UniCare Sound Health Plans - Illinois
$3000 Deductible
$5000 Deductible
Dental Benefits
Sound Plans Brochure
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- Compare Sound Health Plan Options
- Submit Online Application
Our Comments on the Sound Plans
Some professional perspectives on UniCare's Sound health insurance plans for Illinois residents:
Benefits for Persons of All Ages
Though the UniCare Sound plans are available to persons up to age 64 1/2, these plans have been directed at young adults -- as reflected in UniCare's unorthodox marketing approach, utilizing a website design with hip graphics and surfer dude language.
Still, if you're healthy, over age 30 and you believe one of the Sound health plans meets your needs, go ahead and apply. UniCare's targeting of young adults is just a stylish internet marketing strategy. We see no reason why these plans aren't appropriate for older consumers.
Limited Dental Coverage
Part of the marketing appeal of the Sound products is dental coverage included at no additional cost. That's nice, but don't mistake this benefit for comprehensive dental insurance.
Sound dental benefits are for preventive care and for fillings. A $500 maximum annual benefit applies. Expensive major dental services like root canals, crowns and oral surgery aren't covered.
Emphasis on Generics
Just about all health insurance plan contain financial incentives to use generic drugs, but the Sound plans take it to a higher level.
Under all the Sound plans, generic drugs are covered subject to a $10 co-pay with no deductible. However, a $2000 annual deductible applies for brand-name drugs. You won't be pleased with UniCare Sound coverage if you find yourself requiring expensive brand-name medication.
Online Application Only
There's no paper application form for the Sound health insurance plans. To apply, you have to us the Online Application, which enables UniCare to more quickly process your request for insurance.
Simplified Medical Underwriting
- For the Sound products UniCare applies more restrictive upfront guidelines. For example, rather than get involved in a time-consuming review -- with medical records and phone interviews -- UniCare may immediately reject an applicant who might otherwise qualify for other UniCare health insurance plans.Correspondingly, if you're concerned your medical history may effect your ability to obtain health insurance, you should probably focus on other UniCare products.
- With the Sound products, UniCare doesn't apply condition-specific exclusion amendments to your health insurance policy. In other words, UniCare won't make any coverage adjustments based on your medical history.
Other Underwriting Issues
UniCare charges an additional 40% for smokers, which doesn't compare well with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, which charges smokers an extra 25%.
In addition, UniCare routinely assesses additional rate charges for applicants who are overweight, whereas Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois tends to be more lenient in their perspective on obesity.
Rate Stability
Health insurance rate increases are a fact of life, but all health insurance companies are not alike in how they set rates for their customers.
Our observation has been that UniCare customers get more moderate premium increases than do customers of most other health insurers. In our view, this has something to do with the size and financial strength of Wellpoint, UniCare's parent company.
Customer Service
In 2007 UniCare reorganized their operations, moving their Midwest home base from Bolingbrook Illinois to downtown Chicago. This involved significant staff turnover and implementation of new administrative systems. There was a resulting deterioration in customer service.
However, we're pleased to report that the transition is complete and UniCare customer service has returned to a quality level.
