UniCare, a major provider of healthcare in Lowell and surrounding communities, will begin rebranding as Wellpoint starting today to reflect the company’s mission of supporting its members’ whole health, which encompasses physical, mental, emotional, and social health. Wellpoint administers health benefits for more than 200,000 Massachusetts state and municipal employees, retirees, and their families.
There will be no changes to members’ healthcare benefits or coverage. Members will continue to have robust access to their primary care providers, specialists, hospitals, and other healthcare facilities. Business operations will remain unchanged, and members will continue to enjoy the same level of exceptional service they and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts have received for years.
“To improve overall health, we must broaden our traditional view of what healthcare means. It’s important to understand the physical, mental, emotional, and social drivers of health that impact our members and forge alliances with local organizations to enhance our members’ overall health wherever they are on their health journey. Our new name – Wellpoint – makes it clear that our members’ whole health is our whole point,” said David Morales, general manager of Wellpoint. “Improving whole health also includes improving healthcare affordability. Since many state and municipal employees and retirees live on modest or fixed incomes, Wellpoint will continue to champion access to affordable healthcare.”
Since 1988, Wellpoint has focused exclusively on providing health benefits to state and municipal employees, retirees, and their families insured through the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Group Insurance Commission (GIC). As the only indemnity plan offered through the GIC, Wellpoint members have access to care from physicians and hospitals without the need for referrals. Wellpoint consistently achieves high member satisfaction scores in the mid-90s in the GIC’s annual member satisfaction survey.
Headquartered in Woburn, most of Wellpoint’s associates live and work in Massachusetts, giving back to their local communities and designing supports that fit the unique needs of the public workers and retirees they serve in all corners of the Commonwealth and throughout New England. Last year, Wellpoint introduced a virtual chronic care management program called Ibis Health that offers daily connected care, round-the-clock monitoring, and one-to-one monthly support for Medicare Extension plan members living with chronic conditions such as heart disease or COPD. Wellpoint has also recently added a variety of new behavioral healthcare providers to its extensive, nationwide network.
“Our goal at Wellpoint is to improve health outcomes by empowering our members to take control of their health and navigate the healthcare system in a way that works best for them,” said Morales. “We look forward to supporting our members’ health journey through all of their life points under our new name for many years to come.”
For more information and updates, please visit unicare.wellpoint.com.
About Wellpoint
Wellpoint is a health benefits company with deep, long-standing roots in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, serving Group Insurance Commission (GIC) members, retirees, and their families for more than 30 years. Wellpoint provides health benefits exclusively to people insured through the GIC, offering a variety of plan options that provide comprehensive medical benefits. All of our plans also include coverage for prescription drugs and behavioral health services. Administrative services for the plan are provided by Wellpoint Life & Health Insurance Company. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is solely responsible for determination of eligibility and payment of any amounts due under the plan. For more information, go to unicare.wellpoint.com.
