UnitedHealthcare Grants Address Social Determinants of Health, Care Access

To reduce the impact of social determinants of health, UnitedHealthcare provided several grants through its Empowering Health program to improve the prevalence and quality of resources in 11 states.

In 2018, UnitedHealthcare created the Empowering Health platform to target solutions for healthcare disparities, which social determinants of health barriers often exacerbate. 

During the process of determining the ideal type of treatment for patients, there are many social determinants of health that are often overlooked. UnitedHealthcare will issue several grants totaling $11 million to assist community-based organizations in 11 states, including Maryland, Michigan, New York, Texas, and Virginia.

“We see profound, persistent disparities playing out along racial lines in communities across the country. UnitedHealthcare is committed to addressing social and economic factors that have an impact on achieving and maintaining good health,” Olivia Jefferson, vice president of social responsibility at UnitedHealthcare, said in a press release.

“Ultimately, health is local. That’s why we’re working collectively with community organizations through our Empowering Health grants to advance change for people we call our friends, family and neighbors.”

A few of the grants provided by UnitedHealthcare included $300,000 to Mama’s Kitchen of San Diego, California, which aimed to provide low-income people with meals, $250,000 to the Boys and Girls Club of Benton Harbor, Michigan, to assist a physical health program, and $150,000 to the Sowega Council on Aging in South Georgia to provide social isolation assistance.

UnitedHealthcare also provided On Our Own of Maryland $90,000 to support facilitator activity and peer assistance.

“Thanks to UnitedHealthcare’s generous support, we will substantially increase the number of trained peer facilitators … so more peers can reactivate their own capacity for healing and growth,” said Katie Rouse, executive director of On Our Own of Maryland.

These grants accompany UnitedHealthcare’s own efforts to reduce social determinants of health barriers to care.

In July 2022, UnitedHealthcare eliminated copays and out-of-pocket costs for insulin. This absence of charge was extended to group health plan members, who often struggle to maintain financial stability while paying for prescriptions.

Also in July, the UnitedHealthcare plan of Colorado worked with HealthONE to increase the size of Colorado’s patient network, leading to better patient access. The collaboration led to UnitedHealthcare patients gaining access to thousands of caregivers across Colorado.

UnitedHealthcare’s prior research revealed that, in addition to social determinants of health support, patients are in need of better mental healthcare access. In May 2022, UnitedHealthcare shared a report that covered patient needs and found that mental healthcare resources are low among seniors.