TMCnet News
UnitedHealthcare's 2022 Medicare Plans Shaped by Consumer Expectations for Value, Choice and ExperienceUnitedHealthcare® today introduced its 2022 Medicare Advantage and prescription drug plans, offering expanded access to plans with differentiated value, simple and affordable benefit design and an unparalleled member experience - all defined by what consumers say matters to them most. "Medicare Advantage plans continue to evolve in new and exciting ways. But what we consistently hear from our members and Medicare consumers overall, is that they crave stability of benefits and a hassle-free experience that gets them the care and coverage they need at a price they can afford," said Tim Noel, CEO of UnitedHealthcare Medicare & Retirement. "We challenge ourselves every year to strike that balance of meaningful innovation in our offerings with plan predictability, broad value and the distinctive experience our members have come to expect from UnitedHealthcare. And I believe we hit the mark on that again this year." Currently, more than 7.3 million peopleii are enrolled in UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans. In 2022, the company will expand its service area to reach 94% of Medicare consumers nationwide and maintain the industry's largest Medicare Advantage footprint - including 3.1 million more people in 276 additional counties with access to a standard plan. With deliberate emphasis on lowering prescription drug costs, improving core and ancillary benefits, and driving an exceptional member experience, highlights of UnitedHealthcare's 2022 Medicare Advantage plans include: Investments in Rx Coverage "Access to affordable prescription drugs continues to rank high on the list of central expectations of our members," said Noel. "From everyday medications to lifesaving drugs like insulin, our 2022 plans are designed to cover what people tell us they need." Most standard plans include prescription drug coverage and access to more than 67,000 network pharmacies, with offerings that deliver cost savings, price predictability and transparency, including:
Meaningful Value and Stable Plan Design "Consumers want coverage that is simple to use and understand, while offering more for their Medicare dollar," said Noel. "So, we are bringing more plans to more people that offer low and $0 premiums; $0 copays; and enhanced benefits that drive value in ways that matter to people." Plan features that will help make predictable, affordable coverage a reality for more Medicare Advantage consumers in 2022 include:
"We feel best about the plans we put into the marketplace when we know they are rooted in differentiated offerings supported by an exceptional member experience," said Noel. "This year, we want our members to know that every expanded benefit, every enhanced program and every investment in a new offering is because we have been listening intently and shaping our plans to deliver on what we hear from consumers." Added benefits and features that drive distinction for UnitedHealthcare members in 2022 include:
More Plan Options to Meet Diverse Needs The only company to offer Medicare plans with the AARP name, UnitedHealthcare serves nearly 1 in 5 people in the Medicare program through its portfolio of plansiv. UnitedHealthcare is the nation's largest Medicare Supplement provider, serving approximately 4.4 million people through its Medicare Supplement plans. "Our Medicare Supplement plans are some of the highest-rated by consumers, and we take pride in our competitive and stable rates," said Noel. "In 2022, we will introduce new lower premium Medicare Supplement plans to meet the growing and varied needs of consumers." In 2022, people with eligible UnitedHealthcare Medicare Supplement plans across all 50 states and Washington, D.C., will have access to a variety of value-added programs and features offered at no additional cost. Most plans include a nationwide dental discount program; hearing and vision discount programs; 24/7 nurse line; Renew Active by UnitedHealthcare, which offers access to an extensive network of participating gyms and fitness locationsv 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 3.6 million people through its stand-alone and group Part D prescription drug plans. The AARP® MedicareRx Walgreens plan from UnitedHealthcare offers $0 tier 1 copays at more than 9,000 Walgreens and Duane Reade locations, and a 20% premium reduction in 2022. 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 (News - Alert). Plans are insured or covered by a Medicare Advantage organization with a Medicare contract and/or a Medicare-approved Part D sponsor. Enrollment in the plan 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. Benefits, features and/or devices vary by plan/area. Limitations and exclusions apply. $0 copay may be restricted to particular tiers, preferred medications, or home delivery prescriptions during the initial coverage phase and may not apply during the coverage gap or catastrophic stage. OptumRx is an affiliate of UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company. You are not required to use OptumRx home delivery for a 90-100-day supply of your maintenance medication. You will pay a maximum of $35 for a 1-month supply of Part D select insulin drugs during the deductible, Initial Coverage and Coverage Gap or "Donut Hole" stages of your benefit. You will pay 5% of the cost of your insulin in the Catastrophic Coverage stage. This cost-sharing only applies to members who do not qualify for a program that helps pay for your drugs ("Extra Help"). Virtual visits may require video-enabled smartphone or other device. Not for use in emergencies. Vision benefits vary by plan and are not available with all plans. Additional charges may apply for out-of-network items and services. Annual routine eye exam and $100-400 allowance for contacts or designer frames, with standard (single, bi-focal, tri-focal or standard progressive) lenses covered in full either annually or every two years. Other hearing exam providers are available in the UnitedHealthcare network. The plan only covers hearing aids from a UnitedHealthcare Hearing network provider. OTC and Healthy Food benefits have expiration timeframes. Call the plan or refer to your Evidence of Coverage (EOC) for more information. 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. AARP and its affiliates are not insurers. You do not need to be an AARP member to enroll in a Medicare Advantage or Prescription Drug Plan. AARP encourages you to consider your needs when selecting products and does not make specific product recommendations for individuals. UnitedHealthcare contracts directly with Walgreens in connection with the AARP® Medicare Rx Walgreens plan; AARP and its affiliates are not parties to that contractual relationship. Other Pharmacies are available in our network. 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, MS, 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. 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. Fitness membership equipment, classes, personalized fitness plans, caregiver access and events may vary by location. Certain services, discounts, classes, events, and online fitness offerings are provided by affiliates of UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company or other third parties not affiliated with UnitedHealthcare. Participation in these third-party services are subject to your acceptance of their respective terms and policies. AARP Staying Sharp is the registered trademark of AARP. The largest gym network of all Medicare fitness programs is based upon comparison of competitors' website data as of March, 2021. 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. HouseCalls may not be available in all areas. iRefers to UnitedHealthcare's standard Medicare Advantage plans (i.e., non-special needs plans). iiCMS enrollment data, August 2021. Enrollment across all plans. iiiNetwork size varies by plan and by market and exclusions may apply. ivCMS enrollment data, August 2021. vThese 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_210927_021749_M © 2021 United Healthcare Services, Inc. All rights reserved.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211001005113/en/ |