02-05-2021

Uhc Medicare Waiving Copays



As an organization, United Healthcare has moved swiftly to support member’s health care needs during this trying time. Between May 11, 2020 and until at least September 30, 2020 United Healthcare has waived copays for primary care doctor office visits and specialist visits for.

Providers sometimes waive patients' cost-sharing amounts (e.g., copays or deductibles) as an accommodation to the patient, professional courtesy, employee benefit, and/or a marketing ploy; however, doing so may violate fraud and abuse laws and/or payor contracts.From a payor's perspective, waiving cost-sharing amounts creates two problems. First, payors often contract with providers to pay. UnitedHealthcare will continue to waive costs for COVID-19 testing provided at approved locations in accordance with the CDC guidelines. In addition, we will waive copays, coinsurance and deductibles for visits associated with COVID-19 testing, whether the care is received in a physician’s office, an urgent care center or an emergency department. UnitedHealthcare is waiving cost share (copays, coinsurance and deductibles) for UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plan members for all covered office-based professional services performed by both primary care physicians and specialists with dates of.

Several private Medicare plan providers, including Cigna, Humana and Aetna, are waiving certain cost-sharing requirements for beneficiaries receiving treatment for COVID-19.

Published April 2, 2020

Follow our Medicare Coronavirus News page for related information on coronavirus (COVID-19) and its impact on Medicare beneficiaries.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) mandated in early March that all testing for COVID-19 be covered in full by Medicare and private Medicare insurance carriers. A COVID-19 vaccine will also be covered if and when one becomes available.

Now, some private insurance carriers are going a step further by eliminating cost-sharing for COVID-19 treatment protocols as well.

Cigna, Humana and Aetna have each taken measures to reduce out-of-pocket spending for their Medicare plan members who undergo treatment for the disease. These out-of-pocket costs can include plan deductibles, coinsurance and copayments.

COVID-19 treatment can potentially include inpatient hospital stays, doctor’s office appointments, inpatient skilled nursing facility stays, home health visits and emergency ambulance transportation.

These services can typically come with costs such as copays and deductibles.

With waived coinsurance and deductibles for COVID-19 treatment, savings can add up

Cigna and Humana both waived COVID-19-related cost-sharing for their Medicare Advantage (Medicare Part C) plans.

Medicare Advantage plans cover the same inpatient and outpatient services and items that are covered by Original Medicare (Medicare Part A and Part B).

While Original Medicare is provided by the federal government, private insurance companies administer Medicare Advantage plans.

Uhc Medicare Waiving Copays Coverage

Some of the out-of-pocket costs that a beneficiary who has Original Medicare may face if they receive covered COVID-19 treatment include:

  • Beneficiaries who have Original Medicare and who receive inpatient hospital treatment for COVID-19 will typically have to pay the 2020 Medicare Part A deductible of $1,408 for each benefit period that they receive inpatient care.
    There are also Part A daily coinsurance costs for lengthy hospital stays that last longer than 60 days.
  • Beneficiaries who have Original Medicare and who receive outpatient care must pay the 2020 Part B deductible of $198 per year before Medicare covers the costs of their outpatient care.
    After meeting the Part B deductible, beneficiaries typically pay a 20 percent coinsurance or copay for covered services and items.

For members of Medicare Advantage plans from Cigna and Humana, however, those costs will be waived for covered COVID-19 treatment.

“Our customers with COVID-19 should focus on fighting this virus and preventing its spread,” David M. Cordani, President and CEO of Cigna1

Uhc Medicare Complete Waiving Copays

“While our customers focus on regaining their health, we have their backs,” David Cordani, President and CEO of Cigna, said in a statement.

Cigna’s cost-sharing waiver expires May 31, 2020.

“We know we’re uniquely positioned to help our members during this unprecedented health crisis,” said Bruce Broussard, President and CEO of Humana. “It’s why we’re taking this significant action to help ease the burden on seniors and others who are struggling right now.”2

Humana’s waivers includes costs related to COVID-19 treatment by both in-network and out-of-network facilities or physicians.

Humana’s cost sharing waivers currently have no end date, as the company plans to readdress the situation as needed.

Aetna, a CVS Health company, is also dismissing COVID-19-related inpatient cost-sharing for its members.

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“The additional steps we’re announcing today are consistent with our commitment to delivering timely and seamless access to care as we navigate the spread of COVID-19,” said Karen S. Lynch, president of Aetna Business Unit. “We are doing everything we can to make sure our members have simple and affordable access to the treatment they need as we face the pandemic together.”3

Aetna’s cost-sharing waiver for inpatient admissions to any in-network facility for treatment of COVID-19 is currently in effect until June 1, 2020.

Company makes it easier for people to access telehealth, virtual care and its personalized digital care platform

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (March 18, 2020) – UnitedHealthcare announced today several updates that provide people and families expanded access to the care, support and resources they need to navigate through this unprecedented time. These actions will expand access to testing and medical care, medication, telehealth services and virtual care including rollout of an innovative, personalized digital platform which includes a symptom checker to help members rapidly assess their risk for COVID-19. The company is also expanding its efforts to engage those people with the highest risk of contracting serious illness.

“In response to COVID-19 we are taking actions to support our members by significantly expanding access to our telehealth, virtual care and digital capabilities for patients and their health care practitioners,” said Dirk McMahon, CEO of UnitedHealthcare. “We are making every effort to protect the health of our members by keeping them safe in their homes while still enabling them to get the care they need.”

Access to Testing and Medical Care
UnitedHealthcare will continue to waive costs for COVID-19 testing provided at approved locations in accordance with the CDC guidelines. In addition, we will waive copays, coinsurance and deductibles for visits associated with COVID-19 testing, whether the care is received in a physician’s office, an urgent care center or an emergency department. This coverage applies to Medicare Advantage and Medicaid members as well as our commercial members.

Access to Medication
Eligible UnitedHealthcare and OptumRx members needing help obtaining an early prescription refill can call the customer care number located on their medical ID card for assistance.

Unitedhealthcare

Uhc Medicare Advantage Waiving Copays

Access to Telehealth
To increase system access and flexibility when it is needed most, we are expanding our telehealth policies to make it easier for people to connect with their healthcare provider. People will have access to telehealth services in two ways:

  • Designated Telehealth Partners – Members can access their existing telehealth benefit offered through one of UnitedHealthcare’s designated partners for free.
  • Expanded Provider Telehealth Access - Effective immediately, for the next 90 days, all eligible in-network medical providers who have the ability and want to connect with their patient through synchronous virtual care (live video-conferencing) can do so. We will waive member cost sharing for COVID-19 testing-related visits.

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Access to Virtual Care for Highest-Risk Members

United Healthcare Insurance Copays

  • We are rapidly expanding access to our personalized digital care platform to those who need it most, including our highest-risk members. This interactive platform provides the most up-to-date information about prevention, coverage, care and support needed to rapidly assess symptoms, schedule an in person or a telehealth visit with their provider, talk to a nurse, refill or schedule home delivery for prescriptions, and to access emotional support 24 hours a day. We are also adding a symptom checker that can help members review their symptoms quickly from the convenience of their own home and then guide them to the appropriate services.
  • We are deploying new technological solutions including a home-based care management platform for our highest-risk members.
  • We have established a navigation support program for our members who are under home isolation due to COVID-19 diagnosis or exposure. This program will provide members with a dedicated customer service professional to guide them through the isolation process and help coordinate access to medications, supplies, food, and appropriate care, as well as connecting them with any need support programs that are available. Members can access the program by calling the customer care number located on the back of their ID card and indicating that their provider has prescribed self-isolation. Members may also be referred to this program through our Nurseline or HouseCalls programs.

Learn more about UnitedHealthcare's response to COVID-19

Uhc Medicare Waiving Copays Phone Number

About UnitedHealthcare
UnitedHealthcare is dedicated to helping people live healthier lives and making the health system work better for everyone by simplifying the health care experience, meeting consumer health and wellness needs, and sustaining trusted relationships with care providers. In the United States, UnitedHealthcare offers the full spectrum of health benefit programs for individuals, employers, and Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, and contracts directly with more than 1.3 million physicians and care professionals, and 6,000 hospitals and other care facilities nationwide. The company also provides health benefits and delivers care to people through owned and operated health care facilities in South America. UnitedHealthcare is one of the businesses of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH), a diversified health care company. For more information, visit UnitedHealthcare at www.uhc.com or follow @UHC on Twitter.