UHC Commercial Plan Focuses on Price Transparency, Preventive Care

UnitedHealthcare’s Affordable Care Act-compliant employer-sponsored health plan, Surest, is the payer’s fastest-growing commercial plan. Data indicates that Surest’s emphasis on price transparency and preventive care may be tied to care and medication adherence, according to the payer’s Impact Study.

In 2022, the health plan saw higher rates of preventive care visits and lower rates of high cost, avoidable care utilization, the study found. Physician visits increased by 20 percent. Additionally, preventive physical exams grew 9 percent, the number of preventive mammograms rose by 15 percent, and preventive colonoscopy rates jumped 34 percent.

Meanwhile, emergency department utilization fell 6 percent. Inpatient hospital admissions dropped 13 percent and the total number of surgeries went down 5 percent. Instead, members opted to use urgent care—causing urgent care utilization rates to grow 6 percent—or virtual care.

“We know people want a health plan that’s simple, easy to use and helps them select the right care, at the right time and in the right setting,” Dan Kueter, chief executive officer of UnitedHealthcare’s commercial business, shared in the press release. “We’re pleased to see that Surest’s innovative plan design, including an intuitive digital experience, is resonating with members and employers.”

The payer reported that employers saved 11 percent on total cost per member per month as a result of these shifts. Additionally, for three years, Surest had a year-over-year medical trend of under 5 percent. Overall, employers saved up to 15 percent.

The plan’s net promoter score reflected strong member satisfaction with a 90 percent re-enrollment rate.

In 2024, Surest will add fully insured plans in six more states. The plan is available to employers with a self-funded plan for 51 employees or more. Its footprint pre-expansion includes 32 states and territories including Washington, DC.

Surest is not the only plan improving its price transparency strategies. Health plans have been boosting their price transparency tools after major legislation passed requiring payers and hospitals to be more open about the costs of care.

Separate research from AHIP shows that consumers are interested in this movement toward price transparency. Across the political spectrum, consumers opposed hospital monopolies and site-based cost increases and sought greater transparency about mergers and acquisitions.

In 2022, consumer awareness about price transparency tools reflected the growing number of plans adopting these tools, according to a HealthSparq survey. Seven out of ten consumers said that their plans offered transparency tools. Additionally, 67 percent of respondents reported they had used the price transparency tools that their payers offered.

Transparency has been a key strategy to improving trust in the health insurance system, after years of distrust between consumers and health plans.

UnitedHealthcare rebranded its health plan Bind to become Surest in 2022.