UniCare Insurance

UniCare Insurance offers very competitive health insurance rates in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Nevada, Texas and Virginia.  They quite often have the best-valued plan in the areas where they do business.  HSA for America is an Authorized Unicare Agent.

Plans at a Glance:

Amounts listed below are the member's share of costs       

** Please run an instant quote for exact deductibles in your area.

These charts are only a brief description of various plans available.  For a more detailed description of coverage, benefits, limitations and exclusions that may apply, please refer to each state's applicable Certificate of Coverage.  Only the actual Certificate of Coverage provisions apply.

This information is presented only as a very brief overview of some of the benefits of this plan, and is intended only for general education.  The amount of benefits provided depends on the plan selected. Premium will vary with the type of benefits selected.  These plans contain exclusions from and limitations of coverage.  Please see the product brochure for more complete information, as well as information about terms of renew ability, preexisting conditions, out-of-network penalties, and notification requirements.  Plans are subject to health underwriting.  To be considered for reimbursement, expenses must qualify as covered expenses.  Expenses are also subject to reasonable and customary limits, unless you use a network, and all other policy provisions, including determinations of medical necessity.

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Coverage Synopsis:

UniCare offers four different HSA plans.  Their original HSA-Compatible and HSA-Compatible-3 plans pay 100% of all covered expenses, up to $5 million per person, after you have met your deductible.  The HSA-Compatible-1 and HSA-Compatible-2 plans pay 80% of all covered expenses, after you have met your deductible, until you have reached the out-of-pocket maximum (which includes the deductible) listed above.  At that time, the plan then pays 100% of all covered expenses, up to $5 million per person. 

This plan qualifies as HSA-eligible.  Combining a Health Savings Account with any UniCare HSA plan allows you to make tax-deductible contributions, pay medical expenses with pre-tax dollars, and earn tax-deferred interest.  This account works much like an IRA, except you may use your tax-free savings for qualified medical expenses your health plan does not cover, such as your deductible, contact lenses, or most types of alternative medicine (see the qualified medical expenses).  If you do not use these funds, they simply accumulate, with interest, for distribution upon your retirement.

Rate Information:

UniCare often has very competitive rates.  One of the ways they do this is with the support of their Pharmacy and Therapeutics (P&T) Committee, which periodically reviews medications listed on the UniCare Formulary Drug list.  The Drug Formulary is a listing of preferred pharmaceutical products that UniCare health plans, working with an expert panel of practicing physicians and pharmacists, have developed to identify and promote the appropriate prescribing of pharmaceuticals that are both therapeutically appropriate and cost effective.

There is a one-time $25 application fee that is waived for those who apply online.

PPO Network:

Unicare provides access to a strong nationwide network of physicians and other health-care professionals.  Having access to the PPO network can mean substantial discounts in what you pay for your health care, even before you meet your deductible.  Please visit the Unicare PPO Network site for complete information on the PPO network in your area.

Underwriting:

We've found UniCare to be a fair and reasonable underwriter which strives, within its risk assessment guidelines, to offer health insurance to all applicants.  UniCare heavily relies on applicant medical records, which leads to more informed underwriting decisions.  However, when medical records are required, it takes longer to process your application.  Depending on your circumstances, you may speed up the underwriting process by obtaining your own medical records and submitting them with your UniCare application.

Persons with medical conditions may not qualify for the "preferred" rates that appear on or instant quote system.  Depending on an applicant's health, UniCare may require a medical condition-specific coverage waiver.  UniCare increases their standard rate for smokers by 40%.

Effective dates:

The coverage can go into effect in as quickly as 24 hours, though the applicant risks being declined if claims are submitted before the underwriting process is completed.  You may request an effective date any time the date after you sign the application and 45 days later.  Please note that you will be billed starting on your requested effective date, even if you have not yet been notified that you have been approved.  This is very good for someone who does not have any present coverage and would like for their benefits to begin right away.  For those who are already covered, it is suggested that you maintain your current coverage in force until you have received notice from either HSA for America or directly from Unicare that your coverage has been approved and is in force.

When UniCare's online application is used, processing time is reduced. Healthy applicants may be approved in two or three days.  However, if your health history is relatively long and requires explanation, we recommend you complete the paper application, which you can download and print from this website.

HSA Administrator:

Your health savings account is totally separate from your health insurance, and you may use any approved bank or trustee as your HSA administrator.  We recommend that you choose one from our HSA administrator page, where you can compare rates and features. 

About Unicare:

UniCare is a division of WellPoint Health Networks, one of the US's largest publicly traded (NYSE:WLP) health insurance companies.  WellPoint has consistently ranked among the most admired health care companies (as compiled by Fortune Magazine and Forbes Magazine), serving the health insurance needs of over 15 million Americans.  More Americans purchase their individual health coverage through the WellPoint family of companies than through any other individual health insurance carrier in the United States.

UNICARE has a rating of "A+" by Standard & Poor's Financial Strength Rating Analysis and a rating of "A-" (excellent) for claims-paying ability by the A.M. Best Company, an independent insurance industry analyst that bases its rating on operating performance and financial stability.

In March 2004, Fortune magazine ranked UNICARE's parent company, WellPoint Health Networks, as America's Most Admired Health Care Company for an unprecedented sixth consecutive year.

HSA for America is an independent authorized Unicare agent.

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