Which Carrier to Apply for Coverage With?

All carriers will have a benefit that stands out amongst others.

When looking for plans that are the most competitive in premium, one carrier will stand out in Cook County, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL).  Hands down, when comparing quotes, BCBSIL will be the lower priced plan 90% of the time.

Does this mean that you should apply to BCBSIL?  Unfortunately not.

With BCBSIL, all pre-existing conditions will not be covered for the 12 months of coverage.  This means any condition that was consulted, diagnosed or treated within the 12 months prior to coverage, excluding birth control.  BCBSIL along with all carriers other than Aetna can exclude coverage on specific medical conditions.

So...if you are Asthmatic and take Generic or Brand Name medications, these would not be covered for the first year, making BCBSIL not the best option.

If the prospective insured is currently taking medications, Humana, and UnitedHealthCare (UHC) may be a better option.  These carriers do not have a pre-existing condition waiting period and will cover your Rx from day one.  However, depending on the cost of your Rx, quoted premium can increase to cover the cost of medication.

Aetna can be an option but will only waive the 12 month pre-ex waiting period if the prospective insured was covered continuously for 12 months with no longer than a 63 day gap in coverage.  Aetna will not place exclusions on a policy but can increase the quoted premium.  Aetna all does not cover Mental and Illness.

For more information on plans please contact the shoppe.

-Jordan