UnitedHealthcare & Medicare Advantage Plans

In 2023, UnitedHealthcare expanded its coverage to serve approximately 95% of people eligible for Medicare nationwide. It added an additional 314 counties nationally, providing nearly 2.3 million more people access to the Medicare Advantage plan.

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  • Written by
    Michael Jones

    Michael Jones

    Medicare Expert and Owner of Grand Anchor Insurance Solutions

    Michael Jones is a licensed insurance agent who manages his own agency called Grand Anchor Insurance Solutions. In addition to being a Medicare expert, Michael specializes in other insurance products such as voluntary benefits for employees of businesses.

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  • Edited By
    Michael Santiago, CRPC™
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    Michael Santiago, CRPC™

    Senior Financial Editor

    Michael Santiago, a senior financial editor, joined RetireGuide in 2023. With over 10 years of professional writing and editing experience, he brings a wealth of expertise in creating content for diverse industries, including travel and healthcare. Having traveled to more than 40 countries across five continents and lived in Europe and Asia for several years, Michael's global perspective enriches his work. He combines his strong writing skills, editorial judgment and passion for crafting accurate and engrossing content to enhance the user experience on RetireGuide.

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  • Financially Reviewed By
    Eric Estevez
    Eric Estevez, Independent Licensed Life Insurance Agent

    Eric Estevez

    Owner of HLC Insurance Broker, LLC

    Eric Estevez is a duly licensed independent insurance broker and a former financial institution auditor with more than a decade of professional experience. He has specialized in federal, state and local compliance for both large and small businesses.

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  • Published: October 18, 2021
  • Updated: October 18, 2023
  • 7 min read time
  • This page features 9 Cited Research Articles
Fact Checked
Fact Checked

A licensed insurance professional reviewed this page for accuracy and compliance with the CMS Medicare Communications and Marketing Guidelines (MCMGs) and Medicare Advantage (MA/MAPD) and/or Medicare Prescription Drug Plans (PDP) carriers’ guidelines.

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How to Cite RetireGuide.com's Article

APA Jones, M. (2023, October 18). UnitedHealthcare & Medicare Advantage Plans. RetireGuide.com. Retrieved October 3, 2024, from https://www.retireguide.com/medicare/medicare-advantage-plans/companies/united-healthcare/

MLA Jones, Michael. "UnitedHealthcare & Medicare Advantage Plans." RetireGuide.com, 18 Oct 2023, https://www.retireguide.com/medicare/medicare-advantage-plans/companies/united-healthcare/.

Chicago Jones, Michael. "UnitedHealthcare & Medicare Advantage Plans." RetireGuide.com. Last modified October 18, 2023. https://www.retireguide.com/medicare/medicare-advantage-plans/companies/united-healthcare/.

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Key Takeaways
  • UnitedHealthcare has multiple Medicare plans for seniors, including HMO plans, PFFS plans, PPO plans and special needs plans.
  • Exact plans, networks and costs depend on where you reside and which plan you select.
  • Starting in 2023, plans include new benefits for home utilities and internet use and benefits for home support services like pest control and light cleaning.

UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage Plans Coverage

Medicare Advantage plans cover everything that is included in Original Medicare as well as additional benefits and expanded coverage. There are several different types of these plans on the market, which are available through government-approved private insurance companies.

UnitedHealthcare (UHC) plans and benefits vary by location. But regardless of what Medicare Advantage plan you end up selecting, you are guaranteed national emergency care coverage. More than 8.2 million people were enrolled in UHC’s various Medicare Advantage plans in 2022.

The insurance provider upgraded several areas of coverage for 2023:

  • It added a home utilities credit that averages more than $2,200 a year for people on dual special needs plans. This gives financial coverage to pay for home heat, electricity, water, sewer and home internet services.
  • It also added a quarterly credit of $150 to $225 for home support services for dual special needs plans (for pest control, companion care, light cleaning, home medications, yard maintenance, etc.)
  • It is giving an annual $150 to $750 benefit to help pay for Medicare-approved items and services related to hearing and vision (prescription glasses, hearing aides, etc.)

UHC also bolstered existing benefits by decreasing many copays, including $0 copays for virtual doctor visits. The company says 97% of its members are enrolled in a standard plan or critical special needs plan with a $0 copay.

UHC has multiple Medicare Advantage plans and Medicare Supplement Insurance plans available. The exact number of plans and the details of each one depend on where you live. Check UnitedHealthcare’s Medicare plans webpage for specific details.

DID YOU KNOW?
With over 49.5 million members nationwide, United Health Group is the largest health insurance carrier in the US.

HMO Plans

Health maintenance organization (HMO) plans are a common type of Medicare Advantage offered by companies like UHC. Even for seniors, HMO plans are popular because of their low up-front costs. Premiums are low (sometimes $0), and doctor copays are also low, ranging from $0 to $45 or more, depending on where you live.

But out-of-pocket costs for out-of-network doctors are your responsibility. If you need care and your HMO doesn’t have an in-network physician for you, you’ll have to pay the bills for an out-of-network doctor.

In these plans, you usually must pick a primary care physician that is within the plan’s network. Except for medical emergencies when any doctor can take care of you, you must stay within the UnitedHealthcare HMO network for your care needs. That includes specialists: cardiologists, podiatrists, audiologists, etc. For some specialists, you also may need a direct referral from your primary care physician.

Some seniors might not have an HMO option with UHC. For some group plans, such as a popular AARP plan, the insurer removed HMOs from its plan options. Instead, it offers various HMO-POS plans.

HMO-POS Plans

Point of service (POS) plans are ones that give subscribers a list of in-network doctors and providers, usually one that is much longer than the list of doctors in HMO networks. An HMO-POS plan is a combination of the two systems. The hybrid aspect is the out-of-network coverage.

In an HMO-POS plan, you still have a primary care physician but can get some care outside of your network at a higher cost. You typically still need a referral from your primary care physician to see a specialist as well.

PPO Plans

Preferred provider organization (PPO) plans deliver the most flexibility of all UHC plans. Subscribers have the most choices of in-network doctors and specialists — but they pay more per month for the ability to have it. The same is true for out-of-network doctor coverage.

Under PPO plans, the insurer pays more for more treatment by specialists. Under some plans provided by UHC, you may not need a primary care physician or referrals to see specialists.

PFFS Plans

Private fee-for-service (PFFS) plans allow you to use any doctor who participates in Medicare, instead of having to rely on a primary care physician or stay within a certain plan network.

Your specific UHC plan will determine how much you pay for treatment and services when you receive them.

SNPs

UHC also offers access to special needs plans (SNPs). You must meet certain requirements to qualify, such as being eligible for both Original Medicare and full Medicaid benefits.

Citing the increased needs of seniors in a changing healthcare landscape, UHC bolstered its SNP benefits for 2023 with little to no financial cost to subscribers.

Households on a dual special needs plan (D-SNP) gain combined benefits hikes from UHC in 2023. They get an average yearly allowance between $2,200 and $3,600 to spend on over-the-counter healthy food products (at the store or online) and eligible utility costs.

Average Cost of UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage Plans

UHC offers many $0 premium plans, which is a major factor for anyone living on a fixed income. However, no plans are free. All Part B (medical) plans have some costs along the way, from having to meet an annual deductible to having to pay for out-of-network doctors and specialists.

Premiums can range from $0 a month to more than $1,000 a month, depending on your location, your plan and your annual income. Copays for primary care physicians vary based on location – from $0 in Columbus, Ohio, to $45 or more in San Francisco, California. Copays for specialists carry a similar range.

You’re also responsible for any costs associated with your Part D (prescription drug) coverage. UHC has expanded access to more tier 1 drugs with no copays, and more medications are hitting that $0 copay level as well.

You can talk to a knowledgeable Medicare advisor to help you compare Medicare Advantage plans.

Have you selected your 2024 Medicare plan?
Maximize your Medicare savings by connecting with a licensed insurance agent. Annual Enrollment is open until December 7th.

Pros and Cons of Medicare Coverage from UnitedHealthcare

One of the pros of opting for UHC is the company’s size. According to a study from 2022, it has more Medicare Advantage enrollees than any other company. In part, this is because of UHC’s diversity of options and availability across the country.

But there are some cons as well. While it is the larger company, UHC has ranked behind Humana and several other companies in terms of customer satisfaction.

And according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune, UHC was sanctioned in 2021 by the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for not spending enough of its premium revenue on medical benefits. As a result, three UHC Part D programs were prevented from adding new customers in 2022.

Average Rating of UnitedHealthcare

In the J.D. Power 2022 U.S. Medicare Advantage Study, UnitedHealthcare scored 808 out of a 1,000-point scale on their overall customer satisfaction index ranking, which was one point below the industry average of 809. For comparison, the Kaiser Foundation Health Plan scored 844, and Humana received 824.

Frequently Asked Questions About UnitedHealthcare Medicare Plans

What is new with UnitedHealthcare’s Medicare plans?
In 2023, UnitedHealthcare (UHC) added benefits to its basic Medicare Advantage plans, particularly to its special needs plans (SNPs). It is giving credits for utilities and internet coverage in addition to more benefits for home support services like pest control and yard maintenance.
How much does a UnitedHealthcare Medicare plan cost?
The cost of UnitedHealthcare’s Medicare plans depends on where you live and the doctor networks that are within UHC’s network. Prices may also vary. Medicare coverage costs a minimum of $164.90 a month for Part B, and the amount is more if you have more income. You also have a $226 annual deductible to meet before your plan coverage kicks in.
Does UnitedHealthcare offer $0 copay plans?
Yes, UnitedHealthcare’s standard plan and its critical care plan both have $0 copays for doctors’ visits. An overwhelming majority of UHC’s Medicare customers are on one of these plans. In addition, virtual doctor visits have $0 copays.

Editor Malori Malone contributed to this article.

Last Modified: October 18, 2023

9 Cited Research Articles

  1. UnitedHealthcare. (2023). Annual Notice of Changes 2023. Retrieved from https://www.uhc.com/medicare/alphadog/AATX23PO0054915_001
  2. UnitedHealthcare. (2023). Medicare Advantage Plans Available for 2023. Retrieved from https://www.uhc.com/medicare/health-plans/plan-summary/68506/109/2023
  3. UnitedHealthcare. (2022, October 1). UnitedHealthcare’s 2023 Medicare Plans Add New Benefits, Simplicity for Consumers. Retrieved from https://www.unitedhealthgroup.com/newsroom/2022/2022-10-01-uhc-2023-medicare-new-benefits.html
  4. J.D. Power. (2022, August 18). Customers Perceive Shortfall in Medicare Advantage Plan Coverage of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, J.D. Power Finds. Retrieved from https://www.jdpower.com/sites/default/files/file/2022-08/2022100
  5. Freed, M. & et al. (2022, August 25). Medicare Advantage in 2022: Enrollment Update and Key Trends. Retrieved from https://www.kff.org/medicare/issue-brief/medicare-advantage-in-2022-enrollment-update-and-key-trends/
  6. Snowbeck, C. (2021, September 15). Feds Penalize UnitedHealthcare Plans for Underspending Premiums on Medical Care for Seniors. Retrieved from https://www.startribune.com/feds-penalize-unitedhealthcare-plans-for-underspending-premiums-on-medical-care-for-seniors/600097385/
  7. UnitedHealthcare. (n.d.). Medicare Advantage Plans available for 2023 Retrieved from https://www.uhc.com/medicare/health-plans/plan-summary/43004/049/2023#MA
  8. UnitedHealthcare. (n.d.). The Difference Between Medicare HMO and PPO Plans. Retrieved from https://www.uhc.com/news-articles/medicare-articles/the-difference-between-medicare-hmo-and-ppo-plans
  9. UnitedHealthcare. (n.d.). What Are HMO, PPO, EPO and POS Health Insurance Plans? Retrieved from https://www.uhc.com/understanding-health-insurance/types-of-health-insurance/understanding-hmo-ppo-epo-pos