I'm referring to the OP.
UHC Pays Itself More Than Others
- Thread starter somarco
- Start date
I'm referring to the OP.
UHC controls the networks and that results in channeling patients into the systems they own. Because they get to keep the profit for the services the doctor performs (rather than another company getting to keep it) they have that money coming in. The money they are paying out for their share of the services goes back into their own bank account rather to another company. The copays, MOOP that the patient pays goes to them rather than to a company they don't own. The patient is paying UHC for the insurance and so they have that side of the money chain too rather than the patient paying some other company and the patient is using doctors in the UHC's network.
Although this was not about UHC, it sort of works like this (this example is not totally comparable but shows how you can manipulate the system when you own all the pieces) a while ago I read an article where one D insurance company made the copays the patient paid the same as the wholesale cost of the drug. As a result the premiums weren't used to pay for anything with regards to patient meds. IF the the insurance company owned the pharmacy chain as well then the drugs used to fill the Rx's would have no cost to the pharma chain nor the insurance company. Since they would own both they'd make more money than if they owned only one or the other.
Well throw your hat into the ring rather than stand on the sidelines. You might have even more fun. LOL
The name calling though that goes on on these forums certainly isn't very professional.
But many AARP members choose them as they believe, wrongly or not, that AARP only "gives" their name to trusted companies that are the "best" out there... Many of them don't realize the royalties AARP gets from endorsing UHC and their various plans.
Not that it matters but AARP's automobile through Hartford required me to join in order to buy their insurance.
I wasn't required to keep it and I let it go after the first year and just kept the insurance.
Still get emails every month to come back but that ain't gonna happen.
UHC simply owning the practice makes them more money the way you describe. Thats not what this "study" is alleging though. The allegation made is that by paying its doctors more for services UHC is making more money. That only makes sense if they are also charging more.
That's literally the point of any endorsement. Humana's MA plan is endorsed by USAA. But if the insurance was bad the endorsement wouldn't matter.
Also, I have had several people refuse to go with UHC because of their AARP endorsement. They didn't like their politics.
Interesting... I wonder if people can pull that stunt (drop AARP after the first year) with medicare plans.
Thinking about the law - eg that supplement plans are guaranteed renewable (presuming you pay your premiums) - then I'd suspect you could drop your AAPR membership and still keep your supplement. I've had no one ask me that before though so never thought about it other than to tell people they are required to join AAPR to sign up for UNC medigaps. $16/yr isn't much but on principle some don't want to join. Here they (AARP UHC) are the only community risk pool plan so sometimes there is some grumbling and they join against their will because they want UHC.
