCare Life & Health Insurance Company, an operating affiliate of WellPoint, was adopted as the brand name for most WellPoint businesses offered outside of California in 1995. In 1996, WellPoint acquired the group health and life business of Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company. Then, in 1997, WellPoint acquired the group health and life business of John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Company. In 2000, WellPoint acquired Rush Prudential Health Plans, located in Illinois; those businesses were joined with the existing UniCare businesses.

UniCare is structured into Market Business Units (MBUs), each of which is organized as a full service organization that serves specific customers. Some MBUs operate on a multi-state basis to serve large employer group businesses. Other business units have a more regional focus. UniCare has received an ""A- ""(excellent) rating from A.M. Best. As a national organization, working to deliver quality healthcare plans and products, UniCare offers a comprehensive set of healthcare plans and products at competitive rates. UniCare plans cover the health care needs of over 13 million members, and approximately 42.6 million specialty members.

UniCare Plans

UniCare offers a wide range of products that allow consumers to feel that they have control over their own healthcare decisions. Simultaneously, health care products are structured to control costs. UniCare offers a broad range of specialty products, including pharmacy, life, disability, and behavioral health benefits. It also offers a full range of managed health care plans. Not all UniCare products are available in all states. Three representative products are described below:

• BasicChoice -- These plans offer a line of lower cost benefit plans. BasicChoice plans are intended for service industry groups that may employ those sometimes referred to as the “working uninsured.” Coverage extends to most of the common healthcare benefits such as doctor visits, hospitalization, and prescription drugs. These plans have benefit maximums that range from $15,000 up to $100.000.
  
  
• Health Improvement Plans (HIPs) -- These are programs designed to help members with the self-management of serious conditions such as asthma, congestive heart failure, and diabetes. Members receive educational materials and are assigned a health coach along with a related team of health professionals who help the member understand the disease and make difficult personal behavior changes.
  
  
• HSA Plans -- UniCare offers a variety of Health Savings Account (HSA) plans at competitive rates. The plans vary according to deductible amounts and percentage of coverage. Some plans pay 100 percent of covered expenses after the deductible is met, up to $5 million. Other plans pay 80 percent of covered expenses after the deductible is met, until a specified out-of-pocket amount is paid by the consumer. After that, 100 percent of covered expenses are paid up to $5 million.
  
  

UniCare Corporate

UniCare Life & Health Insurance Company is part of Health Networks Inc. (NYSE: WLP), a publicly traded managed care company.