The private sector strikes again: Unicare abandons business in Illinois and Texas.

[DailyGrind51]

Unicare health plans to leave Illinois, 180,000 customers

By Bruce Japsen Tribune staff reporter

8:38 a.m. CDT, October 28, 2009

"The nation's largest health insurer confirmed this morning plans to withdraw its Unicare health plans business from the Illinois market by the end of the year, leaving more than 180,000 customers an option for coverage though there is no guarantee the price will be the same.

Wellpoint Inc., parent of Unicare, said it will exit Illinois and Texas where it has about 400,000 members in an effort to focus on its operations elsewhere in the United States. Wellpoint said its Unicare customers will be guaranteed coverage if they transition to Chicago-based Health Care Service Corp., parent of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois or Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas.

"We are recommending our customers transition their benefits to Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas," said Tony Felts, spokesman for Wellpoint's Unicare subsidiary. "(Health Care Service) has a vast provider network like Unicare and a long track record of providing quality."

Felts said customers who choose to transition to Health Care Service Blues plans are guaranteed replacement coverage but there are no guarantees it will be at the same price. He said Unicare has been working to "map the Unicare coverage to the most equivalent Blue Cross coverage so that it will be as similar as possible incluiding similar rates."

Should Unicare health plan members opt to choose a plan other than Health Care Service's Blues plans, there is neither a guarantee of coverage or price..."

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-biz-unicare-illinois-oct28,0,3105864.story

[Paper Roses]

1. We are being crushed between 2 evil entities.

The credit card companies and the insurance companies.

I have no words strong enough to explain how I feel about both.

[Name removed]

2. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[onethatcares]

3. nothing, not a thing

hell, I don't know why anyone would complain about paying 30% interest on borrowed money, especially when they got lured in with a measly 8% starter rate.

:shrug:

[Paper Roses]

4. Do you mean, what is wrong with huge hikes in interest?

Or how about today's announcement that annual fees would be reinstated for good, on time customers. Seems the banks are not making enough on their upped rates, they are now going to slap the "on-time" customers with a $49 to $99 a year annual fee too. See link, scroll down.

I bet you don't care that seniors will not be getting a cost of living increase for the next two years either.

http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Investing/top-stocks/default.aspx?feat=1338485

[ljm2002]

5. "Health Care Service Blues"...

...rather an ironic name for the transition plan. Pretty much sums up the argument for revamping our existing system, I wonder if they notices that?