Aetna vs. HCSC Insurance

Which health insurance company is the best option for you and your family? Compare Aetna and HCSC side by side.

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Aetna vs. HCSC: What You Need to Know

In 1850, Aetna Insurance Company created a fund to sell life insurance. In 1953 the life and health divisions of Aetna separated. The company’s first president was Eliphalet A. Bulkeley. The name “Aetna” was taken from an 11,000-foot volcano in Sicily, Italy, which was also the most active volcano in Europe.

Health Care Service Corporation began with the first hospital care prepayment plan which was developed by Justin Ford Kimball, a vice president at the Baylor University School of Medicine in Texas. He as well as health care professionals and officials met during the Great Depression to solve the problem of affordable health care. In 1936, they launched the Chicago Plan for Hospital Care by pooling their resources, creating the first insurance policy effective January 21, 1937. The company grew quickly, enrolling 36,000 members in its first six months. It adopted the Blue Cross symbol in 1939 and the Blue Shield symbol in 1947.

To learn more about each company, you can check out the Aetna Overview and HCSC Overview.

What is Aetna and HCSC Insurance Rating?

Which health insurance company is better? We've made it easy to compare companies side by side. See how Aetna and HCSC ranked among the industry ratings.

Comparison Aetna HCSC
Year Founded 1853 1929
Medicare Star Rating   3 stars (out of 5)
BBB Rating A+ A+
NAIC Complaint Index 6.27 for individual health insurance 0.40% for individual health
Market Share Percentage 4.53%  
Financial Strength Excellent  

Pros & Cons of Aetna or HCSC

Pros

Aetna
  • Aetna is one of the largest insurance carriers and has a vast network of providers.
HCSC
  • Affordable marketplace plans with different tiers of coverage.

Cons

Aetna
  • It’s not very easy to buy Aetna Insurance unless it’s offered by an employer.
HCSC
  • HCSC only operates in 5 states: Illinois, Montana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas.

Aetna and HCSC Mobile Apps Options

The Aetna Health app allows you to find a doctor in your area and see estimates of what certain procedures may cost. You can also view your benefits, review account balances, and manage your claims. The App is available on ios and Android.

Each state has its own HCSC / Blue Cross Blue Shield app on iTunes and GooglePlay. The app allows users to find doctors, hospitals, and pharmacies, view claims, pay bill, and manage prescriptions.

Aetna Mobile App
iOS      4.5 29.3K users
Android      3.4 2,316 users
HCSC Mobile App
HCSC mobile app varies by state    

Aetna and HCSC Enrollment Process

Aetna

Aetna is available through participating employers. You can also buy an individual or family plan directly from Aetna, the health insurance marketplace or you can get several free quotes here.

At this time, Aetna offers Medicare, Medicaid, student health insurance and international insurance. For individual and family plans, they offer plans through eHealth, which compares rates from several companies for the Affordable Care Act plans, short-term plans, and medical indemnity plans.

HCSC

HCSC offers plans through the health insurance marketplace. You can begin searching plans here or you can get several free health insurance quotes here.

Each state has its own marketplace. If you’re not sure where to begin, visit https://www.healthcare.gov/. Remember that HCSC only operates in 5 states: Illinois, Montana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas.

How to File a Claim with Aetna and HCSC Insurance

Aetna

If you use a network doctor or hospital, your claims will be submitted by that provider. If you see an out-of-network provider, you need to submit the claim yourself. You must submit a completed claim form or alternative documentation via fax or mailing address. As an alternative to sending a claim form, supply a description of services, a bill of charges from the provider and any medical documents you received from your provider.

HCSC

To submit electronic claims, you or your billing agent need to use a third-party claims clearinghouse vendor, like Availity. For paper claims, you need to complete the right claim forms.

Common Questions About HCSC and Aetna Insurance

Aetna

Is Aetna insurance Medicaid?

Aetna offers Medicaid plans, which vary according to individual state Medicaid programs and have a different name in each state.

Does Aetna insurance cover chiropractic?

Aetna only covers chiropractic services if they are deemed necessary. For instance, if the member has a neuromusculoskeletal disorder and the need for treatment is clearly documented and improvement is documented within the first two weeks of service.

What if I lost my Aetna insurance card?

Notify Aetna member services right away if you lost your Aetna Insurance card. Medical identity theft is on the rise.

Can you cancel Aetna insurance anytime?

Call Aetna at the number listed on your ID card. If you want to leave your current plan and join another, you will be given your options. You’ll also have to fill out a form if you are disenrolling in Medicare Advantage plans or Prescription Drug Plans. There are only certain times that you can disenroll. If there are 10 days or fewer left until the end of the month, fax form to 1-888-665-6296.

HCSC

Is HCSC a good health insurance company?

HCSC is one of the oldest health insurance companies. They invented the prepaid hospital care plan. Today, they are one of the largest companies. They have a relatively low complaint ratio, which means that members are probably satisfied with claims processes and service.

Is HCSC and Blue Cross Blue Shield the same?

BCBS stands for Blue Cross Blue Shield, which is a federation of 36 separate health insurance companies. It was formed in 1982. Blue Cross (hospital services) and Blue Shield (physician services) operated separately until 1975 when they became one as Health Care Service (HCSC) Corporation. HCSC is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

What is the difference between HCSC and BCBS?

BCBS stands for Blue Cross Blue Shield, which is a federation of 36 separate health insurance companies. It was formed in 1982. Blue Cross (hospital services) and Blue Shield (physician services) operated separately until 1975 when they became one as Health Care Service (HCSC) Corporation. HCSC is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

What are some HCSC subsidiaries?

Dearborn Group, Dental Network of America, Inc (DNoA), Medecision, Inc., Availity, LLC, Prime Therapeutics, LLC and TriWest Healthcare Alliance.

Aetna and HCSC Insurance Contact Info

Aetna Contact Info
Address 151 Farmington Ave., Hartford, CT 06156
Phone 1 (800)-872-3862
Website https://www.aetna.com/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/aetna/
Youtube https://www.youtube.com/aetna
Twitter https://twitter.com/Aetna
Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/company/aetna/
HCSC Contact Info
Address 300 E. Randolph St. Chicago, IL 60601
Phone 1 (800) 654-7385
Website https://www.hcsc.com/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/healthcareservicecorporation/
Youtube https://www.youtube.com/user/HealthCareService
Twitter https://twitter.com/HCSC
Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/company/blue-cross-and-blue-shield-of-illinois-new-mexico-oklahoma-&-texas/life/4548c167-e254-4ffd-a356-7892967212c3/

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