Universal Care’s New Owner Relaunches

Universal Care, the former Signal Hill-based Medi-Cal managed care plan, was formally relaunched last week as Seaside Health Plan.

Seaside is the name of the plan adopted by Fountain Valley-based hospital operator MemorialCare Health System. It purchased Universal's assets last November.

The plan is operating as a not-for-profit insurer and will focus primarily on Medicare, Medi-Cal and dual-eligible enrollees. It is also acting as a plan subcontractor for Health Net, L.A. Care Health Plan, Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Shield of California and Care 1st Health Plan. 

The Long Beach-based insurer began with an enrollment of 14,000, the number of lives who had coverage with Universal prior to the operational change, according to MemorialCare spokesperson Rhoda Weiss. Seaside is named after MemorialCare's original hospital, which opened in 1907 in Long Beach.

In addition to enrolling lives on its own, Seaside will be part of a California Children Services' demonstration project to provide coverage and case management to children suffering from cerebral palsy, cancer, heart disease and other serious medical conditions.

The plan, which operates primarily in central and southern Los Angeles County, expects to begin marketing in Orange County in the near future and eventually offer coverage through the Covered California health benefits exchange. It has a provider network of more than 300 primary care physicians and specialists.

Universal Care had some financial issues over the years, having been penalized by the Department of Managed Health Care in 2002 and 2004 for failing to meet requirements for tangible net equity. 

In 2011, the DMHC levied a $100,000 fine against Universal for failing to pay provider claims in a timely manner and not responding to related complaints.

Jay Davis, Universal's longtime executive vice president, remains in charge of Seaside as its senior vice president.