Allwell Health Insurance Review

AllWell Ratings at a Glance

Health insurance has changed dramatically over the past few decades, and it's more important than ever to find the right health insurance provider to ensure all of your health needs are covered. To help you find the right insurance provider, Benzinga did an Allwell Health Insurance review.

While Allwell does not offer EPO and POS plans, it does offer HMO and PPO coverage, as well as SNPs. The company specializes in SNPs for those with chronic illnesses or special financial needs.

Customer service is where Allwell shines. Because each policy is state-specific, the company has set up customer service hotlines for all 16 states in which its policies are offered. This practice is unusual in the insurance industry and burdensome for the company but invaluable to the customer. Each hotline has its own state-specific, toll-free number and website. 

As far as customer satisfaction goes, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) tracks complaints against insurance companies and Allwell ranks right up there among the best. Between the years 2018 and 2020, many of Allwell’s singular, state-specific customer service operations either had just 1 or 0 complaints at all.

*Ratings are Cetene, Allwell’s parent company.

Allwell Health Insurance offers an online application process that is fast and easy, as well as specific to your state of residence. The application process asks questions about your needs step by step. Questions include:

1. What is your zip code?
2. What county do you live in?
3. Do you want a specific pharmacy covered?
4. Do you take any prescription drugs?
5. Do you have a doctor you want to be covered?

When the questions are done, you get a pricing list.

*The Allwell application process also includes the expeditious Blue Button from Medicare. Because Allwell offers Medicare Advantage Plans, customers must first be enrolled in Medicare. Allwell expedites the application process by offering the Blue Button from Medicare, connecting to the MyMediare.gov website and allowing applicants to automatically import their doctors, prescriptions and pharmacies from the previous year. 

After running a test application, the resulting health insurance cost was low — almost all $0 across the board. All plans included:

• Dental
• Hearing
• Vision
• Prescription drug coverage
• Emergency care

Copays ran about the same as any other Medicare Advantage Plan. Average copays included:

As far as deductibles were concerned, no plan in the test run had any deductible at all. Generic medications were all free with preferred-brand drugs ranging anywhere from $25-$105. Non-preferred drugs ran anywhere from $70-$140 with specialty tier drugs all running at 33%. Select care drugs were free.

Most plans offer outpatient substance abuse for just $25, podiatry services for $25 and outpatient mental services at $25 as well. Inpatient hospital care starts at $275 with inpatient mental health care services at $325. Fitness and home health care were free.

As far as pricing goes, it’s hard to beat no deductible and $0 monthly premiums. Allwell gets a strong five rating when it comes to pricing.

Allwell vs. Competitors

Compared to standard Medicare Advantage Plans, Allwell stands alone. Allwell Health Insurance specializes in both D-SNP and C-SNP for people with special conditions. It caters to customers who have chronic illnesses like heart disease or diabetes or qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid.  

Allwell runs the tables when it comes to:

• Special Needs Plans
• Customer service
• Application experience
• Monthly premiums
• Out-of-pocket expense

The company hits a wall, however, when it comes to financial ratings like AM Best and J.D. Power.

What is a Dual Eligible Special Needs Plan (D-SNP)?

A Dual Eligible Special Needs Plan (D-SNP), is a type of Medicare Advantage Plan (Part C) that is specially tailored to meet the needs of people who qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid. Qualifying for Medicare means you’re 65 or older or on Social Security Disability while qualifying for Medicaid means you also are considered low-income. Because qualifying for both means you have special financial needs, most out-of-pocket expenses are met automatically. About 12 million Americans qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid. People who qualify for D-SNP are considered those with the highest needs. D-SNP plans include:

• Low or no monthly premiums
• Prescription drug coverage
• Transportation costs to medical procedures and appointments
• Coordinated care services
• Vision and hearing benefits

Most Medicare Advantage plans require you to pay your out-of-pocket expenses, including the deductible. Qualifying for Medicaid means that the state picks up those costs for you.

What is a Chronic Condition Special Needs Plan (C-SNP)?

A Chronic Condition Special Needs Plan, or C-SNP, is a type of Medicare Advantage Plan for people with chronic conditions. These conditions include:

• Heart disease
• Lung conditions
• Diabetes
• End-stage renal disease (ESRD)
• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
• HIV/AIDS
• Cancer
• Chronic heart failure
• Hemophilia
• Mental health issues

C-SNPs are a type of Medicare Advantage Plan geared specifically for patients with these types of long-term illnesses. Because they are looking at a lifetime of medical care, typical out-of-pocket expenses are often waived. Benefits include drug prescription plans like Medicare Part D, as well as health and wellness programs, substance abuse counseling and diabetes management services. Dental, vision and hearing coverage is sometimes included.

Many C-SNP plans come with low to no monthly premiums. Plans include both HMOs and PPOs, and have fewer coverage limitations than the typical Medicare Advantage Plan. To be eligible for a C-SNP plan, you must:

• Be eligible for Medicare
• Live in the plan’s service area
• Been diagnosed with a chronic condition

A chronic condition is defined as one that lasts one year or more and requires ongoing medical attention.

Frequently Asked Questions