| Q1. Why is UniCare leaving the commercial
health insurance product lines in Illinois and Texas?
A. UniCare remains financially
sound and capable of paying medical claims in a timely
manner, however, competitive pressures have made it increasingly
difficult to
maintain our high standards for excellent customer service and affordable,
quality
benefits that our customers have come to expect.
A. UniCare is recommending that
its current Texas and Illinois customers transition
their benefit plans to Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas or Blue Cross
Blue Shield of
Illinois.
Q2. What is the timeline for UniCare leaving
these markets? What happens to UniCare business outside Illinois
and Texas?
A. UniCare anticipates transitioning
the majority of medical client accounts by
12/31/2009. UniCare and the BCBS plan will work together to assist
members with an orderly transition.
A. UniCare has discontinued selling
new medical policies in Texas and Illinois.
A. UniCare will continue to support
claims payment and customer service functions
until UniCare coverage runs out.
Q3. Is BCBS acquiring UniCare? What does it mean
that UniCare is endorsing
BCBS?
A. BCBS is not acquiring UniCare.
UniCare is endorsing BCBS as the insurer of choice
for its members and employer groups in Texas and Illinois. UniCares
parent
company WellPoint and Health Care Service Corporation (HCSC, the
parent
company of Blue plans in Illinois, Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma)
have entered
into an agreement that ensures that current UniCare customers who
elect to purchase
a BCBS policy will have a smooth transition of benefits and coverage.
Q4. What will happen to those members who are
currently covered by UniCare? Will they simply become BCBS members?
A. Current UniCare members will
have the option to become BCBS members. Current
UniCare employer groups may pursue an agreement with BCBS to become
their new
carrier.
A. Those who purchase their coverage
in the individual market may elect to switch their
coverage to BCBS and receive similar rates and benefits as their
UniCare coverage.
Individuals would not have to go through medical underwriting.
A. BCBS will attempt to offer
the same or similar benefits to UniCare customers;
however, there may be some slight differences in benefits. We encourage
you to take
the time to review the BCBS offering.
Q5. Will I have to change doctors?
A. BCBS maintains a large provider
network that includes thousands of physicians and
major hospital systems. As a result, in most cases members will
not have to change
doctors.
Q6. How will this affect employers who currently
are covered by UniCare?
A. Employers who are currently
covered by UniCare will be offered BCBS products to
replace current UniCare medical benefits products. BCBS has a large
provider
network that includes thousands of physicians and major hospital
systems. As a
result, in most cases, UniCare members who switch to BCBS will not
have to change
doctors.
A. Employers domiciled in states
other than Illinois and Texas will continue to have
coverage with UniCare. Furthermore, UniCare coverage will continue
for MHealth,
Medicaid and Senior products, the Federal Employees Program (FEP)
and the Group
Insurance Commission (GIC) of Massachusetts.
A. BCBS is attempting to offer
the same or similar benefits to Unicare customers;
however, there may be some differences in benefits. Please review
the BCBS
offering to determine whether there are any differences between
plans.
Q7. How long will my groups employees continue
to be covered by UniCare? What
happens to their current coverage?
A. UniCare anticipates transitioning
the majority of medical client accounts by
12/31/2009.
A. UniCare standalone specialty
products will continue to be offered.
Q8. How will claims that are currently in process
be handled?
A. UniCare will continue
to cover and pay all claims for covered services under your
UniCare policy until the BCBS coverage takes effect or the UniCare
policy is no
longer in effect.
Q9. What are the options for finding another health insurance plan?
A. Employers who provide group coverage
to their employees will have the choice of
transitioning their companys benefits program from UniCare
to BCBS or to another
carrier.
A. UniCare has worked with these
BCBS plans to provide the most advantageous
transition for our customers. Like UniCare, BCBS offers a large
provider network.
The benefits provided by many of the BCBS products are similar to
the coverage
provided by UniCare.
A. UniCare and BCBS will work together
to make the transition as seamless as possible
for employers UniCare customers will not be required to go through
the standard
quoting process.
Q10. Why should I switch to BCBS? What are the
advantages?
A. UniCare has worked with these
BCBS plans to provide the most advantageous
transition for our customers. Like UniCare, BCBS offers a large
provider network.
The benefits provided by many of the BCBS products are similar to
the coverage
provided by UniCare.
A. UniCare and BCBS will work
together to make the transition as seamless as possible
for employers, members, agents and consultants. UniCare customers
will not be
required to go through the standard quoting process.
A. Those who purchase insurance
on the individual market will be offered guaranteed
replacement coverage with benefits and rates similar to their UniCare
plan, with no
medical underwriting required.
Q11. What if an employee in my group has upcoming
surgery scheduled? Should
they cancel it?
A. No. If a person insured
by UniCare has a surgery or another service scheduled while
under UniCare coverage, this decision to exit certain commercial
markets in Texas
and Illinois should have no bearing on how those services are accessed.
Claims for
covered services provided will be paid under the UniCare policy
until the BCBS
coverage takes effect.
A. If a UniCare member
transitions to a different health plan prior to the date of a
scheduled surgery, the member and his physician will need to discuss
any reviews
that might be required by the new health plan.
A. Although UniCare anticipates
that BCBS will honor current medical authorizations
that have been approved previously by UniCare, Members should contact
BCBS to
ensure that necessary authorizations are in place before seeking
care.
Q12. Will I receive deductible and coinsurance credit on transition
to BCBS?
A. Yes, deductible and
coinsurance credits will be transferred from UniCare to BCBS.
We will make this process seamless for the member.
Q13. I just went through a rate increase with
UniCare. How long will BCBS honor
my rates?
A. The current rates will be
honored until their next renewal. Please refer to you BCBS
offer letter and materials for more details.
Q14. Will claim information be provided through
end date with UniCare? What is the end date for providing client
reporting?
A. Yes UniCare will provide
claim data consistent with current UniCare policy.
Q15. If I have any questions, whom do I contact?
A. Contact your WorldWide
Insurance Services, Inc. representative at 800-955-0418 or by e-mail
at info@wwins.com. There is also information posted online at www.UtoBlue.info
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