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UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage 2024 Review
UnitedHealthcare makes well-rated plans widely available, but member experience is middle of the pack.
Kate Ashford, CSA® Lead Writer | Medicare, retirement, personal finance
Kate Ashford is a writer and NerdWallet authority on Medicare. She is a certified senior advisor (CSA)® and has more than 18 years of experience writing about personal finance. Previously, she was a freelance writer for both consumer and business publications, and her work has been published by the BBC, Forbes, Money, AARP, LearnVest and Parents, among others. She has a degree from the University of Virginia and a master’s degree in journalism from Northwestern’s Medill School of Journalism. Kate has appeared as a Medicare expert on the PennyWise podcast by Lee Enterprises, and she's been quoted in national publications including Healthline, Real Simple and SingleCare. She is based in New York.
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Alex Rosenberg is a NerdWallet writer focusing on Medicare and information technology. He has more than 10 years of experience researching and writing about health care, insurance, technology, data privacy and public policy. His research has supported lawmakers in the Wisconsin State Legislature as well as health systems and national health authorities in the U.S. and more than 10 other countries. He is based in Stoughton, Wisconsin.
Holly Carey joined NerdWallet in 2021 as an editor on the team responsible for expanding content to additional topics within personal finance. She currently leads the Medicare team. Previously, Holly wrote and edited content and developed digital media strategies as a public affairs officer for the U.S. Navy. She is based in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
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CMS Star RatingAverage Medicare star rating, weighted by enrollment. Star ratings are determined by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans are widely available and boast the largest Medicare Advantage provider network, although member experience ratings are average.
Members in high-rated plansPercentage of members who are in rated contracts with a Medicare star rating of 4 or higher.
Medium (50% to 89%)
Member experienceThe average of CMS' star ratings for quality measures in the domain "Member Experience with the Health Plan," weighted by contract enrollment.
3.12 (Average)
Pros
Largest Medicare Advantage medical network of all companies, with more than 1 million providers.
Largest Medicare Advantage dental network, and all standard plans offer dental coverage.
Available in 49 states and Washington, D.C.
Cons
Member experience scores are average.
Offers one of the highest-priced special needs plans, although lower-priced plans are also available.
States available
49 states and Washington, D.C.
Members in high-rated plansPercentage of members who are in rated contracts with a Medicare star rating of 4 or higher.
Medium (50% to 89%)
Member experienceThe average of CMS' star ratings for quality measures in the domain "Member Experience with the Health Plan," weighted by contract enrollment.
3.12 (Average)
Pros
Largest Medicare Advantage medical network of all companies, with more than 1 million providers.
Largest Medicare Advantage dental network, and all standard plans offer dental coverage.
Available in 49 states and Washington, D.C.
Cons
Member experience scores are average.
Offers one of the highest-priced special needs plans, although lower-priced plans are also available.
UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans are available in almost every U.S. state, and UHC is the largest provider of Medicare Advantage plans
. The company also partners with AARP, insuring the Medicare products that carry the AARP name.
About two-thirds (67%) of UnitedHealthcare members are in highly rated plans, but UnitedHealthcare's 2024 star ratings are slightly below the industry average
. And UHC lands right in the middle of major providers on member experience scores.
Here’s what you should know about UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage.
UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage pros and cons
UnitedHealthcare’s offerings have advantages and disadvantages:
Pros
Largest provider network: UnitedHealthcare offers the largest Medicare Advantage network of all companies, with more than 1 million network care providers
Largest dental network:UHC offers the biggest dental network of all Medicare Advantage providers, and all standard plans offer some dental coverage.
$0 copays: All members of standard Medicare Advantage plans will have a $0 copay for virtual visits, mammograms, colonoscopies, and routine exams for dental, vision and hearing care.
Home benefits: UnitedHealthcare offers annual home health visits for members who need a house call.
Cons
Average member satisfaction ratings: Despite being a behemoth in the industry, UnitedHealthcare's member experience scores are average among major providers.
Special needs plans can get pricey: While lower-priced plans are available, UnitedHealthcare also offers the highest-priced special needs plan (SNP) in 2024, so it’s worth keeping an eye on the cost for plans that fit your needs
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services maintains a database of star ratings on every Medicare Advantage and Medicare prescription drug plan, ranging from best (5 stars) to worst (1 star). The agency bases these ratings on plans’ quality of care and measurements of customer satisfaction, and ratings may change from year to year.
All Medicare Advantage plans are evaluated on health plan measures, and Medicare Advantage plans that include prescription drug coverage are also evaluated on drug plan measures. Based on the most recent year of data and weighted by enrollment, UnitedHealthcare’s 2024 Medicare Advantage plans got an average rating of 3.87 stars
Eight UnitedHealthcare contracts received 5-star ratings, and 10 received 4.5 stars. Nine contracts were too new or otherwise lacking enough data to be rated.
Of UnitedHealthcare members who are in Medicare Advantage contracts with a star rating, two-thirds (67%) are in contracts rated 4.0 or above as of October 2023
What does UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage cost?
Costs for Medicare Advantage plans will depend on your plan, geographic location and health needs.
Premiums
One of the costs to consider is the plan’s premium, and in 2024, 69% of UnitedHealthcare’s Medicare Advantage plans are $0-premium plans.
Even as a Medicare Advantage user, you’ll still be responsible for paying your Medicare Part B premium, which is at least $164.90 per month in 2023 ($174.70 in 2024)
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Costs. Accessed Oct 16, 2023.
. (Most people pay this standard amount, but if your income is above a certain threshold, you’ll pay more.)
Copays, coinsurance and deductibles
Requirements for copays, coinsurance and deductibles vary depending on your plan, location and the services you use. Other out-of-pocket costs to consider include:
Whether the plan covers any part of your monthly Medicare Part B premium.
The plan’s yearly deductibles and other deductibles, such as a drug deductible.
Copayments and/or coinsurance for each visit or service. For instance, there may be a $10 copay for seeing your primary doctor and a $45 copay for seeing a specialist.
The plan’s in-network and out-of-network out-of-pocket maximums.
Whether your medical providers are in network or out of network, or how often you may go out of network for care.
Whether you require extra benefits, and whether the plan charges for them.
Here are some examples of UHC Medicare Advantage costs for the most popular plans in a mid-range city:
UHC/AARP Medicare Advantage plan
Pricing
AARP Medicare Advantage from UHC KC-0004 (PPO)
Monthly premium: $0.
Out-of-pocket max: $3,700.
Copays:
Primary care: $0.
Specialist: $25.
Tier 1 prescription drugs: $0.
AARP Medicare Advantage Patriot No Rx KS-MA01 (PPO)
Monthly premium: $0.
Out-of-pocket max: $4,400.
Copays:
Primary care: $0.
Specialist: $40.
Tier 1 prescription drugs: N/A.
AARP Medicare Advantage from UHC KC-0002 (HMO-POS)
To get a sense of costs, use Medicare’s plan-finding tool to compare information among available plans in your area. You can select by insurance carrier to see only UnitedHealthcare plans or compare across carriers. You can also shop directly from UnitedHealthcare’s website by entering your ZIP code, and you’ll be able to compare the plans available.
UHC Medicare Advantage plan types
UnitedHealthcare offers several kinds of Medicare Advantage plans, and they vary in terms of structure, costs and benefits available.
In general, UnitedHealthcare offers Medicare Advantage prescription drug plans as well as stand-alone prescription drug plans and Medicare Advantage plans without drug coverage. UHC also offers Medicare Advantage Patriot Plans, which are geared toward veterans and other people with existing drug coverage
A health maintenance organization (HMO) generally requires that you use a specific network of doctors and hospitals. You may need a referral from your primary doctor to see a specialist, and out-of-network benefits are usually limited.
HMO-POS plans
HMO point-of-service plans are HMO plans that allow members to get some out-of-network services, but you’ll pay more for those services.
PPO plans
Preferred provider organization (PPO) plans provide the most freedom, allowing you to see any provider that accepts the insurance. You may not need to choose a primary doctor, and you don’t need referrals to see specialists. You can seek out-of-network care, although it may cost more than seeing an in-network doctor.
PFFS plans
UnitedHealthcare’s private fee-for-service (PFFS) plans allow you to see any Medicare-approved provider who accepts your UnitedHealthcare plan. You won’t have to pick a primary doctor, and you won’t need a referral to see a specialist.
SNPs
Special needs plans (SNPs) restrict membership to people with certain diseases or characteristics. The benefits, network and drug formularies are tailored to the needs of those members. UnitedHealthcare offers three types of SNPs:
Chronic Condition SNP: Designed to meet the needs of members living with certain chronic conditions, such as cardiovascular disorders, diabetes or chronic heart failure.
Dual-Eligible SNP: For people who are entitled to Medicare and who also qualify for assistance from a state Medicaid program.
Institutional plans: Provide specialized care to members who live in skilled nursing or assisted living facilities and need an institutional level of care.
Third-party ratings
A few companies weigh in on health plans or on the strength of the company in question, and we’ve included three:
AM Best Financial Strength Rating: A+ (Superior)
AM Best is a credit rating agency that specializes in the insurance industry. In December 2022, AM Best affirmed its Financial Strength Rating of A+ (Superior) for the companies collectively referred to as UnitedHealthcare. An A+ rating in this category indicates that AM Best believes UnitedHealthcare has a superior ability to meet its ongoing insurance obligations
In its 2023 U.S. Medicare Advantage Study — the ninth it’s done so far — J.D. Power measured member satisfaction with Medicare Advantage plans based on eight factors ranging from level of trust to how well a provider resolves problems or complaints. The study was fielded in the five biggest Medicare markets, and here’s how UnitedHealthcare ranked out of all major providers
The National Committee for Quality Assurance rates health insurance plans on a 5-point scale (with 5 being best) based on quality of care, patient satisfaction and health plans’ efforts to keep improving.
In its September 2023 ratings of UnitedHealthcare plans, NCQA awarded ratings between 2.0 and 4.5 stars. Among the company’s plans with ratings, more than half received scores of 3.5 or above, but there were 23 plans with 3.0 stars, 15 plans with 2.5 stars and one plan with 2.0 stars — UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company in Hawaii
UnitedHealthcare offers Medicare Advantage plans in 49 states and Washington, D.C. Ninety-six percent of Medicare beneficiaries have the option of a UnitedHealthcare plan.
UnitedHealthcare is the largest for-profit Medicare Advantage provider in the country, with 8.9 million Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in a UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plan. The company added more than 1.1 million members for the 2023 plan year, according to a report from health care analytics firm The Chartis Group
UnitedHealthcare is part of UnitedHealth Group, which is headquartered in Minnetonka, Minnesota. It's the largest health insurance company in the U.S. The company offers individual- and employer-based health insurance plans, Medicare and Medicaid plans, dental and vision plans, and other types of supplemental insurance. In 2022, UnitedHealthcare reported $249.7 billion in revenue.
Read the NerdWallet reviews of these other UnitedHealthcare offerings:
Get more information below about some of the major Medicare Advantage providers. These insurers offer plans in most states. The plans you can choose from will depend on your ZIP code and county.
What are the plan’s costs? Do you understand what the plan’s premium, deductibles, copays and/or coinsurance will be? Can you afford them?
Is your doctor in-network? If you have a preferred medical provider or providers, make sure they participate in the plan’s network.
Are your prescriptions covered? If you’re on medication, it’s crucial to understand how the plan covers it. What tier are your prescription drugs on, and are there any coverage rules that apply to them?
Is there dental coverage? Does the plan offer routine coverage for vision, dental and hearing needs?
Are there extras? Does the plan offer any extra benefits, such as fitness memberships, transportation benefits or meal delivery?
Frequently asked questions
Is UnitedHealthcare Medicare good?
UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans are rated slightly below the industry average. The provider’s 2024 Medicare Advantage plans received an average rating of 3.87 stars out of 5 from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, weighted by enrollment. For comparison, the average weighted star rating for plans from all providers was 4.04.
Is UnitedHealthcare Medicare the same as Medicare?
No, UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans are sold by a private insurance company that has contracted with the federal government to sell Medicare plans. Members of these plans generally must use the providers and hospitals within the plan’s network for their nonemergency health care. If they go out-of-network, they may pay more. Original Medicare, on the other hand, is sold by the federal government, and members of these plans can visit any doctor or hospital in the U.S. that accepts Medicare.
What is the difference between AARP and UnitedHealthcare?
AARP and UnitedHealthcare are partners — UnitedHealthcare sells AARP-branded Medicare plans. AARP is not a health insurer, but it sells Medicare plans that are insured by UnitedHealthcare.
What is the most popular Medicare Advantage provider?
Among Medicare Advantage members, the largest percentage are enrolled in a UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plan. In 2023, UnitedHealthcare accounts for 29% of the Medicare Advantage market, or 8.9 million members, according to a report from KFF, a health policy nonprofit. The next-closest insurer, Humana, accounts for 18%.
Is UnitedHealthcare Medicare good?
UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans are rated slightly below the industry average. The provider’s 2024 Medicare Advantage plans received an average rating of 3.87 stars out of 5 from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, weighted by enrollment. For comparison, the average weighted star rating for plans from all providers was 4.04.
Is UnitedHealthcare Medicare the same as Medicare?
No, UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans are sold by a private insurance company that has contracted with the federal government to sell Medicare plans. Members of these plans generally must use the providers and hospitals within the plan’s network for their nonemergency health care. If they go out-of-network, they may pay more. Original Medicare, on the other hand, is sold by the federal government, and members of these plans can visit any doctor or hospital in the U.S. that accepts Medicare.
What is the difference between AARP and UnitedHealthcare?
AARP and UnitedHealthcare are partners — UnitedHealthcare sells AARP-branded Medicare plans. AARP is not a health insurer, but it sells Medicare plans that are insured by UnitedHealthcare.
What is the most popular Medicare Advantage provider?
Among Medicare Advantage members, the largest percentage are enrolled in a UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plan. In 2023, UnitedHealthcare accounts for 29% of the Medicare Advantage market, or 8.9 million members, according to a report from KFF, a health policy nonprofit. The next-closest insurer, Humana, accounts for 18%.
