Author: Kelly Carter
Because health insurance is so important in our lives, good insurance packages should be available to everyone. UnitedHealthcare (UHC) is thinking along the same lines, as the insurance giant announced plans to expand its presence in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace to 22 states.
Continue reading to learn if UnitedHealthcare will be available in your state and why they are expanding.
What States Will UnitedHealthcare Reach?
The insurer plans to expand its footprint into new states for the 2023 plan year, ahead of the open enrollment for ACA plans on November 1st. UnitedHealthcare will expand its individual and family health insurance offerings to four new states, including Kansas, Missouri, Ohio, and Mississippi, and will remain available to people in:
- North Carolina
- Washington
- New York
- Georgia
- Florida
- Texas
- Oklahoma
- Illinois
- Nevada
- Michigan
- Maryland
- Arizona
- Alabama
- Colorado
- Virginia
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
For the 2022 plan year, UHC health insurance packages were offered in 18 states, up from 11 states in 2021. Despite this growth, the insurance powerhouse has yet to regain its previous level of market share under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). In 2016, UHC was available in 36 states, but the company later reduced this number as it struggled to profit.
Why Is UnitedHealthcare Expanding?
According to Marcus Robinson, senior vice-president of UHC, the company believes everyone should have access to high-quality and inexpensive healthcare coverage, especially now that Americans are working hard to reduce costs due to inflation.
He went on to say that by expanding eligibility and providing subsidies, UnitedHealthcare has established more options for the 2023 Health Insurance Marketplace to accommodate the various needs of its members and assist them in making the best decision for their families and themselves.
This announcement about ACA plans comes after the company reported third-quarter earnings of $7.5 billion in revenues from operations. This figure is an increase from the $5.7 billion earned by the company in the third quarter of 2021.
UnitedHealthcare also stated that this revenue growth is due to its expansion in the 2022 fiscal year. In the coming year, the company intends to serve more people and thus increase its revenue.
What To Expect From UnitedHealthcare Plan in 2023
According to the official announcement, UHC’s list of exchange plans for 2023 includes packages with zero-dollar virtual agent care and zero-dollar unlimited primary care.
Members can get prescriptions filled for as little as $3 at Walgreens pharmacies or by using the home delivery service offered by Optum. Additionally, they will have access to the 20% off brand-name health and wellness products Walgreens offers.
Plans with no deductibles and options for health savings accounts are also available. Additionally, some plans offer extra benefits like access to online fitness classes, vision and dental coverage, and the chance to get a $100 gift card.
Key Takeaways
UnitedHealthcare has declared that starting in 2023, it will market individual and family health plans in 22 states. While continuing to offer health plans in its original 18 states, the company will expand to Kansas, Ohio, Missouri, and Mississippi markets. After reducing its ACA markets in 2017 due to dwindling growth expectations, UHC has been growing its presence on the ACA exchanges.