The California based PacifiCare Health Systems was acquired by the UnitedHealth Group in 2005, but continues to operate under the PacifiCare name. They rank among the largest of America’s health maintenance organizations with more than 3 million health plan members and more than 10 million specialty plan members nationwide. They offer health plans to members in California, Florida, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, and Washington.

 

PacifiCare was founding in 1975 as a nonprofit, and became federally qualified as a health maintenance organization (HMO) three years later. Samuel J. Tibbitts of the Lutheran Hospital Society founded PacifiCare.

 

PacifiCare offers individuals, employers, and Medicare eligible beneficiaries a wide variety of consumer focused health care and life insurance products. They also offer specialty add-on plans including behavioral health, chiropractic, dental, vision, wellness, and complete pharmacy benefit management. This is done through their wholly owned subsidiary, Prescription Solutions.

PacifiCare Signature Value HMO offers members a network of physician offices of more than 47,000. There are also 222 hospitals. Out of network services are not covered under the HMO plan. A primary care physician is designated and oversees health needs and services. HMOs offer minimal paperwork and predictable costs. Members pay a predetermined copayment each time they receive a health care service.

 

PacifiCare Signature POS also offers members a network of physician offices of more than 47,000. There are also 222 hospitals. This type of plan offers members more flexibility and options. You can choose to see doctors in or out of network, with in-network doctors carrying a lower fee.

PacifiCare Signature Elite PPO offers members more than 68,000 network and physician offices. This plan also has 330 participating hospitals. This is a plan which offers an even wider selection of physicians to enrollees. These participating providers may be primary care doctors or specialists and PPO members are free to see any of them. PPO members may also visit non-contracted providers, but at a higher out-of-pocket cost. PacifiCare Signature Elite is available to employer groups of 51 or more employees.

 

PacifiCare Signature Independence Indemnity allows members to see any licensed physician and go to any accredited hospital. A primary care physician is not required. There is an annual deductible that you must meet. And you must pay your plan’s coinsurance cost for all covered services.

PacifiCare Signature Freedom SDHP is a self directed health plan (SDHP). This type of plan is PPO based, allowing you access to the 68,000 network and physician offices, and 330 hospitals. PacifiCare Signature Freedom also offers an annual Self Directed Account (SDA) which can be used towards certain types of preventative health care services like doctor's office visits, mammography screening, breast and pelvic exams, and more. Any money from the SDA that isn’t used will be carried over to the next year, allowing the option to "save" for future health care expenses. Services that are not covered by the SDA, things like inpatient surgery or emergency room visits, are paid for like a traditional PPO, with yearly deductible and a charge for coinsurance.

 

If you are interested in getting a Medicare Supplemental Plan from PacifiCare, please contact the Medicare experts at eAmeriFamily Insurance.  They are industry veterans and will guide you through the process of getting the right Medicare, Medicare Advantage, MediGap, or Medicare Supplement Plan for you.