UHC Pays Itself More Than Others

[somarco]

UnitedHealth Group is paying many of its own physician practices significantly more than it pays other doctor groups in the same markets for similar services, undermining competition and driving up costs for consumers and businesses, a STAT investigation reveals.

The analysis examined UnitedHealth's own data, which must be reported to the federal government, showing what its commercial insurance unit pays 16 of its Optum-branded doctor groups for common or expensive services that account for the most spending.

The higher prices reward UnitedHealth at the expense of almost everyone else. Patients end up paying more when they see their doctors and struggle to afford recommended follow-up care. Employers counting on the insurance giant to control ever-rising costs get little or no relief. And doctors trying to compete with UnitedHealth's practices find themselves frozen out of the higher rates the company is paying its own providers, making it more difficult to remain independent and keep their doors open.

UnitedHealth pays its own physician groups considerably more than others, driving up consumer costs and its profits

First-of-its-kind data analysis finds UnitedHealth Group pays many of its own physician practices significantly more than the average it pays other doctors in the same markets

www.statnews.com

 

[straightnochaser]

Capitalism ay

 

[goillini52]

UnitedHealth Group is paying many of its own physician practices significantly more than it pays other doctor groups in the same markets for similar services, undermining competition and driving up costs for consumers and businesses, a STAT investigation reveals.

The analysis examined UnitedHealth's own data, which must be reported to the federal government, showing what its commercial insurance unit pays 16 of its Optum-branded doctor groups for common or expensive services that account for the most spending.

The higher prices reward UnitedHealth at the expense of almost everyone else. Patients end up paying more when they see their doctors and struggle to afford recommended follow-up care. Employers counting on the insurance giant to control ever-rising costs get little or no relief. And doctors trying to compete with UnitedHealth's practices find themselves frozen out of the higher rates the company is paying its own providers, making it more difficult to remain independent and keep their doors open.

UnitedHealth pays its own physician groups considerably more than others, driving up consumer costs and its profits

First-of-its-kind data analysis finds UnitedHealth Group pays many of its own physician practices significantly more than the average it pays other doctors in the same markets

www.statnews.com

We took the AARP PDP's, I think we'll be safe with that. It's about the only one with no deductible and copays, not %. I'll sell their PDP'S, but I wouldn't feel right selling their MAPD's.

 

[vic120]

We took the AARP PDP's, I think we'll be safe with that. It's about the only one with no deductible and copays, not %. I'll sell their PDP'S, but I wouldn't feel right selling their MAPD's.

I am hearing all the hate for their MAPDs over others

But honestly I have more with then then other carriers, and the retention is better then others, the client satisfaction is FAR better then others

I am always hearing complaints from Aetna and Anthem clients about not paying for tests and other things
I have client who's mother, who is not a client of mine, here anthem plan let her with the bill for the cataract surgery, and when he called they told him they don't cover cataract surgery

Now I am sure it is something else but this is what the client is told when he called

I do hear this some from human clients but not as much as the other 2

I barley write WellCare, only if my arm is twisted, but I have a doctor who refers and she hates WellCare's approval process

I just don't hear this from UHC clients

I have heard from a few their hospital was fully covered no copays when covid was new

And several other above and beyond things

Its not that I never hear anything, Heck I have heard complaints about med supps that don't pay for Nuffin
so there will aways be some complaints even if it is not real

But I would say more then 50% of my MAs are with them and they have by far the least complaints and the highest customer satisfaction and its by miles

 

[Fisher]

A real world email exchange I had last night--

Client: Just wondering how much more per month BCBS medicare supplement would be vs AARP UHC.

Me: What an interesting question.

Your current Plan G w/UHC - $125.29

BCBS Plan G - $157.28

I'm curious, do you have a reason to think that the plan with BCBS would be better for you? Because the Plan G coverage is identical regardless of which company it comes from.

Client: With all the info surrounding the murder of the UHC president, my husband saw that UHC declines more claims than BCBS. Just something we are thinking about.


Please just watch cute pygmy goat videos.

 

[vic120]

A real world email exchange I had last night--

Client: Just wondering how much more per month BCBS medicare supplement would be vs AARP UHC.

Me: What an interesting question.

Your current Plan G w/UHC - $125.29

BCBS Plan G - $157.28

I'm curious, do you have a reason to think that the plan with BCBS would be better for you? Because the Plan G coverage is identical regardless of which company it comes from.

Client: With all the info surrounding the murder of the UHC president, my husband saw that UHC declines more claims than BCBS. Just something we are thinking about.


Please just watch cute pygmy goat videos.

Yea going to see this more and more, I had a couple new AARP enrollments call me concerned

 

[Yagents]

A real world email exchange I had last night--

Client: Just wondering how much more per month BCBS medicare supplement would be vs AARP UHC.

Me: What an interesting question.

Your current Plan G w/UHC - $125.29

BCBS Plan G - $157.28

I'm curious, do you have a reason to think that the plan with BCBS would be better for you? Because the Plan G coverage is identical regardless of which company it comes from.

Client: With all the info surrounding the murder of the UHC president, my husband saw that UHC declines more claims than BCBS. Just something we are thinking about.


Please just watch cute pygmy goat videos.

Yup. Gotta a few calls myself. No matter how many times I tell them supps don't dictate your health claims, they never remember. Thinking of sending out email to all MC clients on this matter. Good time to remind them of what and why they own a supp and on OM

 

[goillini52]

A real world email exchange I had last night--

Client: Just wondering how much more per month BCBS medicare supplement would be vs AARP UHC.

Me: What an interesting question.

Your current Plan G w/UHC - $125.29

BCBS Plan G - $157.28

I'm curious, do you have a reason to think that the plan with BCBS would be better for you? Because the Plan G coverage is identical regardless of which company it comes from.

Client: With all the info surrounding the murder of the UHC president, my husband saw that UHC declines more claims than BCBS. Just something we are thinking about.


Please just watch cute pygmy goat videos.

No worries with UHC's Med Supp.

UHC's Med Supps have never been competitive in my area.

Those pygmy goats are cute.

 

[EckoRomeo]

I am hearing all the hate for their MAPDs over others

But honestly I have more with then then other carriers, and the retention is better then others, the client satisfaction is FAR better then others

I am always hearing complaints from Aetna and Anthem clients about not paying for tests and other things
I have client who's mother, who is not a client of mine, here anthem plan let her with the bill for the cataract surgery, and when he called they told him they don't cover cataract surgery

Now I am sure it is something else but this is what the client is told when he called

I do hear this some from human clients but not as much as the other 2

I barley write WellCare, only if my arm is twisted, but I have a doctor who refers and she hates WellCare's approval process

I just don't hear this from UHC clients

I have heard from a few their hospital was fully covered no copays when covid was new

And several other above and beyond things

Its not that I never hear anything, Heck I have heard complaints about med supps that don't pay for Nuffin
so there will aways be some complaints even if it is not real

But I would say more then 50% of my MAs are with them and they have by far the least complaints and the highest customer satisfaction and its by miles

I have more clients with UHC than any other carrier too. UHC is the largest insurer in the U.S. so it stand to reason that they would have the "MOST" of anything.

BUT... BCBS Medicare plans require a PA 2x as often as UHC. So, while the BCBS denial rate is about 25-30% lower than UHC, you are still more likely to have a denial with BCBS.

So, much of the hate UHC gets is simply because they are the biggest most recognizable player in the game.

 

[annon123]

But I would say more then 50% of my MAs are with them and they have by far the least complaints and the highest customer satisfaction and its by miles

The thing with UHC is that AARP membership is required and MANY AARP members believe that somehow AARP has picked the "best" OM, MAP, D company for them (reading the AARP forums about medicare is "interesting" at times). Many of those people are VERY loyal to AARP and would never dream of dropping UHC as their provider because of that loyalty, despite problems.

Also confirmation bias (you only look for things that agree with your opinion/decision and find ways to explain away things that don't) helps keep them as UHC customers (in part due to their AARP loyalty) and not admit to the problems they have with them. Also escalation of commitment (keep committed to a losing cause of action/financial losses because of your investment in that action/decision) can make it harder for some to admit they made a mistake and instead they use confirmation bias to deny reality. These things, I suspect, contributes to their satisfaction levels and loyalty.