UnitedHealthcare, a UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) company, will for the first time offer AARP® MedicareComplete® (HMO) Medicare Advantage plans in Allegheny, Beaver, Lawrence and Westmoreland counties, bringing more options for affordable, high-quality coverage to Medicare-eligible people in Western Pennsylvania.

The two new plans feature the benefits and services that have helped UnitedHealthcare grow to become the preferred choice of more Medicare beneficiaries than any other company.

“As the health insurance market in Western Pennsylvania continues to evolve, Pittsburgh beneficiaries deserve new health care coverage options from a company they can trust to provide stable, predictable benefits,” said Steve King of UnitedHealthcare. “We look forward to bringing those options to beneficiaries with our new Medicare Advantage plans.”

Western Pennsylvania beneficiaries will have a choice between the AARP MedicareComplete Plan 1 (HMO) that maximizes affordability with a $19 monthly premium, and the AARP MedicareComplete Plan 2 (HMO) that offers richer benefits including preventive dental coverage and lower co-pays for doctor visits, hospital stays and outpatient surgery for a $49 monthly premium.

Both AARP MedicareComplete plans are designed to make it as simple and convenient as possible for members to access the care they need while offering benefits, services and support that can help them live a healthier, happier life – and that they won’t find with Original Medicare.

Highlights of the plans include:

  • A robust network of more than 1,500 primary care physicians, more than 6,200 specialists and 35 hospitals in the Pittsburgh area, including UPMC, Allegheny Health Network, Excela Health, Heritage Valley Health System, St. Clair Hospital and Ohio Valley Hospital;
  • Coverage of an annual physical – above and beyond the annual wellness visit available through Original Medicare – to encourage members to build relationships with their primary care physician and get recommended screenings and preventive care services;
  • UnitedHealthcare’s HouseCalls program to supplement the care from members’ primary care physician with a physical exam and comprehensive review of their health status in the comfort of their home;
  • Personalized customer service that anticipates members’ needs to connect them with important health care services, such as by scheduling doctor appointments for members who are overdue for an annual wellness visit;
  • Access to health care professionals 24 hours a day, seven days a week, through the NurseLine for support with urgent health issues or concerns that can’t wait for the next available doctor’s appointment; and,
  • Flexibility of accessing care when traveling outside the plans’ service area through UnitedHealthcare’s Passport program, which can be especially valuable for people who spend part of the year in another state.

AARP MedicareComplete members in the Pittsburgh area will also have access to prescription drugs without having to pay a separate premium for a stand-alone Part D plan. Many medications are available for low co-pays and no deductible, including nearly all of the medications most commonly used by UnitedHealthcare members. Members who prefer the convenience of home delivery of medications can save even more money through OptumRx, UnitedHealthcare’s preferred mail-service pharmacy, with a 90-day supply of tier 1 and 2 drugs available for a $0 co-pay.

The plans provide support to help members remain independent and engaged with friends and family through coverage of routine vision and hearing care as well as hearing aids for co-pays considerably lower than the retail price, giving members access to important devices that otherwise aren’t covered by Original Medicare.

Beneficiaries will also find additional opportunities to save money while maintaining a healthy lifestyle with features such as a SilverSneakers fitness membership and access to Renew by UnitedHealthcare, a comprehensive set of wellness tools and resources designed to help members take control of their health by educating, guiding and supporting them while making their health care experience simple and rewarding.

The UnitedHealthcare Nursing Home Plan (HMO-POS SNP) Special Needs Plan will continue to be available in 2016 to eligible beneficiaries who reside in participating nursing homes in the Pittsburgh area.

With more than three decades of experience serving the health care coverage needs of Medicare beneficiaries, UnitedHealthcare is the largest provider of Medicare Advantage, Medicare supplement and Part D prescription drug plans nationally, serving nearly one in five beneficiaries.* UnitedHealthcare serves nearly 925,000 people in Pennsylvania, including nearly 338,000 Medicare beneficiaries.

Medicare beneficiaries in the Pittsburgh area can enroll in UnitedHealthcare’s Medicare Advantage plans during the Open Enrollment Period (Oct. 15-Dec. 7).

More information about UnitedHealthcare’s 2016 Medicare offerings is available at www.UHCMedicarePlan.com. Beneficiaries can also get personalized answers to their questions from licensed sales agents at the UnitedHealthcare MedicareStore kiosk at Westmoreland Mall, located on the first floor near the center elevator and across from Littman Jewelers.

About UnitedHealthcare
UnitedHealthcare is dedicated to helping people nationwide live healthier lives by simplifying the health care experience, meeting consumer health and wellness needs, and sustaining trusted relationships with care providers. The company offers the full spectrum of health benefit programs for individuals, employers, military service members, retirees and their families, and Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, and contracts directly with more than 850,000 physicians and care professionals, and 6,000 hospitals and other care facilities nationwide. UnitedHealthcare is one of the businesses of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH), a diversified Fortune 50 health and well-being company. For more information, visit UnitedHealthcare at www.uhc.com or follow @myUHC on Twitter.

Plans are insured through UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company or one of its affiliated companies, a Medicare Advantage organization with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in the plan depends on the plan’s contract renewal with Medicare. This plan is available to anyone living in a contracted nursing home. You must continue to pay your Medicare Part B premium. This information is not a complete description of benefits. Contact the plan for more information. Limitations, copayments, and restrictions may apply. Benefits, premiums and/or co-payments/co-insurance may change on January 1 of each year. The provider network may change at any time. You will receive notice when necessary. Other providers are available in our network.

You are not required to use OptumRx home delivery for a 90-day supply of your maintenance medication. If you have not used OptumRx home delivery, you must approve the first prescription order sent directly from your doctor to OptumRx before it can be filled. New prescriptions from OptumRx should arrive within ten business days from the date the completed order is received, and refill orders should arrive in about seven business days. Contact OptumRx anytime at 1-888-658-0539, TTY 711. OptumRx is an affiliate of UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company. Co-pay is applicable during initial coverage period and does not apply during coverage gap or catastrophic amount.

This service should not be used for emergency or urgent care needs. In an emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. The information provided through this service is for informational purposes only. The nurses cannot diagnose problems or recommend treatment and are not a substitute for your doctor's care. Your health information is kept confidential in accordance with the law. The service is not an insurance program and may be discontinued at any time. Consult a health care professional before beginning any exercise program. AARP and UnitedHealthcare do not endorse and are not responsible for the services or information provided by this program. Availability of the SilverSneakers program varies by plan/market. Refer to your Evidence of Coverage for more details. Healthways and SilverSneakers are registered trademarks of Healthways, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries. © 2015 Healthways, Inc. All rights reserved.

Y0066_150922_222535 Accepted

*CMS Data, 2015
All other statistics in this release can be attributed to UnitedHealthcare Internal Data, 2015.

Click here to subscribe to Mobile Alerts for UnitedHealth Group.