Health Insurance Blog

Judith Graham from the Chicago Tribune’s Triage blog has mentioned that the state of Illinois is now suffering from an epidemic of 50 to 64 year-olds without health insurance. These individuals are caught between a rock and a hard place–they often suffer from pre-existing conditions that preclude buying individual health coverage on the open market, but aren’t yet old enough to qualify for Medicare.

An AARP/Disability Advocates of Chicago report found that over 287,000 (13.3%) adults in the 50-64 age group are uninsured. 44% of poor adults in this age range lack health insurance.

Unfortunately, the current corruption scandal involving Ill. Governor Rod Blagojevich is distracting the state from its governing duties, including dealing with health care. Get the best Illinois health insurance quotes, regardless of your age.

(Photo credit: Cuksis under CC 2.0)

US News and World Report’s 2008 ranking of the top Illinois Health Insurance Plans are listed below.  Based on 1) consumer surveys and 2) success in preventing and treating illness compared with average plan.

1. PersonalCare Insurance of Illinois (conducting business exclusively in Illinois)
2. Health Alliance Medical Plans (Illinois, Iowa)
3. CIGNA Healthcare of St. Louis (Illinois, Missouri)
4. Medical Associates Health Plan (Illinois, Iowa)
5. United Healthcare plan of the River Valley (Illinois, Tennessee, Iowa, Virginia
6. OSF Health Plans (Illinois)
7. United Healthcare of the Midwest (Illinois, Kansas, Missouri)
8. United Healthcare of the Midlands (Illinois, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Iowa)
9. CIGNA Healthcare of Illinois (Illinois, Indiana)
10. United Healthcare of Illinois (Illinois, Indiana)

You’ll notice, on this top 10 list, there are 4 distinct United Healthcare plans listed as well as 2 CIGNA health plans.  This generally results from various regional health plans being responsible for a service area that covers specific MSAs, or specific regions within a state or states.

Blue Cross Blue Shield and Aetna are noticably absent from this list

A recent press release from Aetna announced the launch of their new line of individual health plans for young adults called BodyGuard which became effective August 1 .  Rates start at $40 per month.

The BodyGuard portfolio of health plans are designed for healthy young adults, a segment of the population that is most likely to go uninsured.  Young adults frequently do not maintain health coverage because of their good health and “invincible” feeling, but should be protected in case of unexpected events such as accident, or sudden illness for example.

Initially BodyGuard will only be available in Illinois, but will expanded to additional states in the future.

In addition to the health insurance coverage, individuals enrolling in BodyGuard will have the option of adding dental coverage for $14 per month