Benefits explained
- High Average Medicare Star Rating:UnitedHealthcare's Medicare Advantage plans are rated an average of 4.2 out of 5 stars by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The only national insurer with a higher average star rating was Blue Cross Blue Shield.
- Many plans offer additional hole coverage:UnitedHealthcare offers both Medicare Advantage plans and prescription drug plans that have additional coverage during the donut phase, making this company a great option for people with high drug needs. That's one of the reasons why UHC got the top spot on our listsThe Best Medicare Advantage PlansIBest Medicare Part D Plans.
- Affordable Medicare Supplement Plans:UnitedHealthcare offered the best prices for Medigap plans of the providers we reviewed, with an average monthly Plan G price of $184 in Texas and Florida.
- The largest national network of service providers: As the largest provider of Medicare Advantage plans, it's no surprise that UnitedHealthcare also has the largest national network of MA providers of any major insurer.
Error explained
- Slightly below average J.D. scores. Power: UnitedHealthcare ranked fourth in J.D. survey. Power 2022 U.S. Medicare Advantage Study, with a score just one point below the industry average. A few companies were rated better, but others fared worse.
- Medicare Advantage plans are not cheap: For 2023, UHC Medicare Advantage plans cap maximum OOP at an average of $5,299.47, which is in line with other major insurers such as Blue Cross Blue Shield and Cigna. The average drug deductible ($85.82) is also mid-range. These aren't major strikes against the company, but there are plans available with lower overall costs.
Third party ratings
UnitedHealthcare has good ratings for customer satisfaction and financial strength. The company's Medicare Advantage plans have an average CMS rating of 4.2 out of 5 stars according toCenters for Medicare and Medicaid Services; Prescription drug plans have an average rating of 3.8 CMS stars. The National Association for Quality Assurance (NCQA), which measures Medicare plan quality and member experience, gave UHC plans an average of 3.9 out of 5 stars. NCQA ratings tend to be lower than CMS ratings; in fact, the average NCQA score for Medicare plans among large insurers is 3.48.
UnitedHealthcare was ranked fourth in the J.D. survey. Power 2022 US Medicare Advantage Study.The company scored 808 out of 1000, just below the industry average of 809. The top scoring company, Kaiser Permanente, received a score of 844 out of 1000.
UnitedHealthcare gets high marks for financial stability, with an A+ (Superior) rating fromAM The best, an independent rating agency that rates insurance companies. This is the highest rating received by any of the Medicare Advantage providers we reviewed and indicates that UnitedHealthcare has a superior ability to pay claims.
Rules are available
Medicare Advantage (del C) planer
Medicare Advantage plans are a way to get Medicare Part A and Part B coverage with added benefits, including out-of-pocket limits. Most MA plans, including UnitedHealthcare's, include prescription drug coverage, so you don't need to buy a separate Part D plan. Most UnitedHealthcare MA plans also include drop-in drug coverage, which is important if you expect to spend more than $4,460 on prescriptions in 2023.The plans also come with additional benefits such as vision, dental, hearing, fitness and OTC benefits.
UnitedHealthcare offers the largest national network of providers and a variety of plan types, includingHMOs, PPO and special needs plans. Some plans come with $0 copays for primary care visits, virtual visits and lab tests, along with $0 copays for Tier 1 and Tier 2 drugs.
Part D Prescription Drug Plans
Part D plans offer coverage for your prescription drugs. They are available to people who have Medicare Part A and/or Part B, as well as to people who have certain Medicare Advantage plans that do not include prescription drug coverage. It's a good idea to get this coverage even if you're not currently taking medication, or there may be a late enrollment penalty.
UnitedHealthcare's Part D plans offer very good value compared to the industry, and the company has a preferred plan that's great for people who take a lot of medications. It offers a $0 deductible, $0 copay for generic mail-order drugs, and full coverage for Tier 1 and Tier 2 drugs during a coverage gap.
UnitedHealthcare was our top pick on our listBest Medicare Part D Providers.
Before choosing a plan, use UnitedHealthcare's online drug tool or enter your prescription drugs on Medicare.gov to estimate annual costs for your specific drug needs. You should also compare prices with other providers, as availability largely depends on the medication you are taking.
Medicare Supplement Plans (Medigap)
Medicare Supplement plans help cover costs such as copayments, coinsurance and deductibles that are not covered by Part A or Part B. Medigap plans are standardized and must follow federal and state laws. UnitedHealthcare offers Plans A, B, C, F, G, K, L and N and offers better prices on the popular Medigap Plan G than its competitors. Both factors contributed to the company taking first place on our listBest Medicare Supplement Insurance Providers.
You must be an AARP member to enroll in the AARP Medicare Supplement Plan from UnitedHealthcare. AARP membership is not required for Medicare Advantage or Part D plans.
charge
UnitedHealthcare's pricing isn't exceptional, but it's very reasonable, especially considering the value benefits that UHC plans include, such as additional termination coverage. Medicare Advantage premiums are slightly better than the average at $14.07 per month in 2023. That's down from $16.83 in 2022. The average drug deductible beats the industry average by about $13 per month. month to $85.82. As noted, the average out-of-pocket limit for MA plans is $5,299.47, which is close to the average for all other major Medicare providers.
"Industry average" refers to the average among the largest Medicare Advantage providers.
The company's prescription drug plans are also affordable, with three options that offer great coverage for the price. And UnitedHealthcare's Medicare Supplement Plan G has a better price than any other provider we reviewed.
Customer service
UnitedHealthcare offers a member portal for each of its plans that allows you to complete many actions online. The company also offers extended customer service from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. CT, seven days a week and live chat. For general information about subscription, call the number on your membership card. You can also contact UnitedHealthcare at one of the following phone numbers if you experience technical problems:
- Medicare Advantage and Part D members: 1-800-721-0627
- Medicare Supplement members: 1-800-523-5800
Final judgment
UnitedHealthcare Medicare is an excellent choice for Medicare coverage, especially since it has the largest provider network in the country. It offers significant benefits, from home visits to affordable supplemental plans and additional Medigap coverage. The company also has high third-party ratings from J.D. Power, AM Best, NCQA and CMS.
Although United Healthcare offers well-rounded Medicare plans, it is still more expensive. So if you need a cheaper plan, you may need to look elsewhere.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UnitedHealthcare Medicare rating?
UnitedHealthcare Medicare has several third-party ratings. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services rated the company 4.2 out of 5 stars, and the National Association for Quality Assurance rated it 3.9 out of 5 stars. When it comes to financial strength, AM Best rated UnitedHealthcare A+ (Superior). In addition, UnitedHealthcare in J.D. Power's 2022 American Medicare Advantage survey ranked fourth, scoring 808 out of 1,000, just one point below the industry average of 809.
Does UnitedHealthcare have a good reputation?
Yes, UnitedHealthcare is one of the most well-known insurance providers and has the largest provider network in the United States. Additionally, it has high third-party ratings and an average Medicare rating of 4.2 stars.
Is there a class action lawsuit against UnitedHealthcare?
There is currently a class action lawsuit against UnitedHealthcare. The lawsuit concerns an alleged breach of fiduciary duty. The plaintiffs alleged that, for claims related to out-of-network providers, the company systematically paid fees.
Does AARP Recommend UnitedHealthcare?
Yes, UnitedHealthcare is supported by AARP. The company provides AARP medical reimbursement plans.
Method
Literature review
We've identified the top companies by market share within the industry that offer Medicare plans from various business and market databases, including Statistia, Plunkett and Gale. We also considered Google's user-generated data to determine public interest and trends in Medicare plans.
Data collection and verification
Our data is collected through third-party rating agencies, official government websites and databases, and directly from companies through websites, media contacts and existing partnerships. Our sources include AM Best, National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), J.D. Power and the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS).
Data were checked to ensure data integrity and accuracy by cross-referencing records and citations corresponding to each data point with our primary sources.
Assessment method
We've calculated stars for the quality of each company's plan types. Factors considered for companies offering Medicare plans were:
- Plan for quality and customer satisfaction: CMS and NCQA assessments were considered to measure these criteria. Each organization independently rates the quality of Medicare plans on a scale of one to five to help people compare plans during open enrollment.
- Price by value:This is a measure of a plan's value based on the plan's premiums, deductibles, out-of-pocket maximums, whether additional drug coverage is offered in the Medicare gap, and star ratings.
- Additional coverage is offered under the Medicare gap: coverage gap or "donut hole" refers to the period when there is a limitation in drug coverage. During this time, members are responsible for up to 25% of brand and generic drugs. You can spend less on prescription drugs if your plan offers additional coverage during the period.
- Balance availability: This measure shows how available plans are across the United States.
- Additional benefits of the plan:This measure applies to additional available benefits including vision, dental, hearing, non-emergency transportation, worldwide emergency, gym membership and telehealth.
- Available subscription types:Insurance companies offer Medicare Advantage plans through managed care organizations, including HMOs and PPOs. This measure refers to the number of managed care options available.
- Plans for special needs:This is a measure of whether a company offers plans designed for people with certain illnesses.
- Financial strength: This measure takes into account AM's best financial strength assessment of each company to understand how well it is positioned to pay insurance claims.