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Healthcare Analytics

UnitedHealthcare's | October 09, 2023

Surest Impact Study shows that employers can reduce healthcare expenses by up to 15%, with an average savings of 11%. UnitedHealthcare offers Surest to self-funded employers with 51+ employees in 32 states and plans to expand to six more by early 2024. Lumen Technologies, a multinational technology corporation that introduced Surest in 2020, discovered that 62% of surveyed employees attributed improved health to the plan. UnitedHealthcare's Surest health plan, which eliminates deductibles and provides transparent upfront pricing information before treatment, facilitates increased utilization of preventive care services by members while concurrently decreasing their out-of-pocket expenses. The new Surest Impact Study shows that people are more involved with their health plans than regular ones. Surest is designed to make it easier for people to get medical care and not wait or skip important checkups and treatments that could save lives. They achieve this by eliminating deductibles and providing transparent cost information in advance of scheduling appointments. Dan Kueter, CEO of UnitedHealthcare's commercial business, said, We know people want a health plan that's simple, easy to use and helps them select the right care at the right time and in the right setting." He added, "We're pleased to see that Surest's innovative plan design, including an intuitive digital experience, is resonating with members and employers. [Source – Business Wire] Surest has become the most rapidly growing plan in UnitedHealthcare's commercial portfolio, with hundreds of employers, a combined workforce of over 4.4 million employees, while 1 in 6 of the company's national account clients opting for it as an option for 2024. The latest Surest Impact Study reveals several noteworthy findings. As per the study, Surest members exhibited a substantial increase in preventive care utilization, with a 20% rise in physician visits and a 9% boost in preventive physical exams compared to those enrolled in conventional plans. Particularly impressive were the 15% improvement in preventive mammograms and a remarkable 34% higher rate of preventive colonoscopies among Surest members, facilitating earlier identification of potential health issues and potentially leading to better health outcomes and improved quality of life. Moreover, Surest demonstrated its cost-effectiveness, as members experienced a 54% reduction in out-of-pocket expenses, while employers reported an average savings of 11%. This was accomplished partly through a 13% reduction in inpatient hospital admissions and a 6% decrease in emergency room visits, significantly contributing to employers' costs. Surest members preferred higher-value care settings, with a 6% higher rate of urgent care utilization and a remarkable 7-fold increase in virtual care visits. Furthermore, member satisfaction with Surest plans was notably high, as reflected in the Net Promoter Score, which exceeded industry benchmarks. Impressively, 9 out of 10 Surest members chose to re-enroll in the health plan year after year, underscoring their satisfaction with the program.

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