UnitedHealthcare Introduces 2015 Medicare Plans

UnitedHealth Group News Release:

UnitedHealthcare Introduces 2015 Medicare Plans

• Supporting Medicare beneficiaries’ health and well-being through collaboration with physicians, access to primary care and wellness support

MINNETONKA, Minn. (October 01, 2014) — 

UnitedHealthcare, the market leader in Medicare, today introduced its 2015 Medicare health and prescription drug plans, designed to be affordable, maintain the benefits that matter most to consumers, and maximize savings for members.

All of its Medicare Advantage plans will continue to offer people good value for their health care dollar, providing access to benefits, services and features that they won’t find with Original Medicare.

Among these features is an out-of-pocket maximum that can give beneficiaries the peace of mind of knowing that their yearly health care costs are capped. Most plans will continue to include prescription drug coverage, giving members access to medications without having to pay a separate premium for a stand-alone Part D plan.

In 2015, the company has increased the number of medications on tier 1 of the formulary for its Medicare Advantage-Part D plans, meaning many of the medications most commonly used by Medicare beneficiaries will be available for a lower copay. The generic versions of Lipitor, Synthroid, Actos, Coumadin, Fosamax, Singulair and 72 other drugs will move to tier 1. More than half of UnitedHealthcare’s Medicare Advantage-Part D members use at least one medication that is moving into a lower tier of the formulary and will be available for a lower copay in 2015.*

UnitedHealthcare has also lowered the prices available through its Pharmacy Saver program in 2015, allowing Medicare Advantage members to save even more money on their medications. Simply by showing their member ID card at pharmacies participating in the program, members can access select generic medications for as low as $1.50 per 30-day prescription.

The company will offer a choice of Medicare Advantage plans designed to meet a variety of beneficiary needs and preferences, including plans with monthly premiums that offer additional features or lower cost-sharing. The majority of UnitedHealthcare’s Medicare Advantage members – nearly 60 percent – will see no change to their monthly premium in 2015.* More than 22 million Medicare beneficiaries in the company’s 2015 coverage area, including three-quarters of its current Medicare Advantage members, will have access to a standard UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plan with a $0 premium beyond the Medicare Part B premium.*

Working with Physicians to Improve Members’ Health and Lower Their Costs

UnitedHealthcare is committed to collaborating closely with doctors to enhance care coordination and encourage better health outcomes for members. As an example of this commitment, UnitedHealthcare will introduce more Medicare Advantage plans with networks that consist largely of care providers affiliated with one hospital or health system, including Healthcare Solutions Network in the Cincinnati area and Northern Kentucky, and Illinois Health Partners in DuPage County, comprised of physicians affiliated with DuPage Medical Group and Edward-Elmhurst Healthcare.

UnitedHealthcare’s focus on collaboration extends more broadly to its full Medicare Advantage care provider network. More than 1.8 million of the company’s Medicare Advantage members are treated by physicians who actively participate in UnitedHealthcare’s programs designed to encourage higher-quality health care.* The company is committed to growing that number in the years ahead through further engagement with the physician community.

Connecting Members with Care to Help Them Live Healthier Lives

In 2015, UnitedHealthcare will continue to offer its Medicare Advantage members opportunities to access important health care services that otherwise wouldn’t be available to them through Original Medicare.

All of the company’s standard Medicare Advantage plans will cover routine vision and hearing care as well as an annual physical, above and beyond the annual wellness visit available through Original Medicare, to encourage members to build relationships with their primary care physician and get recommended screenings and preventive care services.

To supplement the care from their primary care physician, more than 2.1 million members can receive a physical exam and comprehensive review of their health status in the comfort of their home through UnitedHealthcare’s HouseCalls program.* Members also have access to health care professionals 24 hours a day, seven days a week, through the NurseLine for support with urgent health issues or concerns that can’t wait for the next available doctor’s appointment.

Because hearing health is fundamental to staying independent and engaged in the community, most UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans will continue to provide coverage of hearing aids at a substantially discounted price in 2015.

Serving the Health and Well-Being Needs of Nearly One in Five Beneficiaries¹

UnitedHealthcare’s Medicare plans, many of which carry the AARP brand, have been designed to help meet the diverse needs of the more than 54 million current beneficiaries as well as baby boomers who are aging into Medicare at the rate of 10,000 per day. The company serves nearly one in five Medicare beneficiaries and has the largest membership in the nation in all three types of Medicare plans: Medicare Advantage plans, Part D prescription drug plans and Medicare supplement plans.²

“More beneficiaries choose UnitedHealthcare than any other company because we help people access the care they need and support them in their efforts to stay healthy, all while helping them save money on their health care,” said Steve Nelson, CEO of UnitedHealthcare Medicare & Retirement.* “We are passionate about and committed to helping our members live happier, healthier lives.”

Medicare beneficiaries can make changes to their health coverage during the Open Enrollment Period, which begins Oct. 15.

More information about UnitedHealthcare’s 2015 Medicare offerings is available at www.UHCMedicarePlans.com.

Beneficiaries in the following communities can also visit a nearby UnitedHealthcare MedicareStore or MedicareStore-branded mall kiosk for personalized, one-on-one support with their enrollment decisions from licensed UnitedHealthcare agents: Redondo Beach, California; Henderson, Nevada; Tucson, Arizona; West Jordan, Utah; Colorado Springs; Dallas; Fort Worth, Texas; St. Louis; Brookfield, Wisconsin; Toms River, New Jersey; Clay, New York; North Charleston, South Carolina; Huntsville, Alabama; Fort Myers, Florida; and The Villages, Florida.

The MedicareStores are part of UnitedHealthcare’s growing nationwide retail footprint, with more than 20 storefronts now located in 14 states.

About UnitedHealthcare
UnitedHealthcare is dedicated to helping people nationwide live healthier lives by simplifying the health care experience, meeting consumer health and wellness needs, and sustaining trusted relationships with care providers. The company offers the full spectrum of health benefit programs for individuals, employers andMedicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, and contracts directly with more than 800,000 physicians and care professionals, and 6,000 hospitals and other care facilities nationwide. Globally, UnitedHealthcare serves more than 45 million people in health benefits and is one of the businesses of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH), a diversified Fortune 50 health and well-being company.*

Plans are insured through UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company or one of its affiliated companies, a Medicare Advantage organization with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in the plan depends on the plan’s contract renewal with Medicare.

The benefit information provided is a brief summary, not a complete description of benefits. For more information, contact the plan. Limitations, copayments, and restrictions may apply.

Benefits, formulary, pharmacy network, provider network, premium and/or co-payments/co-insurance may change on January 1 of each year.

You must continue to pay your Medicare Part B premium.                 

Other Providers are available in our network.

¹ CMS Enrollment Data, 2014
² CMS Enrollment Data, 2014
* All other statistics in this release can be attributed to UnitedHealthcare Internal Enrollment Data, 2014.

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  Tags: UnitedHealthcare, Press Release, Announcements