News Releases Oct. 01, 2020
·
Plans designed to help people navigate health
from home, in-person, online and across every touch point in between
·
More plans, including HMOs, have access to the
UnitedHealthcare Medicare National Network
·
Most people will see stable or reduced
Medicare Advantage premiums[i] and
nearly 2.5 million members will have $0 premiums
·
Nearly all plans offer $0 copays for
telehealth visits, labs, routine vision and hearing exams, colonoscopies,
mammograms and cardiac rehab
·
Company offers broad access to plans that cap
insulin costs at $35 per month and eliminates out-of-pocket drug costs on most
Dual Special Needs Plans
MINNETONKA, Minn. (Oct.
1, 2020) – UnitedHealthcare® today introduced its 2021
Medicare Advantage and prescription drug plans, showcasing affordable coverage,
exclusive benefits, expanded plan access and a simplified member experience
that connects people to quality care – when and where they need it.
“It is more important
than ever during times like these to provide stability and peace of mind for
people when it comes to their care and coverage,” said Tim Noel, CEO of
UnitedHealthcare Medicare & Retirement. “We have listened intently to our
members, and to deliver on the stable, comprehensive coverage they expect and
deserve, we are committed to delivering Medicare plans with more: more $0 and
low-premium plans and $0 copays; more benefits and access to care – all adding
up to more value for the people we serve.”
Currently, more than 6.5
million people[ii] are
enrolled in UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans. In 2021, the company
will expand its service area to reach nearly 3.2 million additional people in
nearly 300 counties – the company’s largest footprint expansion in five years.i
Highlights of
UnitedHealthcare’s 2021 Medicare Advantage plans include:
More Access to Care from
Anywhere to Bring Peace of Mind
“The COVID-19 pandemic is
a watershed moment that is profoundly altering the health care landscape.
At-home health care went from being a convenient care option to, at times, the
only option for many people,” said Noel. “And while COVID-19 changed so much for
so many of us, it did not change UnitedHealthcare’s unwavering commitment to
helping people access the care they need, whether in a clinical setting or at
home.”
Offerings that help
enable more access to care include:
·
Telehealth Visits: All
plans will offer telehealth visits with a $0 copay.i
·
Medicare National Network: The
nation’s largest Medicare Advantage network[iii] will
be available across more plans, including many HMO plans. Whether at home or
traveling, members pay network costs when they see any of the more than 850,000
network care providers.
·
HouseCalls: Most
plans will include HouseCalls, a program that offers people a yearly visit with
a licensed clinician from the comfort of home, helping to coordinate needed
care – including with an individual’s primary care provider; conducting health
screenings and providing education on the management of chronic
conditions. The company expects to complete nearly 1.7 million HouseCalls
for its members in 2020.
·
Tailored support: To
provide a more personal and simpler member experience, UnitedHealthcare is
rolling out a market-aligned Advocate4Me service model that empowers advocates’
expertise within their designated regions. This includes increased knowledge of
the market, available plans, network and product offerings – helping to drive
more tailored support, reduce transfer rates and improve satisfaction.
·
Navigate4Me: For
people in UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans who have complex health
care needs, such as those facing an acute health event like a surgery or cancer
treatment, those managing a chronic illness like COPD or diabetes or those in
Dual Special Needs Plans, Navigate4Me offers one-on-one support. A single point
of contact helps to coordinate care, address claims issues, provide social
support and assist with other needs. For members impacted by COVID-19, this
service also offers a helping hand to navigate safe quarantine, obtain
medication and food when isolated and access clinical care if needed. One
million people will have a dedicated UnitedHealthcare navigator by the end of
2020.
Simple, Affordable
Products
“In listening to the
people we serve, we know the key is affordable, predictable coverage that is
easy to use and understand,” said Steve Warner, senior vice president of
Medicare Advantage, UnitedHealthcare Medicare & Retirement. “We
purposefully design our products to meet consumers’ expectations around
affordability and simplicity.”
Plans and product
features that will help deliver cost savings and a simpler consumer experience
in 2021 include:
·
Premiums: Nearly 2.5 million
members will see $0 Medicare Advantage premiums in 2021, and almost all will
see stable or reduced premiums.i
·
Medicare Advantage Patriot Plans: The UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage Patriot plans
are designed specifically with veterans in mind, as well as other individuals
with existing drug coverage. These plans will provide broad access to care and
benefits beyond Original Medicare like dental, vision and fitness, and nearly
all will have a $0 premium, and many will include a Part B premium rebate – up
to $100 per month.
·
$0 Copays: Almost all plans will have $0 copays on the following:
medical and behavioral telehealth visits; labs; routine vision and hearing
exams; colonoscopies and mammograms; and cardiac rehab. Additionally, nearly
everyone in UnitedHealthcare’s coverage area will have access to a plan with $0
primary care copays.
·
Prescription Drug Affordability: Most
plans include prescription drug coverage, and with the goals of cost savings,
price predictability and transparency, UnitedHealthcare is offering a variety
of ways for people to save.
o
Part D Senior Savings Model: The
company will offer broad access to Medicare Advantage and Part D plans that
limit monthly out-of-pocket costs to $35 for all covered insulin, helping
people better predict their monthly expenses and amounting to projected average
annual savings of nearly $450 for beneficiaries who take insulin.
o
$0 Drug Copays on Dual Special Needs Plans
(D-SNP): In 2021, UnitedHealthcare will be removing copays on covered
drugs on most D-SNP plans, giving people access to the prescription drugs they
need at no out-of-pocket cost.
o
Lower Costs and More Generics Covered: Even
more generic prescription drugs are covered with low to $0 copays, including
tier 1 and tier 2.
o
Bonus Drug Coverage: To
lower out-of-pocket costs and simplify the consumer experience, the majority of
UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans will offer bonus drug coverage for
common non-Medicare covered prescription drugs, including drugs for erectile
dysfunction and commonly used prescription vitamins like vitamin D, folic acid
and vitamin B12.
o
Home Delivery: Most
plans also offer $0 copays for tier 1 and tier 2 drugs ordered through the
OptumRx home delivery pharmacy.i
Distinctive Offerings
“The breadth of
UnitedHealth Group allows us to develop unique products with benefits that add
real value to people’s lives – and their pocketbooks,” said Warner. “Our
portfolio of plans offers something for everyone – from people seeking everyday
wellness support to those ready to ramp up their fitness routines to those
managing chronic conditions – and everyone in between.”
Extra benefits and
features that help improve physical and financial well-being include:
·
Renew ActiveTM Fitness Program: The
gold standard in Medicare fitness programs for body and mind will expand to 11
new states and D.C. in 2021[iv],
and will be available to people enrolled in most Medicare Advantage plans across
47 states and D.C. Renew Active provides access to an extensive, nationwide
network of gyms and fitness locations – one of the largest of all Medicare
fitness programs[v].
Renew Active also offers access to local wellness classes and events, and to
support staying healthy from the convenience of home, offers access to
thousands of workout videos and an online brain health program from AARP
Staying Sharp®.
·
Dental: The company offers the
nation’s largest Medicare Advantage dental networkiii, and a
progressive benefit design offers expanded coverage with affordable access to
comprehensive dental for most Medicare eligibles.
·
Vision and Hearing: All
plans cover an annual eye exam, and most cover standard lenses in full, with
access to a broad retail eyewear network and convenient home delivery options
through Glasses USA as well as exclusive partner, Warby Parker. The majority of
plans also offer a choice of discounted hearing aids.
·
Over-the-Counter (OTC) Products: Most
plans will include a quarterly credit for a broad selection of common OTC
products. People can order online, by phone or by mail for quick delivery to
their door.
·
Healthy Food Benefit: Most
D-SNP plans will offer a monthly credit, up to $660 annually, to buy fruits,
vegetables, meat, seafood, dairy and more.
·
Renew Rewards: The
majority of members may be eligible to earn up to $120 in rewards for
completing certain health care activities such as an annual physical or
wellness visit, preventive screenings, a flu shot or by staying active and
tracking their steps.
More
Plan Options to Meet Diverse Needs
The only company to offer
Medicare plans with the AARP name, UnitedHealthcare serves nearly one in five
people in the Medicare program through its portfolio of plans[vi].
This
includes approximately 4.5 million through its Medicare Supplement plans. In
2021, people with eligible UnitedHealthcare Medicare Supplement plans across 35
states will have access to a variety of value-added programs and features
offered at no additional cost, including a nationwide dental discount program
with no waiting periods or annual limits, a hearing aid discount program; 24/7
nurse line; Renew Active by UnitedHealthcare, which offers access to an
extensive network of participating gyms and fitness locations[vii] as
well as access to AARP Staying Sharp® online brain health program; and an AARP
Smart DriverTM course – an online or in-person driving
refresher course that may allow for reduced insurance premiums.
UnitedHealthcare also
serves approximately 4.1 million people through its stand-alone Part D
prescription drug plans, including the AARP® MedicareRx
Walgreens (PDP) plan, which offers $0 tier 1 copays at more than 9,200
Walgreens and Duane Reade locations.
People can make changes
to their Medicare coverage during Medicare Annual Enrollment, which runs from Oct.
15 to Dec. 7.
For more information on
UnitedHealthcare’s Medicare plans, visit UHCMedicareHealthPlans.com.
About
UnitedHealthcare
UnitedHealthcare is
dedicated to helping people live healthier lives and making the health system
work better for everyone by simplifying the health care experience, meeting
consumer health and wellness needs, and sustaining trusted relationships with
care providers. In the United States, UnitedHealthcare offers the full spectrum
of health benefit programs for individuals, employers, and Medicare and
Medicaid beneficiaries, and contracts directly with more than 1.3 million
physicians and care professionals, and 6,500 hospitals and other care
facilities nationwide. The company also provides health benefits and delivers
care to people through owned and operated health care facilities in South
America. UnitedHealthcare is one of the businesses of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:
UNH), a diversified health care company. For more information, visit
UnitedHealthcare at www.uhc.com or follow @UHC on
Twitter.
Contact:
Jessica Kostner
UnitedHealthcare
jessica_kostner@uhc.com
952-931-4951
Plans are insured through
UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company or one of its affiliated companies. For
Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Plans: A Medicare Advantage
organization with a Medicare contract and a Medicare-approved Part D sponsor.
Enrollment in these plans depends on the plan’s contract renewal with Medicare.
For Dual Special Needs
Plans: A Medicare Advantage organization with a Medicare contract and a
contract with the State Medicaid Program.
$0 co-pay is applicable
only during the initial coverage stage and may not apply during the coverage
gap; it does not apply during the catastrophic stage.
UnitedHealthcare
Insurance Company pays royalty fees to AARP for the use of its intellectual
property. These fees are used for the general purposes of AARP. You do not need
to be an AARP member to enroll in a Medicare Advantage or Prescription Drug
Plan. AARP and its affiliates are not insurers. AARP encourages you to consider
your needs when selecting products and does not make specific product
recommendations for individuals. United contracts directly with Walgreens for
this plan; AARP and its affiliates are not parties to that contractual
relationship.
UnitedHealthcare
Insurance Company contracts directly with Walgreens for this plan; AARP and its
affiliates are not parties to that contractual relationship.
Other Pharmacies are
available in our network, but you may not receive preferred retail pharmacy
pricing. Copays apply after deductible.
AARP MedicareRx Preferred
(PDP) and AARP MedicareRx Saver Plus (PDP)’s pharmacy network includes limited
lower-cost pharmacies in rural AK, MT, NE, ND, SD and WY. There are an
extremely limited number of preferred cost share pharmacies in suburban MT.
AARP MedicareRx Walgreens (PDP)’s pharmacy network offers limited access to
pharmacies with preferred cost sharing in urban ND; suburban HI, ND, PA and
rural AK, AR, HI, IA, ID, KS, MN, MT, NE, OK, OR, PA, SD, and WY. There are an
extremely limited number of preferred cost share pharmacies in suburban MT and
rural ND. The lower costs advertised in our plan materials for these pharmacies
may not be available at the pharmacy you use. For up-to-date information about
our network pharmacies, including whether there are any lower-cost preferred
pharmacies in your area, please call us or consult the online pharmacy
directory using the contact information that appears on the booklet cover.
For 2021, this plan
participates in the Part D Senior Savings Model which offers lower, stable, and
predictable out-of-pocket costs for covered insulin through the different Part
D benefit coverage stages. You will pay a maximum of $35 for a 1-month supply
of covered insulin during the deductible, initial coverage and coverage gap or
“donut hole” stages of your benefit. You will pay 5% of the cost of your
covered insulin in the catastrophic stage. Your cost may be less if you receive
Extra Help from Medicare.
Participation in the
Renew Active™ program is voluntary. Consult your doctor prior to beginning an
exercise program or making changes to your lifestyle or health care routine.
Renew Active includes standard fitness membership. Equipment, classes,
personalized fitness plans, caregiver access and events may vary by location.
Certain services, classes and events are provided by Affiliates of
UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company or other third parties not affiliated with
UnitedHealthcare. Participation in AARP® Staying Sharp® and the Fitbit®
Community for Renew Active is subject to your acceptance of their respective
terms and policies. AARP Staying Sharp is the registered trademark of AARP.
AARP Smart Driver is the trademark of AARP. UnitedHealthcare is not responsible
for the services or information provided by third parties. The information
provided through these services is for informational purposes only and is not a
substitute for the advice of a doctor. The Renew Active program varies by
plan/area. Access to gym and fitness location network may vary by location and
plan. Renew Active premium gym and fitness location network only available with
certain plans.
Renew Active by
UnitedHealthcare is not available in all plans.
HouseCalls may not be
available in all areas.
[i]Refers
to UnitedHealthcare’s standard Medicare Advantage plans (i.e., non-special
needs plans).
[ii]CMS
enrollment data, August 2020. Enrollment across all plans.
[iii]Network
size varies by market
[iv]New
Renew Active states for 2021 – Arkansas, Delaware, Georgia, Louisiana,
Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, South Carolina
and West Virginia.
[v]Based
on gym and fitness location network size.
[vi]CMS
enrollment data, August 2020.
[vii]These
are additional insured member services apart from the Medicare Supplement Plan
benefits, are not insurance programs, are subject to geographical availability
and may be discontinued at any time. Availability of fitness program may vary
by area. Fitness program network only includes participating facilities and
locations. None of these services should be used for emergency or urgent care
needs. In an emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. Note that
certain services are provided by Affiliates of UnitedHealthcare Insurance
Company or other third parties not affiliated with UnitedHealthcare.
Y0066_200924_042451_M
Great Article! Thanks for sharing.
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