Unicare of Illinois Medicare Supplemental Insurance (Medigap)

Unicare of Illinois is a private insurance company offering Medicare supplemental insurance plans to senior residents. These plans, also known as 'Medigap' plans, are meant to fill in the cost 'gaps' of the Original Medicare Plan. While Medicare may pay for a substantial portion of your health care costs, there are many deductibles and services not covered by Medicare Parts A and B. Unicare's Medigap policies for seniors pay for many of the health care services that Medicare doesn't.

Enrolling in a Medigap policy through Unicare of Illinois gives you direct access to any doctor, hospital, or health care provider you choose. And while many private health insurance companies require a waiting period of up to six months before covering pre-existing medical conditions of new members, Unicare or Illinois offers immediate coverage of pre-existing conditions.

There are twelve Medicare supplemental insurance policies available in Illinois, referred to by letters A through L. Ten of the plans are standard and two are high-deductible. Six of the twelve Medigap plans are available through Unicare of Illinois: Plans A, B, C, D, F, and high-deductible F. High-deductible Plan F offers the same benefits as regular Plan F, but with a $1,900 annual deductible (2008 figure). Once you meet this deductible amount, the coverage benefits of your Medigap plan begin immediately.

With Unicare of Illinois' Medigap insurance for seniors, you can potentially avoid many of the difficult expenses not covered by your Medicare benefits, including:

• The Medicare Part A hospital co-insurance
• The Medicare Part A hospital deductible
• The Medicare Part B co-insurance
• The Medicare Part B $124 deductible

Medigap Plan A consists of the most basic benefits offered for Medigap insurance for seniors. Subsequent plans each contain at least the benefits of plan A, plus one or more other benefits. Additional benefits offered by Unicare of Illinois' supplemental health insurance plans include: skilled nursing co-insurance, Part A deductible coverage, Part B deductible coverage, 100% coverage of Part B excess, foreign travel emergency, and at-home recovery.