United Healthcare Health Insurance Company
The United Healthcare Health Insurance Company is a division of UnitedHealth Group, which is a major health insurance carrier in the United States. United Healthcare (UHC) is a company offering health insurance products to over 70 million Americans. If you are considering changing health insurance companies, or are looking for your first policy, you may want to consider the products offered by United Healthcare and compare them to your other prospective providers.
United Healthcare offers a number of health insurance plans. The company claims to be committed to offering a quality product at a price that consumers can afford. In a situation where a standard policy doesn’t give you the level of coverage you need, United Healthcare customers can add optional benefits or a rider to the policy.
After you have read through this United Healthcare review then be sure and read the reviews of United Healthcare written by customers of UHC at the bottom of the page (or be sure and leave your own review of UHC health insurance!) Once you have finished the review of United Healthcare then be sure and use the free quote tool to compare quotes from top health insurance providers for free online!
Benefits of United Healthcare
One of the greatest benefits to choosing a UHC health insurance plan is that UnitedHealth Group is the single largest health carrier in the US. The size of United Healthcare is a huge advantage to its members because of its extremely large network of Doctors and Hospitals allow for tremendous convenience and cost savings.
United Healthcare Co-Pay Plans
UHC offers co-pay insurance plans to its customers because they have similar benefits as employer health plans. Under a Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plan, the subscriber is required to pay a set amount for each office visit and preventive care visit when consulting a doctor who is participating in the network. After the co-payment has been made, the insurer will cover the cost of the services provided, up to the limit stated on the policy.
Many plans will pay for the full cost (100%) of the fee for the consultation and exam. Prescription drugs are usually included in this type of plan as well. The subscriber is responsible for paying a set co-pay for each prescription medication. If you are considering a health insurance plan with a co-pay, you will want to ask whether you have coverage for generic drug only, or if your coverage extends to brand name medications as well. (You may need to pay a higher amount if you want to get something other than a generic medication.) Be aware that even if it does cover name brand medications, there may be a preferred list and some they just won’t cover.
United Healthcare offers a Golden Rule insurance plan (United Healthcare individual health insurance plans are marketed under different names in different states – Golden Rule, United HealthOne, PacifiCare, American Medical Security, and AMS) that pays for medical expenses (in-patient and out-patient) up to a lifetime limit of $3 million. Customers have the option of buying a policy with a lifetime limit of $5 million as well.
Generally speaking, a higher lifetime limit is a good idea if you can afford the coverage. If you were involved in a serious accident or were diagnosed with a chronic illness, the cost of your care would add up very quickly. Once you reach the lifetime limit, you will be responsible for paying for your medical care out of your own pocket, which is a situation you will want to avoid.
United Healthcare High Deductible Plans
If you are willing and able to pay for the cost of your regular healthcare yourself, choosing a high-deductible health insurance plan from United Healthcare may be the right choice for you. When you choose a plan with a higher deductible, you save money on the cost of your premium payments. The insurance company will pay only benefits once you meet your deductible.
This option is a good choice for people who are relatively healthy and who don’t anticipate needing to see a doctor often. It is a product designed to meet the needs to people who are more focuses on wanting to buy health coverage to protect them from major medical expenses.
United Healthcare Short Term Health Insurance Coverage
UHC short term health insurance is designed to fill in gaps in coverage for up to six months at a time. A person who has lost his or her job or who has recently graduated from college and doesn’t have employer health insurance coverage would likely be interested in this kind of insurance coverage. Someone who is taking early retirement would benefit from this plan as well.
United Healthcare offers several deductible levels for short term insurance. You can choose the payment options and length of coverage that makes sense for your situation. If you get coverage from another carrier, you can drop your short-term coverage at any point, without penalty.
United Healthcare Student Health Insurance Coverage
The student health insurance plans offered by United Healthcare protect students 24 hours a day, whether they are on campus or not. Students can participate in United’s PPO, which has member physicians nationwide. A help line staffed by registered nurses is also available to subscribers to answer questions they may have. You can also use the number above to talk to independent agents who can help you to compare the various plans, policies and providers you are considering.
Compare United Healthcare Health Insurance Quotes Online
Now that you have some information about the kinds of products that United Healthcare Health Insurance Company provides, why don’t you take the next step and get some quotes for your coverage? The free insurance tool at the top of the page is here to help. Just click on it and you can get started comparing rates from many different health insurance providers online right now!
87 Comments to “United Healthcare Health Insurance Company”
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United Healthcare has a great prescription discount. I’ve been really happy with them so far.
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UHC has the largest network throughout the U.S. I loved this company when on group and am looking forward to same service as an individual.
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UHC is great, I have had the same insurance for years and never had a bad experience.
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“I had United Healthcare throughout the pregnancy of my second child. I was very satisfied with it; I never had to dispute any unnecessary bills or payments. It was also widely accepted with my doctor and the specialists to which she sent me.
My only complaint was that the co-pay was a lot higher than my previous (and current) health insurance provider.”
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“Recently, I purchased health insurance from the GoldenRule United Healthcare Company. As a young professional with limited funds, I was looking for a comprehensive plan that would not break the bank: I found it with GoldenRule. The application was easy and straightforward and the customer service was helpful and timely.
I also appreciated the wide range of plans GoldenRule offered and the way it allowed me to find the perfect plan to meet my needs. I have, and would recommend, United Healthcare to anyone who is looking for an affordable and comprehensive healthcare plan.”
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United Healthcare Insurance has great coverage, but the customer service experience I have had is less than exceptional. I believe that the policy is fairly priced compared to what it offers.
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I purchased Golden Rule over two years ago in Florida. I now live in Delaware and have been very satisfied with my insurance. They offer everything I need.
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“I can’t tell you how horrendous UHC is. Have been a member for six years through my employer. They deliberately delay and deny claims. My young son is a cancer survivor and UHC made my life a living nightmare with denials and delays. To get paid, I have to keep separate files on each doctor or provider used, and track with a monthly phone log of who I spoke with and what was said.
I have six years of these records. Today was on the phone with Kingley, who told me that she couldn’t discuss denied claims for my husband without written authorization from him. I have been speaking for him on denied claims for all this time. Then she put me on hold and after a 30-minute wait, I am now going back in through the 800 number on the back of the card. Once I got through to that number, I was told they had to give me another 800 number. This is just to let you know what it is like to deal with UHC.”
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“I have been covered by UHC through my employer and my spouse’s employer for the past 4 years. I rarely visit the doctor as I am quite healthy other than seasonal allergies and other little issues, but every visit resulted in denials of basic coverages that were promised to me. They even changed my policy and then went back to charge me for visits before the changes were in effect…. horrible company!!
When I called the company to get the coverage I paid for, they argued until I showed them exactly where the policy said it was covered, but then their office denied my claim again anyway!!! AGGHH!!
Eventually, I decided not to argue and it wasn’t worth the cost of hiring a lawyer -just $200 here, another $100 there. And as for network… many doctors who accept UHC want patients to pay upfront and then patients can get reimbursed -guess they have trouble getting money out of UHC too.
Pretty happy to be losing this coverage -will not be going through them again.”
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“First, let me say that I used to have UHC River Valley insurance for a couple years, and was always happy with it. Now that I said that, I can tell you that I also happen to work in a medical billing department, and can say that UHC is without a doubt the WORST insurance company EVER!
Their claims are constantly done wrong. I’d say nearly 20-30% of all claims are processed incorrectly. Their customer service is horrible also. It is extremely rare to call them and find someone that actually knows what they are talking about.
Like I said, though, I had no problems with my own claims, but I see constant problems from them every day. I would be very wary of getting a UHC policy.”
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“I just read an article that says, “Hospital executives rank United Healthcare as the worst insurance company in the United States.†(It is available here: http://www.allbusiness.com/health-care/health-care-facilities). This will come as no surprise to many members and providers alike. Like many others, I want to share my recent experience with United Health Care so that people can decide for themselves whether or not this is the kind of health insurance they feel they want to purchase for their families.
I am a neuropsychologist and was asked to see a UHC member for neuropsychological testing. I filled out all of the appropriate forms required by United Healthcare and received a telephone call authorizing me to test their member. They gave me a cap on the hours (13 hours total) and an authorization number. I provided the services as promised and then sent the appropriate claim to the United Healthcare offices.
When they sent me the check, there was a note on the Explanation of Benefits saying I had agreed to a discounted fee (an approximately 50% discount, mind you) through an organization called MultiPlan (If you haven’t heard of them, you’re in for a treat.
They contract with insurance companies to try to persuade clinicians to agree to a reduced fee and they get paid a percentage of what they “”save”” the insurance company.) Needless to say, I do not and never will have an agreement with this company, as I do not support business practices such as this.
When I contacted United Healthcare to straighten this out, they told me I had to deal with MultiPlan. Multiplan never answers their phone (I wonder why) so I got nowhere until I filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau. This got the attention of Cindy Hernandez, a Consumer Affairs Advocate for UHC (1-800-842-2656). She researched this issue and came up with a fabulous solution! She decided that United Healthcare had authorized this treatment in error and paid me in error AFTER I HAD RENDERED THE AUTHORIZED TREATMENT to their member.
They then “”recalculated”” the claim form and decided that I actually owe THEM money! They have asked for the entire amount back ($966.68). They have a very fancy way of explaining their “”logic”” and have added that the original error was with their processor and they have arranged for her “”to receive additional training or other intervention as appropriate.””
With a second patient, they attempted to get me to accept a reduced fee through MultiPlan for another member and I declined. After that, they refused to pay me AT ALL for the services I provided to the other member while he was in the hospital. United Healthcare also authorized these services and the correct authorization number was submitted with the claims.
In both cases, the services were requested by a physician and approved by United Healthcare. The services were rendered as authorized and the appropriate claims were filed. Unfortunately – and this really is the sad part – both of these claims will have to be paid in full by the members. These claims total thousands of dollars.
As I’m sure many of you know, United Healthcare is the focus of a Class Action Lawsuit in New York because of their questionable business practices. When I Googled “United Health Care reviews,†I was SHOCKED at the number of complaints against this company. How is it that they are getting away with this kind of behavior?”
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“We have had a horrible experience with United Healthcare. My husband and I both took the online health assessment and printed the confirmation. A few days later, my husband elected coverage.
Later we found out that he was supposed to wait six days to elect coverage, so we got bumped to the high deductible plan. We filed an appeal to get the coverage changed to the plan we elected, but UHC denied us because my husband elected coverage too early. Isn’t that the stupidest thing you have ever heard? We are both healthy 26-year-olds who are paying insane amounts for “”health care coverage””.
We found out I was pregnant this year and we have had to pay for EVERYTHING. From the ultrasounds to the standard blood tests. A little over $500 a month comes out of my husband’s paychecks on top of having to meet a $1,500 deductible! Then, once we meet the deductible we will still have to pay 20% of all bills up to $2,000. All in all to have this baby it has cost us $8,000 (the $1,500, plus the $4,500 that comes out of my husband’s checks, plus the $2,000 out of pocket)
On top of all that, United Healthcare does not cover any prescribed prenatal vitamins (because they are vitamins), so we had to pay full price for those each month.
I can not express enough my disgust with this company and their terrible customer service. Once open enrollment begins, we are dropping United Healthcare and looking elsewhere for healthcare coverage!”
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Hi All… don’t take this insurance….if we claim…they will give only 10% of ur claim amount..
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“They constantly lie about the processing on claims. They blame Ceridian for not informing them of updates, and also they blame their own databases for not updating.
I have spent over 20 hours in the past few months simply trying to get my COBRA account updated correctly in their “”databases””. They take no responsibility for correcting their own incompetence, simply advising me to sort things out with my former employer or Ceridian. Or they lie and say they will resolve things that they never do.
Their “”rapid resolution”” department is a joke. different explanation every time I call them. Their case numbers don’t match or are inaccessible. They advise that they will call me back yet never do.
I sincerely hope the BBB or class action lawsuits reveal how truly dishonest and incompetent this company is.”
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“They are by far the worst insurance company we have ever had to deal with! They are the masters at denying claims. I just got into it with a belligerent rep this morning over old claims still being denied and she got mad when I told her that the people they pay to just find ways to deny claims are doing well.
Yes, it is true they have people on their payroll whose job is to find ways to deny claims. The only way to put them out of business is for doctors and hospitals to stop accepting them and employers to stop using them.”
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“United Health Care is horrible.
We are a provider and hate this company. Their only goal after they take your premium is to cut and deny claims. We are working on dropping out of the network.
They are the worst no doubt.”
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“I have been trying to get a claim processed for the last year and a half to be repaid for in-home medical care for my dad who is now deceased. They directed us to their Rapid resolution center a year and three months ago. Every time I call to check the status of the claim no-one has any idea what I’m talking about.
The claim and reference numbers are always different and they have sent me no info on the claim which is about 35,000.00 dollars. They stated I would here within ninety days. Like I said that was well over a year ago. They have me so confused I have no idea in which direction to go. I honestly believe that is their intent.
Delays, misinformation, and department transfers are all I’ve gotten. Mail correspondence with them is a joke as well. The last department they sent me to was the legal and records department who have nothing to do with the claims. Unbelievable!!!!!!!”
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“Bad bad bad insurance company. They’re a rip off.
I pay almost 400 dollars mo. to pay for our health insurance and have to pay $50 for specialist co-pay and I’m still having to pay extra for diagnostic test done at doctors office such as simple labs. I have to pay 100% of those because they said they apply towards the deductible. I have to pay $1300 in deductible before they start paying for diagnostic services. And almost every MD visit requires them to find out why you’re feeling sick of course.
Awful customer service. Rep not wanting to give me estimates over the phone for the services I will need. Finally agreed to do it but put me on hold for 30 minutes and, in the end, she said they couldn’t help me because their computer is not working properly. Can’t get a human to figure out something for you these days. Told me I should use their cost estimator online, but when I went there, it wasn’t working either.
Finally, saw that it’s working today but doesn’t even have the labs that I need. Frankly, this cost estimator is not very user-friendly. You can’t just type in the code or the procedure to get estimates. You have to put in the disease or the body system that it goes under and then some more choices to choose from. You will get lost if you don’t know much about medicine. And even if you do manage to navigate yourself through, you’ll find that a lot of the procedures or lab test are still missing. They really suck!
Don’t get this insurance whatever you do. You’ll end up sicker with all the headache and stress it’ll give you instead of getting better!”
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“They should have no stars! This insurance company sucks!
We’re already paying a high monthly payment for the cost of our insurance and yet we’re still having to pay for everything when for the office visits and lab draws. They apply everything towards the deductible which is also high and so, therefore, we’re basically having to pay for everything before this deductible is met.
Not only that, customer services isn’t that great either. I asked for an estimate (since everything seems to be costing much higher for us now that we’ve switched to uhc for aetna, not by choice)for some lab work. The lady I talked to said it’s better to use their cost estimator online. I said well I have her on the phone already, can’t she give me an estimate over the phone, after all, from previous experience I always run into problems using website tools.
So the lady agreed to help but not too happy about it, put me on hold for a long time and had to contact another person to estimate the cost, I guess. After 30 minutes, still no result, later they had to tell me that they’ll get back to me in 5 days because they’re having problems with their computer. Still waiting for them to get back to me.
After hanging up with her, guess what..their online estimator was not even working! And she was even insisting that I use that because she said it’s more accurate,and if she helped me, it wouldn’t be accurate! Why not?! Shouldn’t they be more reliable that these machines.
Are these people not able to obtain info such as prices they charge and do no know how use their head for math skills anymore?? They seem so helpless without the help of a computer! So now I checked today and their estimator is working but now I can’t find the labs that I’m suppose to get done! Absolutely ridiculous! No help at all!
UHC, I hate you, and next year when my husband””s company gives us a choice to choose an insurance company, u can count on us ditching you!!! FOR EVERYONE OUT THERE TRYING TO GET A HEALTH INSURANCE, DO NOT, I REPEAT, DO NOT GO WITH THIS COMPANY! THEY WILL RIP YOU OFF! BEFORE YOU KNOW IT, THEY WILL TAKE ALL YOUR MONEY TILL ITS ALL GONE! CONSIDER YOURSELVES WARNED!!!”
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“All I can say, if you are a Senior, Do not use these people and their Medicare supplement plan. They are slow slow slow in processing claims, their customer service people do not understand the programs or else are giving incorrect information on purpose so they can keep you tied up in paperwork instead of processing the claim and they are extremely rude.
I can hardly wait until October when I can get rid of them. They are competitive in the price but if you can’t get them to pay the difference in price does not make up for the aggravation or the conflict with the doctors.”
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“This company is an organized crime syndicate. They have even been prosecuted on RICO charges and yet since they have purchased large numbers of politicians and Judges, their suits miraculously get dropped or they are not found at fault.
The CEO and managers of UHC would be spending their time in a penitentiary if they were in any other business.All patients MUST inundate their senators and representatives with examples of UHC’s fraudulent thieving behavior.
Also, file all grievances to your state insurance commissioner’s office. MASSIVE quantities of complaints that brought all other business to a halt would be an answer.”
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“The people who complain about high deductibles and co-pays….ummmmm that is pretty much set on how much your employer wants to fit the bill for their part of insurance coverage. Not every policy is the same.
I see some with high co-pays and deductibles and some with low co-pays and NO DEDUCTIBLES. I work with billing for a hospital and UHC is one of least aggravating insurances out there. They pay for many things other insurances don’t pay for. And no….I don’t work for them! lol”
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“United Healthcare is the WORST insurance company that I have ever dealt with. They charge high premiums and have deductibles.
The worst thing about United Healthcare is that they have dropped three of the prescriptions that I depend on in order to survive. My doctor has written appeals and they have denied all appeals. They do not care about their policy holders. They only care about making money. The CEO of United Healthcare is paid approximately $70 Million per year when you add in his bonus and kick-backs.
If you are looking for coverage and you have other options…DO NOT CHOOSE UNITED HEALTHCARE! It is the absolute worst insurance company.”
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United health care denied my son’s surgery after a degenerative facial disease has reduced the soft tissue on his nose forehead and neck to the point you can see thru it. His nose collapsing on the left side does to tissue loss. And they say it is cosmetic. Yea right!
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“United Healthcare is more interested in their shareholders than the people who pay for the insurance. They are also extremely slow paying the doctors.
Next time you go to your doctor, ask the office manager about the payment lag and stalling tactics they use to prevent paying the doctors. Do your research before selecting a health insurance provider.
It may be more cost effective for your family to carry only catastrophic coverage and handle the routine medical needs with cash. Ask your doctor about cash discounts.
Stay away from United Healthcare”
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“I have been dealing with United Healthcare on almost a daily basis for three months! So far, they have told me my plan hasn’t changed, it has changed but didn’t affect my treatment and then, yes, it changed and does affect my treatments in progress.
They have reclassified my bills as alcohol treatment services when I was going in for occupational therapy (one can see how that could be confusing!). I have not had a consistent person to talk to throughout this whole process. No one has said that they are sorry, they just blame someone else and tell me that I can trust them – they are telling me the truth.
The reason I called ahead was because I was unsure of the specifics of my benefits. The lady read them to me and told me they were online. Online it says I can be billed one of two ways, but there’s no way to know which way my in-network place of service bills.
I am in the appeals process, which should be further along its way than it is because one of their ever-so-helpful representatives told me that she could do a verbal claims exception, but failed to see if that was possible under my plan. Of course, it wasn’t, so that wasted two weeks.
The customer service representatives are horrible and have no clue what they are doing. You are better off trying to pull information out of the air than get a straight answer from them.
I will be writing to the Department of Banking and Insurance – I urge anyone else who has had an awful experience with this horrific company to do as well!”
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“NIGHTMARE!!
I have been fighting with this company for months without any results. They act like they will take care of the bill to find out, they have once again told another lie. This company tells lies and gives their customers the runaround. I would stay away to avoid this company.
The last time I wasted hours trying to get the bill paid they transferred me to six different individuals, which resulted the same as the other three days I wasted hours on the phone!
My advice, STAY AWAY!!”
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“After a company change on my dad’s policy from BCBS of MS (though I just got a job and will go to BCBS of TN), I have had nothing but problems, mainly with their Rx coverage.
Lexapro, which cost $35/month with BCBS and did not have a quantity limit now costs $75/month and must be ordered via MEDCOs mail order pharmacy in 3-month supplies… on top of that, the max they will cover is 20mg/day (was on 30mg). I have argued with reps at least 6 times over the testosterone I am prescribed…. though they will cover it, it is impossible to GET. it comes in 10cc vials (which, for me, lasts 6 months), but they only cover 1 months worth at a time, despite my trying to explain how much cheaper it is.
Apparently, they would rather me go to Testim or another 3rd tier topical and have both of us pay more than to cover the vial of generic test cypionate that lasts half a year. IDIOCY! I just pay for it without insurance and it’s only $60, so $10/month. They would rather me go to a specialty or compounding pharm and have ampoules made up for the 2ccs I get per month!!
After trying every way possible to explain this to the rep, his reply EVERY time was, “”the amount entered exceeds the prescribed monthly supply.”” (I am an RN, but I think most people realize that an injectable LIQUID medication cannot be counted out like pills… the pharmacy cannot just pop of the sterile seal and give me 2 ccs in a dixie cup. Perhaps it comes in 1ml amps. I don’t know, but the fact that THEY decline it when it would save them money as well baffles me.
They DO cover compounded meds which BCBS does not, HOWEVER, every time I submit it, they find something new in the paperwork on which to reject it and have me do it all over again. Their customer service reps are very polite for the most part, but they really aren’t too helpful.
I believe a big problem is their Rxs are managed by MEDCO, a totally different company, and neither company has any idea what the other is doing. I even see the way doctors’ office admin/front desk clerks cringe when I tell them I’ve had to switch to UHC. Everything that is submitted seems to initially be rejected for some insane reason.
Medication conflict-MINOR- the pharmacist has to override every time. Anything they can do to get out of paying for anything!!”
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“the plan I have requires copayments for everything and it’s not only expensive but it makes one’s life a nightmare as many invoices are coming in after just one visit. on top, they might not pay for ER, so many requirements.
right now I need emergency care, my regular doctor has two days a wk, any other doctor doesn’t accept me or have far away appointments. need to find an Emergency care doctor close to my home but I can’t and I can’t drive. I have a hospital just one block away but I am afraid to go to ER. this is UHC plan. just a nightmare.”
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“I agree with all of the negs above.
Have a son with behavioral issues. UBH, part of the UHC coverage, denied his stay in a 24-hour facility against the recommendations of the facilities doctors, our local DR’s. and the 3 urgent care facilities that had previously treated him. Avg stay in this facility was 3 months. At 30 days, UBH started looking for proof that he was ready for outpatient. I’ll bet you can guess the rest of the story.
First opportunity to get out, we’ll take it.”
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“THIS IS THE WORST INSURANCE COMPANY I HAVE SEEN IN 25 YEARS BEING IN THE MEDICAL FIELD!!
Everything you see on these pages is true! They constantly deny claims and look for lame a$%# excuses to deny your prescription!! They need to shut their doors or someone needs to file a class action lawsuit for all these people!”
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“Worst company ever stay Away.
I have this insurance through my employer and I am currently looking for another insurance company. Through my company, it is 300 a month for just a single person. It doesn’t cover any bloodwork at all. All but one claim from them have not been covered because they say they can not “”find me in the system”” when I have an insurance number and customer number.
Everyone who works there is stupid and I usually do not use this word. After they keep you on hold for a good 45 mins they tell u to call back everytime time in 2 weeks and management is never there. It always goes to the voicemail which he never calls back. I have left many messages and been battling one claim a simpÅdr office check up for 3 months Stay away!”
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“I have been a member since 2005 and have had no problems, EXCEPT paying my monthly payment (I wish it could be cheaper)LOL.
I have succeeded each month so far and I am well taken care of. I have had some problems and I do not worry about if my insurance will pay.
United Healthcare Insurance thru AARP is very very helpful.”
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“I called UHC one afternoon seeking an urgent care facility for my son. I was given errant information stating that there were “”no facilities in the entire state”” within my plan, when in fact, there were two urgent care facilities just about an hour away from me. I clearly asked the agent to increase the mileage radius for the search, so that facilities that were further away would show up.
Again, he stated that there were NO urgent care facilities available to me within the entire state of Maine. He then directed me to an emergency care center in town. Becuase of this, we incurred a $420 bill as opposed to a $100-150 bill that we would have incurred at an urgent center. When UHC was confronted with this, they grossly misrepresented my concerns and replied with a generic “”your appeal has been denied”” letter.
I am completely dissatisfied with this errant information and inferior, inadequate (dis)service provided by UHC in this matter.”
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“I work in a medical office and can definitely tell you that UNITED HEALTHCARE IS THE WORST INSURANCE COMPANY. They treat providers (doctors) office so poorly by paying the lowest, making the process of discussing a claim that they did NOT pay the contracted amount very difficult by routing phone calls from doctors offices to INDIA.
(long holding times 40 minutes and longer to try to just discuss an incorrect claim but if I ask them to hold so that I may provide them with additional info they ask, they tell me THEY can only hold for 1 minute and have had them hang up, unable to understand their employees from India.
We continue to have patients complain about their high premiums for such LOW benefit and HIGH deductible that we can attest to.”
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“United Healthcare is as bad as it gets, the CEOs should be thrown in prison, they are totally ripping off patients and doctors. My job puts me in contact with various clinics every week where I talk to billing departments.
Everyone said they are without a doubt, the absolute worst when it comes to paying claims that should be paid. The PATIENT gets stuck with paying then. The UH policy of regularly denying claims for no good reason is MUCH higher than normal. As a patient, I’ve seen how they deny payments to my doctor and I then get billed for it.”
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“The WORST insurance company ever! We have experienced nothing but issues.
I have spent more time on the phone arguing with UHC than I spend with my husband and family. Their approved “”in network”” facilities are below average. The approved substitute asthma medication they recommended for my son ended him up in the ER & admitted to the hospital. We are now forced to declare bankruptcy to cover the deductibles & co-insurance from his hospital stay.
I called and requested an urgent care facility and was instead given an ER by mistake and we were forced to pay the difference in charges even though they admitted to giving the incorrect information. Every time we have any injury ie my son fell down playing outside and we went to the approved facility for a $48 x-ray we received a letter requiring us to provide all sorts of information including where the incident occurred, how it occurred, otherwise they would deny the claim.
It took 2 weeks & multiple calls from my specialist before they would approve an MRI for my foot which I have been suffering with for over 3 months. The hysterical part is that I will be paying for it in full since I have not met the deductible yet. They will NOT have to shell out a single penny for the $1000 test, yet they were still denying coverage.
My husband is currently looking to switch jobs so that we can get a different insurer. Stay away, stay far far away!!!!
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“Unless your a person that never has health problems and rarely visits a doctor, avoid United Healthcare. I have the High Plan. I pay because I figured I would get better coverage. I called United to check if some diagnostic testing was covered. They (United) told me, yes it’s cover in full. I said “”100%””. They said “”Yes””. My wife called to confirm. They said same thing. Even doctors office called.
Sure enough, a few months later I get a bill for 400 dollars. United told me even though doctor is in network, the testing is out of network.
I told them I called ahead of time to ask about testing and was assured it would be covered in full. I even had name and dates from day I called. They conveniently had no record of this.” -
“IF YOU HAVE A CHOICE DO NOT GET INSURANCE FROM UNITED HEALTHCARE! This company is nothing but a fraud, looking to do everything they can to not pay.
They will tell you you’re “”approved”” but that doesn’t mean anything. They will deny paying your claim and stick you with the bill.”
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“The WORST insurance company I have ever dealt with.
I was injured by their only “”in network”” laboratory facility. I have been told incorrect information by their Customer Service Rep’s and then told, “”Sorry, but you’ll still have to pay the higher copay even though it’s our fault””. They cut corners everywhere.
Also, be prepared to receive numerous letters and phone calls anytime you have a slight injury like twisting your ankle while running.”
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“Horrible company – the worst insurance you can have. Horrible customer service.
Today I didn’t have my insurance card and member id with me. I called customer service 12 times, and they didn’t give me any information. I told them to look up my information with my social security number, address, birthday or any information . They told me they can’t do it. Even when I told them that my wife is in emergency room, they still didn’t give me any information.
What kind of health insurance company is this? You are telling them your wife is hospital; the answer is, “”Sorry we can’t give you any information””. One of the excuses was “”It’s not my fault that you forgot your insurance card at home””. Sorry, we are in emergency room. Of course, I forgot my card.
Everybody please if you are thinking about your health, stay away from this company.”
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I work for United Healthcare and had to get prescription assistance to get my medications. I wouldn’t wish this insurance on my worst enemy. Any of the positive reviews here are from company plants that are paid to leave positive reviews.
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“I have been dealing UHC since February of 2012 because they don’t want to pay for my regular PAP. Apparently, my doctor office billed correctly but didn’t use a special diagnosis code in addition to the preventive regular exam code that will cover my office visit and tests.
Instead of United Healthcare contacting the doctor’s office to verify and explain the billing issue, I have been dealing with calling the doctors office and the insurance trying to figure out what codes they need to use.
I am so upset my company changed from Carefirst to United Healthcare. If you can get Carefirst they are the best!!”
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“Strung along for months while I paid full price for a prescription towards my “”deductible.”” The credits were then reversed, a hold placed on the account, and no updates were given as I continued to pay my monthly bill. It took hours on the phone- sifting through lies, waiting for transfers, to find out all the mistakes they made.
I had been set up with the wrong coverage by an agent, approved for a plan I shouldn’t have been, and my prescriptions cleared when they shouldn’t have. Once months had passed it was too late to change the plan- nothing could be done, and no one would atone for all the errors.
Tons of time and money down the drain.”
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“My ex and I are divorced and ex (who lives & works in Colorado) was ordered to maintain health insurance for our minor daughter who lives 100% of the time with me in Pennsylvania. He joined up with United Healthcare Navigate plan effective 6/1/12. On 7/9/12 daughter was ill and required medical care (dx = mono).
On way to pediatrician’s I checked card and noted that her assigned PCP was a doctor in Colorado who has never seen my child. I called to notify them that she required care and that her life-long pediatrician is “”x”” in Pittsburgh, PA. I was told that info would be changed. Upon arrival at Dr’s, we were informed that United Healthcare had not changed info and then receptionist called for authorization – she was told that daughter’s visit would not be covered and that they would not cover any of her care outside of the state of Colorado.
Since then, and multiple Dr visits and blood draws later, not to mention hours and hours on the phone both by me and by my daughters Dr’s office (God bless them!), we still have had nothing paid by United Healthcare! They are nothing but lying criminals. I have finally reported the matter to my state Attorney General’s office and will be doing same in Colorado jurisdiction.
I will be visiting my Congressional and Senatorial reps in DC. I have had enough and am now on a mission. I’ve also requested the assistance of the Family Division / Court of Common Pleas in enforcing the support order so that also will force ex to get appropriate coverage for child. United Healthcare…you obviously count on consumers being either too tired, too frustrated or too busy to follow through after you have failed to live up to your responsibilities. Well, you underestimated me!
I am now making it my personal duty to expose your criminal operations to any legal entity who will listen or read my reports – and yes, I have documented every single conversation held with your company (and others) while trying to resolve this issue. See you in court sweeties!”
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This was very good insurance until my husband died and they continued to bill his checking account for their monthly payment. Now no wants to talk to me.
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“VERY disappointed, frustrated and angry with this company!
I admit (naïvely) I was satisfied with our insurance coverage via UHC until this year – when suddenly, without us making any changes to our plan, and without any notification – we start getting bills for things which were covered in previous years (even though we’ve used the same doctors, had the same tests, etc.). That was the beginning of a downward slide.
We find out we all (my husband, me, and our infant daughter) have LARGE deductibles out of the blue this year (and we’re not paying any less plan-wise). Okay, distressing enough, but we deal with it, we figure times are rough for everyone. However, add to that we get a bill, pay it, and THEN, a month or two later, are sent ANOTHER bill for “”adjustments”” to the previous bill, which we had thought were all settled with our previous payment.
Some of these “”adjustments”” are quite large, while others are in the realm of $8-$11, with no explanation (Really, $8? what is that for? They disapprove of the juice brand my daughter was given after surgery? What?). Okay, we figure, whatever, that isn’t a huge deal, even if it IS quite annoying to think a bill has been settled and then get hit with ANOTHER charge.
Then I show up for a doctor-prescribed test that I’ve had before with no problems, and I am told I can’t have the test because UHC hasn’t approved it (they’ve started requiring pre-approval ahead of time for standard tests that didn’t require it before), wasting my time. At that point, I began to lose patience.
Then, trying to be responsible about our health and get the recommended flu shot (as we do every year), we show up to get our shots as usual at a big-name drugstore, and are told we have to get a doctor’s referral (meaning a trip to the doctor’s for both of us, plus a deductible for each) or pay for it out of pocket, which had never happened in previous years. We aren’t even covered for a flu shot anymore? WHAT ARE WE PAYING FOR, then? And why no notification about this?
The icing on the cake, however, was when my husband took our daughter in to be seen for an ear infection, and while paying the deductible for _that_ visit (which we understood paying for) he was told we were also responsible for paying a deductible for a previous WELL-BABY VISIT – which are important appointments that any pediatrician will tell you to keep; appointments that are supposed to be covered!
When he questioned it, he was told that there had been something perhaps we had discussed during that visit that ended up classifying the well-baby visit as a “”consultation””, thus resulting in a charge—? What? I had no idea that could happen; I hadn’t seen anything about that in any plan-related information. How terrible is that, that parents can’t ask any question concerning their child’s health at a standard well-baby visit for fear it will be labeled a “”consultation”” and they will be charged?
Thanks for having children’s best interests at heart, UHC! Needless to say (but I’ll say it anyway) I am profoundly disappointed.”
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“I had/have United Health care…or should I say United Non-Healthcare. I actually had a CSR tell me “”too bad”” on the phone when I explained why I did not do something. She said it was my responsibility, but I was in the hospital with double pneumonia.
The lack of compassion, the lack of EBP integrated into the system of care provisions, and the rude staff made me tell HR to get rid of them. And how do they have such high overall ratings when all of the ratings on this page are so negative?”
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“United Healthcare is the WORST.
I have had 30yrs of corporate group coverages and after joining a foreign bank in May 2012 picked up UHC coverage. I bought the premium PPO coverage whereby my family can use our own Dr’s out of network. What UHC won’t tell you when signing up for that top dollar coverage is that they haircut your reimbursements hugely effectively forcing you to go to their approved list of Dr’s.
My family has had to change longstanding caregiver relationships so we didn’t see huge out of pocket payments. The laugh was when they only allowed a $50 payment for an in-office surgical procedure requiring incision, biopsy and stitching up. The taxi driver to the office made almost as much as they paid the doctor!!! Absolutely pathetic.
This a taste of what insurance companies will do to compete against the money-losing ObamaCare program. The patient suffers as UHC squeezes us to death to compete. Just drop out of the business and save the American people this indignity. Cigna was far superior and much more transparent in their statements.
You have to really review the UHC statements with a microscope as they constantly try to not pay you and don’t flag it noticeably in the hope you will miss the denial. This firm operates in the gray area of fraud thru omission and confusion. God help the elderly and the poorly educated with this coverage as they are ripe for victimization.”
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“I called the customer service number 888-867-5575 I am still on hold it’s been two hours.
Do I ever regret choosing this company for my prescription coverage already. AARP you suck at customer service. Is anyone in the office today? I keep getting a recorded message a customer service rep will be with you shortly.
What a joke!!!!!”
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“Customer Service is ok. I feel you Should really Change Phone Company’s it is impossible to hear anyone when talking to the operators. It’s amazing how anyone there can get anything done Correctly and Effectively.
I have made several other calls to company’s before Calling United Healthcare Customer Service so, I know, in fact, it wasn’t my end of the line. Hope it gets fixed :)”
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“Worst Insurance I ever dealt with. Their website offers to search providers in network that are accepting new patients. From a list of 30 providers not one of them was accepting new patients or were accepting new patients but not from United Health Care.
They actually have doctors listed as “”in-network”” that do not accept UNC’s insurance. This should be illegal. After having hours of difficulty in just trying to select a Primary Health Care Physician from their site I called their support. Even worse. They search using the same web tool I am and say they’ll call a number of doctors to find one in my area (SF Bay Area, with thousands of doctors, not in the boonies). Each time after they have called 3 or 4 doctors and found the same thing as me, no doctors accept their insurance, they say I’ll try another and then they hang up.
DO NOT SELECT UNITED HEALTH CARE AS YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER! Get Kaiser or anything else. Plead with your HR not to select them if under review. I have been paying for this insurance for 5 months and still do not have a doctor. Hope this helps someone avoid the trouble I’ve experienced.”
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“My spouse’s employer switched to UHC about 2 1/2 years ago and my experience obtaining my frequent health care needs (complex chronic health problems) with them has been infuriating!
My biggest gripe is that they make it impossible to talk with a live human being about anything and their voice mail is constructed to take one through a labyrinth that brings one back to “”enter”” no matter how it’s navigated. The only way I’ve ever gotten a response to an inquiry is to raise h@#$ with the HR people at my spouse’s employer. They don’t need that kind of grief from me and I feel sorry every time I need to do it.
I take both Lyrica and Cymbalta for chronic painful neuropathy just about everywhere in my body. They have mucked about with those 2 Rx several times and this latest shift to a different online pharmacy has launched the game all over again.
The mailings we get from them are vague, vague, vague and make me feel so vulnerable that my pain levels get jacked up and I flake out of an improved life thanks to improved gains I’ve enjoyed in the 26 years I’ve had this crap. To H#$@ with them! My spouse is looking for a different job just for a shot at a different insurance provider. Otherwise, she loves the job she has now. What a bolloxed up system.”
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“UHC has to be the WORST health plan I have ever dealt with. RUDE customer service.
I have been waiting 3 days to see a doctor because they cannot figure out to email me a temporary card. All of this for $700/month in premium.
You people should get out of the healthcare business.”
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“This has been the biggest waste of money! I pay $140 a month for nothing. They do not cover anything. I have tried to use for medications, yearly physicals, x-rays, and specialists. I had to pay hundreds of dollars for birth control each month, I also dislocated my knee and they did not pay a penny for my initial doctor visit to the MRIs the ortho, or the physical therapist.
I would have been better off not paying for insurance and getting on Medicaid…. Thank God iIdid not need surgery or else I would have been put on the street… As a soon o be RN if I ever have a patient who has this insurance including golden rule, I will do everything possible to help them find something better… Which is pretty much every other medical insurance company including government assisted help…
Seriously UHC, your ethics are disgusting and you’re a thief. But thank you for the life lesson. I look forward to supporting your competitors.”
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“Heaven help you if you need to reach them in an emergency because their phone system stinks. When I called their customer service number at 10:43 AM, I got a recording to call back during their normal business hours, 8 AM to 8 PM. When I called another so-called service number, I was told I’d called the wrong department, and in the process of “”transferring”” my call, I got hung up on.
I switched to this plan only because my previous one went out of business. In retrospect, I think even regular Medicare would have been better.”
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If you have a choice don’t go here. These people suck. Got stuck with bills they wouldn’t cover even if I called to see if it was just days before going to doctor. “yes that is covered” They are either liars or they have only clueless employees. Worst insurance company EVER.
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“Basically, they will not cover you if you have an emergency, regardless of what your policy says.
I have UnitedHealthcare through my school. I had a medical emergency and went to an emergency room. The hospital I went to was in-network but the physician I saw was out-of-network (meaning it’s impossible to actively choose in-network coverage for emergencies, to begin with). I checked my policy later which states that all medical emergencies are treated as in-network. In-network rates were 100% of “”Preferred Allowance,”” which was defined in the policy as “”the amount a Preferred Provider and In-Network Provider will accept as payment in full.”” I figured this was good and the entire thing would be covered after my deductible.
They instead covered a small fraction of the charges. I appealed and their response was that Preferred Allowance isn’t payment-in-full, even in emergencies, because my physician was out-of-network. I wrote a follow-up appeal where I laid out exactly step-by-step where my take on the issue came from, complete with citations from my policy and from partner companies which they directed me to. Their response was that Preferred Allowance means 100% of “”Usual and Customary”” charges, which are set by FAIR Health which uses Medicare as a standard, yielding rates that are not at all usual or customary.
Regardless, none of this is anywhere to be found in my policy as neither UnitedHealthcare, the Insurance Commissioner in my state, nor the representative at my university could point me to where in my policy their conclusions come from.
The response was repeatedly that it’s just because my physician was out-of-network and so doesn’t have pre-arranged rates. Of course, Preferred Allowance is not defined as “”payment in full only when it’s an in-network provider with a pre-arranged rate,”” which no one would acknowledge.
To be fair, I haven’t had a problem with their network and the plan I have would be great except that they actually honor it. Don’t be taken in by the looks of things. They’ll find ways to use even the slightest amount of vagueness in their policies to deny you coverage. They’ll throw all sorts of jargon and non-sequiturs at you in an effort to confuse you when you try to appeal. Anything short of full legal action will yield no results whatsoever. Thankfully, the physician that saw me dropped my charges so I don’t have to file suit. I wouldn’t be surprised if they did this due to previous encounters with UnitedHealthcare.”
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“Horrible. It is nice that their doctors know our needs better than our own physician. My daughter has CP. Her therapists, orthopedic doctor, and neurologist all say the same thing. Stand, stand, stand. The more weight-bearing she does the better. It could possibly help prevent future surgeries.
I guess they would rather pay for surgeries because they denied the stander that would help her weight bear. As anyone knows, you can’t walk until you can stand. Unbelievable.”
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“I have the student plan which, originally I was happy to finally have insurance again. That was until I actually needed a doctor and very little was covered despite being referred to the specific doctor by United Healthcare. My doctor explained that they always get preapproval for the healthcare provided, but United Health recanted on what they said they would pay.
Very fishy company, they will site the smallest item in their fine print, even after they were proven wrong. They will not give the payment to the doctor, citing an employees error (on United’s end). Do not recommend.”
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“My 20 y/o son was diagnosed with Bulimia and has been doing it for over 3 years (undetected by us). United Health Care does not think it is a serious enough issue to warrant a 5-day a week 6-hour program. They suggest that he should see a doctor 1-2 a week an hour each visit. It has been appealed 3 times and it keeps getting upheld by UHC (of course there is no outside appeals board).
United Health Care has refused to pay any of the $395.00 a day rate, which will have to be paid by me and of course I will pay it. I was one of the Officers of my company that help choose this new insurance company last year after they sold me a load of BS.
DO NOT USE/PURCHASE UNITED HEALTH CARE FOR YOURSELF OR EMPLOYEES…”
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“United Healthcare is one of the WORST experiences my family have ever encountered when my mother (who had been with them for years) was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. United Healthcare denied all doctor’s orders, family requests for items Mom needed during her last days on Earth.
United healthcare denied : Hospital Bed, Shower Chair, Oxygen, Medications, Inhalers, Breathing apparatus, diapers, special mattress to prevent bed sores, outside nursing as needed. This company denied EVERYTHING that was ordered and requested when we needed them the most.
Bottom Line- Their coverage is good when you are not ill. They will do nothing once you are sick! Shame on United Healthcare and their misleading TV commercials !”
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We have Tricare through united, Horrible! I am walking around with broken bones right now, but they require 72 hours for an emergency referral. They’re hoping I just die so they don’t have to cover it.
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“WORST COMPANY EVER. Cannot believe our college insurance option is this ……Most incompetent company I have ever dealt with.
I went for 6 sessions of Physical therapy. Two months after the insurance asked me for two documents, I uploaded both and send by email as well to their customer service. Called to confirm they received. They said at the moment they did.
Now TWO months after they send me an email saying they did not receive both just one. Insane, Both documents were sent in the same email attached and loaded to their website and somehow their personal missed and asked me to send it again. I pulled out the email to check day and hour I send it to them AND I did send it.
Unfortunately, they need and upgrade on their personal looks to me that they don’t know how to manage documents.I won’t recommend this company to anyone in the earth.”
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“I’m out of pocket 400, not to mention the time wasted by both myself and my provider.
Standard UH, “”Yes your covered””… “”Yes, I’ve told you the copay is only $25″”…. 4 months later, but they are considered a specialist for those billing codes, you need to pay…
Only sign up with them if the other option is based out of Washington DC.”
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“This is the worst of all insurance companies I have come across to date. We are an agency that provides group treatment for chemical dependency and UHC continues to find EXCUSES to not pay for the members treatment. The last communication I received asked me for a CPT code for anesthesia. Really? Since when do you use anesthesia in group session?
UHC is well aware of what the member is doing here since they have been here for almost 2 years. This agency has contacted UHC by phone as well as mail on several occasions to provide specific information being requested only to be sent a notification for something else. WOW!”
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This has got to be one of the worst insurance company’s. They have excuses for everything to avoid coverage. I recommend avoiding this company.
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“The WORST INSURANCE COMPANY out there. They will let you see doctors, or therapists for months and then NOT pay the providers at ALL, but they will call you if you DON’T pay them.
I will tell anyone that is looking for insurance to cross out UNITED HEALTH CARE, they are the WORST……”
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“This past April my son’s PC suggested that he see a Neurologist regarding his seizures. The doctor the PC suggested advised that the doctor did not take my son’s plan. I then began the hunt for a Neurologist in the area. After making a total of 13 phone calls to doctors listed as providers for this service to no avail I contacted Customer Service.
The first CSR advised that the computer system was down, therefore, she could not assist me with my request at that time. I agreed to call back. On my call back I was advised to use the http://www.uhcccomunityplan.com to find a list of current Neurologist in our area and that she could not transfer me to anyone in Provider Relations for further assistance.
The third CSR on a subsequent call back tried to be helpful but only provided the names of the same providers I had already called or checked out. After three days of phone calls, we did find a provider. The Provider Relations department is in need of someone to update the provider lists and also signify which plans each doctor honors or does not honor.”
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“I have had several different health care providers over the years and this by far the very worst! The only thing your $40 copay helps with is half the cost of the DR visit and maybe a small discount for anything done in the ofc. It does not cover any lab work, X-rays, or anything done “”in house”” even tho they tell you it does.
The cost of it (and I have it through my employer) is outrageously high! I cannot believe they can get by with such poor service. I would definitely tell anyone thinking about this company to JUST SAY NO unless you have a lot of money to spend.”
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“Hello,
I have been with Golden Rule insurance for 5 years now, premiums go up by 150 -200 dollars every year . Hardly cover any prescription drugs just a small percentage , spoke to customer service supervisor today about only able to get them to pay for only monthly prescription coverage .My doctor gave me a script for 3 months , but Walmart said it’s your insurance they won’t cover 3 months at a time just one . Supervisor said on monthly payments they don’t want tp have to pay back thousands if people cancelled the insurance premium .
As I thought about it later , maybe 1 or 2 people would cancel and not everyone at once . So that is a small percentage , we would have to all get together in here scenario . If you have to take prescriptions every month why not get 3 months at a time if your doctor approves it .
Customer service told me it’s in the contract like it’s in stone , well they can change anything they want . We are the customers paying a high premium , so we suffer if a few opt out. So the customer service is a joke , all talk no action . They don’t realize like Walmart treat people like crap , they will leave , then they can find another job to scam .”
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“Stay away from this company. Their excuse with me was they were not my primary insurance company and denied payment. They are listed on the bill as the primary. I did not catch this for over a year and they said I would have to appeal this in writing and mail it in.
This is 2014 who does that instead of email? Now I wait for snail mail. United Health Care is the worst and they will do anything to keep from paying. Keep away select other companies for your heath car, it is like you have no health insurance. This bill was for $600.00.”
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Save yourself a lot of aggravation and money. Do not sign up for United Healthcare.
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“I received a letter from UHC stating that they had tried to reach me by phone (never showed up on caller ID), and asking me to call them on their Customer Service #. I tried four times, and the total wait time on hold was 1 hour, 45 minutes. I was never connected to a live operator.
Why would AARP ever associate with such an operation? When I call my other insurers, I get prompt and courteous service. I’m convinced that they don’t really want to talk to me…they just want to claim that they tried.”
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Had problems with a co-pay and also bad problems with a doctor, bad medical practices. Called United Health care talked to extremely nice and knowledgeable young lady took who care of everything awesome person hope her boss knows how hard she works won’t use names but very very good company
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“UHC is total bull!!
My father has paid them thousands of dollars for over 25 years. Since Feb. 1st he’s been in and out the of the hospital multiple times.
He needs 2 medications. One called Promacta, he needs that 1st to increase his blood platelets, they continually deny it. However, they’re willing to pay the hospital stay and the 20 blood transfusions he needs to have, $25,000 A DAY! Ridiculous!
The other medication is Harvoni. Both of these meds must be made of Gold because they don’t want to give these to those that need it.
From all the research my family has done, it is said UHC Denys Denys Denys in hopes the patients die during their appeal. Especially to the older folks who were unfortunate to receive blood tainted w/Hep C before they started screening in the 80’s.”
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See review
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“Before acquiring this product for my adult daughter living out-of-state, I called to verify there would be no problems with her receiving care in her area. They affirmed there would be no problems, and ASSISTED ME IN CHOOSING A DOCTOR IN HER AREA.
Now almost one year later, when she finally needs care but still has not received a card, I was told she was assigned a doctor here whom she has never seen in my state (three states away), there must have been a mistake, a doctor in her area is not an option, and they cannot verify I was ever told that because they don’t hold notes that long (a year???).
I was instructed to call my benefits department and request her “”network area”” be changed & told that was my only/best option. My benefits department, as well as our contracted liaison, said no such option existed and they did not know why I was told that. I asked UHC at this point if our communication could be via e-mail, to which they responded that was against company policy (of course – they do not want proof they are misleading consumers!) and all communication must be via telephone or mail.
After HOURS of trying to fix the problem, I asked if instead of spending work days on hold & risking my job if they could instead call me, after 5 (they are still open) and was assured that was possible as well. I was only called prior to 5 however, and when I complained was told they cannot guarantee a time.
I tried to purchase a separate policy from Blue Cross, which I NEVER had a single complaint with, but was told with the new health care laws open enrollment was over and because UHC had lied regarding coverage in her area, I could not even purchase a private policy on my own. There was also an issue when I had to visit an emergency room.
I had confirmed immediately after enrollment my preferred hospital was in-network. After a visit to their ER, where I paid my copayment immediately upon treatment, I received a bill for several hundred dollars.
When I called to question why this was not covered, I was told a hospital may be in-network, but the ER physician might not be, and I would therefore, be responsible for 100% of the cost. Who in an EMERGENCY is going to check the network of the available doctor??? How can you be expected to wait in a life and death situation for a physician to be available who is IN-NETWORK. How is this legal???
I recommend everyone whose employer is considering this company protest to their benefits departments, and buy a private policy from Blue Cross if the employer does not listen. I calculated the difference, and I actually would have saved money had I done this instead of being responsible for my daughter and my costs out of pocket for only one issue each.”
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It sucks that their plan does not cover 3D Mammography. I’ll bet that if their top executives (who are probably men)had to have their breast stretched, pulled and clamped down on each year during a regular mammography…that would change!
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“The contract company I am working for uses UnitedHealthcare. I have been a member for almost a month (29 days) and STILL am unable to even REGISTER my card online so that I can access my benefits, find providers, file claims.
basically– I can’t even use my insurance because they are having “”problems with their website”” with NO TIMELINE of when it will be fixed! When I asked to speak with a manager/supervisor I was put on hold for 20+ minutes until I finally just hung up.
This is absolutely ridiculous. What a joke.”
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“Can not get answers via web, or phone on whether you are allowed to see a Dr. The list of Drs. is not up to date so when you find one you are then told by the facility they are no longer there.
Just can’t get the service you are paying for – it is like big government, bloated and non-responsive.”
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“This whole insurance thing is too much especially dealing with UHC is crap.
As of now, I am in school and I bought united student health care insurance. Usually, I don’t get sick that much but this year I plan to do my annual physical check up ( V70.0) which comes under preventive care and insurance denied to pay. isn’t it ironic?
I think it is ridiculous not to cover preventive care. I hate this insurance so much and been fighting for 3 months and I don’t even know where I can ask for help.
Please let me know if anyone is having the same problem as mine. let me know what you guys did to get cover by insurance. thank you”
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“I am part of the student insurance plan provided by UHC, that my school mandates that I have. I called to get my insurance card for the 2015-2016 school year and find out exactly when my plan expires because I will have to get new insurance as I am graduating.
I was instructed to go to their website to register (of course) by their rep ‘Johnathan G’. The link he told me to go to wouldn’t work. He said to try it again, and that he was on the website, so I did and a blue screen saying I had a VIRUS!! and needed to call a 1-800 number to remove it popped up… It took over control of my computer, I couldn’t use my keyboard and it was playing an audio recording (which I let Johnathan listen to)
After explaining why I needed to speak with his supervisor (as if it wasn’t obvious) Randy (another person without a last name) came on and told me there was nothing they could do because they didn’t cause the problem and that I was on my own. He said their IT team would make sure everything worked fine. Because we’ve never seen any big companies hacked before (Target, Anthem..etc)
The network is fine I guess, the plan I have is cheap, but when I used it for a common cold I had in February. I was still being billed in summer. So the quality isn’t there. Their customer service needs to be greatly improved. I will be switching when my plan needs to be renewed. I guess they don’t care about long-term customers.”
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“We have already been dissatisfied with United health but this takes the cake. They have been dragging their feet getting ABA therapy started for our son. Now, he just had an EGD and colonoscopy done with results that warrant medication.
Because of his autism and sensory processing disorder, the doctor prescribed a granular medicine. UnitedHealth denied the medicine saying there were cheaper OTC pills. His doctor explained to them that he can not take a liquid or swallow pills and needed the granular. They compromised on a dissolving tab and my doctor called it in but when the pharmacy confirmed it with United health, they yet again denied this medication because there are cheaper OTC pills.
I have called them four times to explain that my son has a disability but they do not care because they don’t want to pay for the medication that will be easiest for him but instead discriminate against his disability and make him try to swallow a pill. I did go to the store tonight to try to get the over the counter and I can not even crush the pills since they are big-time release capsules.
They are discriminating against my son’s disability, their communication and customer service is horrible, and they do not care about their customers”
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“This is not my first go round with United Healthcare, just the most recent. The previous legitimate and correctly filed claims took a full year of going through eighteen of their representatives and supervisors before I finally got paid. The chaos and buck-passing was truly awesome, and to give UHC credit, they have perfected the art.
The most recent scam involves a simple yearly Well Check visit for a child, $185.00. The contract states there is no charge for these visits and they even sent out flyers reminding us to have the checks performed. I have been fighting with them since June 2017 and it is now February 2018. Payment is promised, never shows up, then denied, then promised again. That’s okay though… I own my company and when renewal time comes I will laugh out loud when they come around to re-sign. All for $185.00.
*So if anyone is paying attention in United Healthcare Land and would like to address these shameful business practices with me, my phone number is 843-826-6121. Leave a message with your name and a direct line phone number, because if I never have to talk to your representatives again, it will be too soon.” -
We have UHC through my husband’s employer and it is, without a doubt, one of the absolute worst corporate provided health insurance plans on the planet! Very high out-of-pocket policy holder costs, our prescriptions are cheaper if we bypass our UHC policy and use GoodRx alone. Every time the contract comes up for renegotiating, no one bothers to even try, they just sign and approve the latest policy revisions which equals a higher premium with less coverage every single time. I worked in the medical field for over 20 years and the disgraceful way UHC tries to get over on providers, surgical centers and hospitals by denying claim after claim after claim until they FINALLY do their job and pay them is solely for the purpose of earning interest for UHC’s benefit only. UHC “manages” Aetna, Humana, Coventry, some Aetna & Cigna policies, TriCare For Life, TriWest as well as Amerigroup Medicaid and Sunflower Medicaid. They’ve created a monopoly by “managing” these other companies rather than owning them outright, and that keeps UHC within the federal laws specifically written to prevent a monopoly for ANY health insurance company to exist. If it walks like a duck and talks like a duck. UHC had the audacity to deny an MRI of my husband’s knee that was ordered by our provider. Did I mention he injured falling on some ice and it was the same knee that he had surgery on to replace a completely torn ligament several years earlier? My husband had to use crutches for two weeks after that fall because he could bear very little weight on that leg because of that fall. His knee was the size of a volleyball. UHC informed our DOCTOR, you know, the only one EDUCATED TO DECIDE AN MRI WAS NECESSARY TO BEGIN WITH, UHC denied approval for that MRI because they deemed it wasn’t MEDICALLY NECESSARY. Do tell? Clearly that decision was NOT BASED on the injury, previous surgical history for that knee and apparently UHC in their infinite lack of wisdom, felt it appropriate to all but say to our provider his YEARS OF ATTENDING AND SUCCESSFULLY GRAUDATING FROM MEDICAL SCHOOL COMBINED WITH HIS YEARS OF ACTUAL EXPERIENCE AS A PRACTITIONER, WHO JUST SO HAPPENED TO DO SOME IF HIS RESIDENCY IN THE ORTHOPAEDIC SURGEONS OFFICE I WAS AN MA AT, WAS MEANINGLESS TO UHC AS THE HEALTH INSURANCE COMPANY.
On a side note: EVERY HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN THROUGH YOUR EMPLOYER CAN BE RENOGIATED. UNFORTUNATELY, THE CEO AND ALL UPPER MANAGEMENT EXECUTIVE POSTIONS DO NOT HAVE THE SAME INSURANCE PLANS THEY OFFER TO THEIR EMPLOYEES. THE EXECUTIVES AT ANY LARGE CORPORATION RARELY EVEN HAVE OUT OF POCKET PREMIUMS, DEDUCTIBLES, ETC TO PAY. They vote to allow the company to pay for those things as one of the “perks” of having a fancy title by their names. Don’t bother calling HR at your company to complain about your coverage, HR couldn’t care less. UHC has been sued in federal court so many times the past 15-20 years AND LOST those cases due to unethical practices, things that are written with such fine print on policies, the ink must be invisible, and God help you if you have an overnight hospital stay where a doctor at the hospital writes you a prescription for say cholesterol medication, yet your lab values CLEARLY show that medication isn’t appropriate for your personal health, your office visit note with your PCP 10 days AFTER that overnight stay even says as much, BUT one of the “caring nurses” from UHC calls you weekly to see if you’ve had any additional signs or symptoms for that overnight stay have affected you, completely checking only for your wellbeing (and the opportunity to hike your premium up due to a new health condition, believe that), and then that nurse gets all hateful about “why you haven’t filled the prescription your PCP told them you DID NOT NEED IN THE FIRST PLACE, THEY DIDN’T READ THAT FOLLOWUP NOTE, AND THAT NURSE TELLS YOU YOU’RE BEING NONCOMPLIANT FOR NOT FILLING THAT PRESCRIPTION. SO YOU GET NASTY RIGHT BACK AND ASK, “Did it perhaps cross your mind to read the office visit note from the follow up appointment I had with my PCP BEFORE you called and made yourself look like an idiot? Yeah, I didn’t think so. NEXT…”
This is all based on our personal experience and it is shared via my not so humble opinion.
I have zero doubt the powers that be that run this website, will no doubt, send it to UHC. Trust and believe me when I say, they’ve all got each other’s back. After all, you’re the one paying the premiums and all the put of pocket expenses. It’s not costing any of these health insurance companies one red cent.
“I live in Florida and have had the Golden Rule United Healthcare HSA 100 health insurance plan for almost 3 years now and I have always been very satisfied with them.
I try to contribute the full amount to my HSA every year (I have my HSA with the UnitedHealth Group owned bank Optum Health Bank – formerly Exante Bank) and I am very happy for the tax break that the HSA provides.
Overall I would definitely recommend UHC especially their Health Savings Account plan.”