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well
- Customer reviews
- Coverage options
- Medicare and Medicaid
- Short-term health plans
- Dental and vision insurance
- Additional insurance
- Employer offers
- Useful tools
- Support for a healthy life
- Customer service
Customer reviews
UnitedHealthcare is among the top ten health insurance companies. This high ranking shows that UnitedHealthcare is a reliable health insurance provider. Although it could have a higher star rating, its rating is average for the industry.
Customer Review: Kimberly from Hurlock, Maryland
"United Health Care is absolutely my choice for health care. All bills are handled quickly and competently. Additionally, when I have called for more information or to check provider status, United Health Care has always had excellent customer service. The representatives are intelligent, extremely courteous and very eager to help. Their attitudes are very positive and cheerful. They are one of the best companies in any field I have ever had the pleasure of dealing with."
UnitedHealthcare has received many positive reviews on BestCompany.com. These reviewers mention satisfaction with the claims process, provider network and coverage.
Coverage options
User Rating: CoachTrista from Englewood, Colorado
"I love the plan options I have with UHC. They are the most complete and comprehensive health care our family has ever had. They have helpful programs to help find providers and plan benefits."
Some of the plans at UnitedHealthcare are open access and others are in-net only plans. In-network-only plans cover patient care from professionals contracted with UnitedHealthcare. If your preferred provider is out of network, you pay the full price yourself.
In addition, UnitedHealthcare offers consumer-directed health plans (CDHP) that are compatible with health savings accounts (HSAs).
As is typical in the industry, work with UnitedHealthcare to learn more about the options available in your area.
When considering a health plan, it's important to look at covered benefits, premium rates and out-of-pocket costs to make sure you find an insurance policy that meets your needs.
Customer Review: Jordon Patton from Pflugerville, Texas
"UHC was great for us because it covered us when we had a baby and when my wife needed a new hearing aid. Very widely accepted so it's easy to find providers."
Common network structures for health insurance plans include a health maintenance organization (HMO) and a preferred provider organization (PPO). HMO plans only offer coverage for care received by network providers. PPO plans offer more flexibility by offering coverage for out-of-network care.
In-net services often have lower out-of-pocket costs than out-of-net services. You can get the most out of your health plan by seeing a doctor in the network. This will help keep your medical bills lower.
Customer Review: Debbie Stringham from Garden City, Utah
"I am grateful for their fantastic director of health care providers. I appreciate the choice."
Because the cost of a health plan varies based on several factors, including the number of people covered and the type of policy selected, those interested in a UnitedHealthcare health policy should research the plans on its website to learn more about how much you will pay for medical services with different plans.
Medicare and Medicaid
UnitedHealthcare also offers Medicare and Medicaid plans to customers seeking Medicare or Medicaid services. It also participates in the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). UnitedHealthcare's Medicare plans include defined benefit plans and prescription drugs. People looking for a Medicare supplement plan (Medigap) can also find one at UnitedHealthcare.
Original Medicare is not available through any private insurance company because it is administered by the government. A Medicare Advantage plan covers the same medical services as Original Medicare. Most Advantage plans also include qualifying prescription drug coverage, meaning you don't need to purchase additional coverage.
Package offers vary from country to country. Specific information about available plans, premiums, deductibles and co-pay costs can be found on UnitedHealthcare's Medicare page.
Short-term health plans
UnitedHealthcare offers short-term health insurance for people under 65. These plans are great if you need temporary health insurance. They offer low premiums and primarily cover preventive care and emergency services. They also cover care for any new illness you develop while the plan is in effect. Most UnitedHealthcare short-term plans also cover prescriptions.
However, remember that these plans do not cover pre-existing conditions.
Dental and vision insurance
The dental and vision coverage at UnitedHealthcare is also good. The company has websites dedicated to dental and vision insurance. When it comes to dental coverage, there are employer-sponsored, individual, and family plans.
These are excellent resources for individuals purchasing insurance and employers looking to offer great health benefits to employees.
For individual and family dental plans, preventive care is generally covered in full with no deductibles or waiting periods. Cost sharing for other types of dental work varies by plan. Dental services vary by state, but even if the dentist you want to see is outside UnitedHealthcare's network, there are still some plan options for you.
Vision insurance typically includes 100 percent coverage for eye exams, glasses and frames, including the option to add a scratch-resistant coating to your lenses. Other benefits depend on the individual plan.
Additional insurance
In addition to health insurance, UnitedHealthcare offers disability, critical illness, accident and life insurance.
Several other health insurance companies offer similar types of supplemental insurance, so these offers make UnitedHealthcare competitive for those interested in purchasing supplemental insurance plans.
Employer offers
UnitedHealthcare offers group plans for small businesses, large businesses and national accounts. No matter how many employees you have, UnitedHealthcare offers plans that meet your needs.
UnitedHealthcare offers vary by state, so it's best to work directly with UnitedHealthcare to learn more about your options.
Useful tools
Most health insurance companies offer member resources for their policyholders. United Healthcare offers competitive and useful tools. When you sign up for a UnitedHealthcare plan, you sign up for a personal account on the myUnitedHealthcare.com online portal.
Through it you have access to one of the following:
- Download forms
- Tools to help you find an in-network provider (primary care physician, mental health specialist, dentist, etc.)
- ID card resources
- Request management (for submitting requests and checking status)
- List of prescriptions you take
- An explanation of the benefits of your health plan
- A tool to estimate the cost of different types of medical treatment with your insurance plan before starting treatment
Many of these features are also available through the UnitedHealthcare app.
The ability to estimate healthcare costs based on your plan and search costs by services, medical condition and doctor are benefits. It allows you to understand costs, avoid surprises and budget for out-of-pocket costs such as co-payments and co-insurance.
You can also view quality ratings for providers in the network through this tool. With this tool, you can find high-quality and cost-effective care. This type of tool and cost transparency is hard to find in the healthcare industry, so its availability sets UnitedHealthcare apart from other providers.
Members also benefit from an online dictionary of medical terms, the Healthy Pregnancy app and access to virtual visits (telemedicine).
Support for a healthy life
Members also benefit from support programs that help them live a healthy life. Programs support behavioral health, disease management (eg heart disease and diabetes), addiction, weight loss and fitness.
If you're eligible, you can also access UnitedHealthcare's Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for referrals to help with life situations.
Many health insurance companies offer support programs to their members, and UnitedHealthcare's support resources make it competitive.
Customer service
Customer Review: Brent Bishop of Layton, Utah
"The customer service there was very professional. The waiting time was good"
UnitedHealthcare is a subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group (UHG), which has decades of experience. Backed by this insurance company, UnitedHealthcare emphasizes technology and innovation. It strongly promotes the health of individuals and society.
For five consecutive years, Fortune named UHG one of the world's most respected companies in the insurance industry. In addition, the company won a Stevie Award in 2015 for its customer service model called Advocate4Me. All of these facts about the company contribute to their overall positive customer culture.
UnitedHealthcare is dedicated to helping people. To contact UnitedHealthcare, people can use phone numbers and the company's online feedback tool.
UnitedHealthcare further demonstrates its commitment to helping its members live healthier lives and achieve better health outcomes with its Health4Me app. The Health4Me app also contributes greatly to customer service.
Through its 24-hour nurse hotline, prescription refill tool, and cost calculator and medical record review, UnitedHealthcare has eliminated many of the problems associated with health insurance logistics. The app even allows members to let customer service know they want to be contacted, thereby avoiding putting a customer service phone call on hold.
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A bad one
- Negative reviews
- The state's health plans
Negative reviews
Unfortunately, UnitedHealthcare has a significant number of negative reviews. Having negative reviews is common for the industry. Reviewers who gave poor ratings cited problems with communication, coverage and claim denials.
While reading negative reviews, be aware of where the reviewers are coming from. Consider your situation and medical needs with what reviewers share about theirs.
If you are in a similar situation or in the same area, you may want to consider your concerns more when making a decision. Even if you're in the same area, remember that UnitedHealthcare may offer multiple plans in your area, so you'll still be able to find one that fits your needs.
The state's health plans
A potential downside here is that some health plans and their benefits vary from state to state. The UnitedHealthcare website filters its offers by state. It's easy to see what's available in your state when you look at health insurance options online.
You should make sure you understand the benefit plan (premiums, copays, and coinsurance), the deductible limit, how the plan covers pre-existing conditions, and the prior authorization requirements that are part of your plan.