Karlynn:
UHC of Illinois has accepted Ultra Care as being in network. Not all UHC divisions have an in-network provider. That's what I've pieced together over the past 2 days.
However, I wonder if you can file an appeal to keep getting supplies from QAS. I received a very lengthy message yesterday from QAS on my recorder at home, saying that QAS was in network from 1999 until the end of 2003. UHC apparently decided to pare down its list of in-network med supply providers and eliminated QAS. So, in its wisdom, UHC of Illinois has decided that since a medical equipment supplies provider in the Chicago area now carries microcoagulation equipment & supplies, that all insured must purchase items from that company. Even though its contracted rate is 50% higher than QAS' non-contracted rate. I was told that QAS got $10/test cuvette last year; Ultra Care is getting about $18.
If you could argue that UHC of Illinois would be SAVING money by letting you go out of network, perhaps, just perhaps, you might prevail.
This would make a great news story on a newspaper's business section cover!!!! Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.
I thought insurance companies based almost all decisions on the bottom line. Guess they're sitting on their brains nowadays.