UnitedHealthcare unveils 2023 Medicare Advantage plans

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UnitedHealthcare has introduced its 2023 Medicare Advantage and prescription drug plans, and has promised improved benefits in 2023 for 95% of all individual MA members.

The nation's largest insurer says the plans will provide improved core and ancillary benefits, as well as lower prescription drug prices.

More than 8.2 million people are currently enrolled in UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans, and more than a third of all MA enrollment growth over the past five years, including 2022, has been through UnitedHealthcare, the company said.

In 2023, the company said it would expand its service area in order to reach 95% of Medicare consumers nationwide and maintain the industry's largest Medicare Advantage footprint – including nearly 2.3 million more people in 314 additional counties with access to a standard MA plan and 145,000 more people eligible for a Dual Special Needs Plan (D-SNP).

WHAT'S THE IMPACT?

According to United Healthcare, the combined over-the-counter (OTC) and healthy food benefit offered in 2022 on nearly all D-SNPs gave members three times more credit than the 2021 healthy food credit. In 2023, with food and utility prices rising higher than the average inflation rate, home utilities will be added to the benefit, with an average annual credit of more than $2,200. This means dual members can also choose to spend their monthly credit on expenses like home heat, electricity, water, sewer and home internet.

With consumer research identifying home care services as a top desired benefit by dual eligibles, UnitedHealthcare will offer a new home support services benefit on select D-SNPs. Members can use a $150-$225 quarterly credit toward support services including pest control, companion care, light cleaning, home modifications and yard maintenance.

UnitedHealth's over-the-counter OTC+Healthy Food is a benefit that's included with dual health plans that gives members credits to buy OTC products and covered groceries at many retailers. The credits are loaded on a prepaid card, which members can use to pay at checkout. 

A new flex benefit on select plans can be used to extend existing dental, vision and hearing benefits after using these benefits. This annual benefit, ranging from $150-$750, can be used to pay for Medicare-approved items and services like hearing aid co-pays, prescription sunglasses and out-of-network dental charges.

PLAN FEATURES, ANCILLARY BENEFITS

Ninety-nine percent of members in standard and Chronic Special Needs Plans (C-SNPs) will have stable or reduced premiums – including nearly 3.3 million members with a $0 premium – and all will have stable or improved core and prescription drug benefits, said UHC. And all Medicare Advantage members will see stable ancillary benefits, with 91% receiving better-than-ever ancillary benefits like dental, hearing, OTC and prescription drug coverage, the insurer said.

Meanwhile, 97% of members are enrolled in a standard plan or C-SNP with a $0 PCP co-pay, up from 83% in 2022 and higher than the rest of the industry. Nearly all eligibles will have access to a plan with a $0 PCP co-pay. Many members will also see decreased co-pays on specialist visits and physical, occupational and speech therapies – and $0 co-pays when the visit is virtual.

In terms of dental, UHC said it will offer one simplified coverage level that's available to 96% of people in standard plans, covering all non-cosmetic dental care, including dentures and implants, and no out-of-pocket costs up to the annual coverage limit on most plans.

All plans with vision coverage will maintain a $0 routine annual eye exam, and most will have an eyewear allowance. Standard lenses are covered at no cost, and more than 92% of members will have an annual benefit, up from 59% in 2022. Plus, said UHC, the majority of plans will offer a $0 hearing exam, and all members will have a hearing aid benefit, typically annually, and access to custom-programmed hearing aids through UnitedHealthcare Hearing, including retail and home-delivery options.

PRESCRIPTION DRUGS

For prescription drugs, more plans will lower Tier 1 retail co-pays to $0, giving nearly all members in standard plans and C-SNPs free access to the most common adherence medications. And 100% of members will have $0 Tier 1 and 2 co-pays through Optum Home Delivery, up from 93% in 2022. Additionally, 87% of members will have no Rx deductibles, up from 59% in 2022.

UHC's Medicare Advantage formulary is expected to have more drugs in Tier 1, and the company plans to move additional commonly used drugs that target conditions such as cardiovascular disease, depression, osteoarthritis, glaucoma, and overactive bladder, among others, to lower tiers. Plus, several drugs used before or after dental procedures have moved to Tier 1, helping to eliminate out-of-pocket costs for these drugs on most plans, UHC said.

All members without Extra Help enrolled in C-SNPs will have access to insulin at $25 ($10 less than standard plans) in addition to diabetic supplies on Tier 2, giving access to $0 co-pays for supplies when using home delivery. C-SNP members will also have access to eight medications on a lower drug tier that target cardiovascular disease.

All standard plans will continue to provide Tier 1 gap coverage. UHC also said it will continue to expand access to $0 co-pays on covered drugs to 96% of its members enrolled in D-SNPs.

ON THE RECORD

"With financial pressures especially impacting older adults living on fixed incomes, we are committed to improving the benefits we offer and driving industry-leading innovations that make them easier to use for the people we serve," said Tim Noel, CEO of UnitedHealthcare Medicare and Retirement. "These investments and innovations will make a meaningful impact on the experience and value we provide to our members – in ways only UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage can."
 

Twitter: @JELagasse
Email the writer: jeff.lagasse@himssmedia.com