United Healthcare and Senior Care Coverage
UnitedHealthcare offers Medicare Advantage, Medigap, and other insurance plans for seniors.
SeniorLiving.org is supported by commissions from providers listed on our site. Read our Editorial Guidelines
(855) 935-1973
SeniorLiving.org is supported by commissions from providers listed on our site. Read our Editorial Guidelines
(855) 935-1973
UnitedHealthcare is one of many providers that offer insurance plans to help offset the out-of-pocket costs of senior care. It also happens to be the largest single provider of Medicare Advantage plans in the United States.1 There’s a reason so many older adults choose UnitedHealthcare. This company’s insurance plans for seniors include many perks you don’t get with Original Medicare. UnitedHealthcare perks may include hearing and eye care benefits, a fitness program, a $0 copay for acupuncture and chiropractic care, a 24-hour nursing hotline, a personal emergency response system, and a $0 copay for virtual medical and mental health visits — just to name a few! Below, we’ll look at how UnitedHealthcare covers senior care costs, including hospice care and skilled nursing care.
Overview of UnitedHealthcare Insurance Plans for Seniors
UnitedHealthcare offers several different types of health care plans designed to meet the health and wellness needs of older adults, including:2
- Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans
- Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) plans: A, B, C, F, G, K, L, N
- Prescription drug (Part D) plans
- Dual-special needs plans (D-SNPs)
Many of UnitedHealthcare’s Medicare plans for seniors feature low and $0 premiums, $0 copays, and benefits that extend beyond Original Medicare. Many Medicare Advantage plans also include a comprehensive dental benefit, vision and hearing benefits, a fitness program, and a monthly credit for over-the-counter items and healthy foods.
Did You Know? UnitedHealthcare is the only insurance company to offer Medicare plans with the AARP name.3 It’s also the largest Medicare Supplement provider in the nation.
Our free housing and care finder uses your unique needs to curate a list of the best options in your area.
Does UnitedHealthcare Cover Nursing Homes and Skilled Nursing Care?
Original Medicare covers only short-term stays in a skilled nursing facility. You’re fully covered if you’re in a nursing home for a qualified reason for up to 20 days. After that, you’ll need to make a coinsurance payment. UnitedHealthcare’s Medicare Advantage plans, which include Medicare Part A and Part B benefits, offer the same coverage.
For help with ongoing nursing home stays, UnitedHealthcare offers Medigap plans. Medigap Plans fill in the gaps of Original Medicare or Medicare Advantage plans. Medigap plans from UnitedHealthcare fully cover up to 100 days of nursing home stays or skilled nursing care. Of course, you still need to account for plan deductibles.
Already in a long-term nursing home? UnitedHealthcare has a specialized Medicare Advantage plan for you. The UnitedHealthcare nursing home plan includes more benefits than Original Medicare, support from a dedicated care team, and Part D prescription drug coverage.
Does UnitedHealthcare Cover Home Care?
Many seniors prefer to age in the comfort of their own homes. However, aging in place alone isn’t always possible. There may come a time when you need one-on-one help from a professional caregiver. UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans offer Medicare Part A and B benefits, making that decision easier on your wallet.
To qualify, you must be homebound and under a doctor’s care. The services you receive must be part of your care plan. They must have intermittent skilled nursing care or therapy services. Covered home care services for qualifying seniors with a Medicare Advantage plan through UnitedHealthcare include:4
- Part-time or intermittent skilled nursing care
- Physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy in your home
- Medical social services
- Part-time or intermittent home health aide care (as long as you’re also receiving skilled services at the same time)
- Durable medical equipment
- Medical supplies for use at home
- Injectable osteoporosis drugs for women
UnitedHealthcare HouseCalls
UnitedHealthcare also has its own in-home health and wellness program, HouseCalls. Medicare members can receive preventive care appointments in the comfort of their homes. A licensed physician or nurse practitioner performs a physical exam and health screening. Then, you have the chance to ask questions. You can even have your loved ones or caregivers join the appointment to get their questions answered.
Compare: In 2022, UnitedHealthcare and Humana accounted for 46 percent of Medicare Advantage enrollment.56 Read about Humana’s senior care coverage to see how this provider stacks up against UnitedHealthcare.
Does UnitedHealthcare Cover Hospice Care?
Medicare Advantage plans, including those from UnitedHealthcare, cover everything Original Medicare covers. However, hospice care coverage works a little differently. Hospice care, AKA end-of-life care, supports a patient’s medical, physical, social, emotional, and spiritual needs.
When someone elects hospice care, the costs of hospice are fully covered by Original Medicare — not by your Medicare Advantage plan. So, if you enroll in a UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plan, Original Medicare will foot the bill instead of your UnitedHealthcare plan.
FYI: UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans are available in 74 percent of counties in 2022. Read our review of UnitedHealthcare’s Medicare Advantage plans to learn more.
For that reason, individuals who elect hospice care will need only Original Medicare to receive coverage. However, UnitedHealthcare’s Medicare Advantage plans come with plenty of other perks you may want.
SeniorLiving.org is supported by commissions from providers listed on our site. Read our Editorial Guidelines
Does UnitedHealthcare Cover Assisted Living?
Assisted living is a long-term care solution for older adults where you can maintain as much independence as possible while receiving basic help with activities of daily living (ADLs). Since ADL care is non-medical, Medicare doesn’t cover assisted living costs. Similarly, none of UnitedHealthcare’s Medicare Advantage or Medigap plans cover assisted living.
FYI: Seven out of 10 people will require long-term care in their lifetime.7 A long-term care insurance policy can go a long way to help make that care affordable.
Considering assisted living facilities are estimated to cost a median of $5,511 in 2024, not having Medicare to help with costs may be burdensome.8 The only type of insurance that helps cover your cost is long-term care insurance. UnitedHealthcare doesn’t offer long-term care insurance, but many other reputable companies do. If you already have long-term care insurance, check with your policy to see your benefits for assisted living.
How Do I Enroll in a UnitedHealthcare Medicare Plan for Senior Care?
UnitedHealthcare makes signing up for a Medicare plan simple for seniors. To get started, visit the provider’s website. By inputting your ZIP code, you can view all of the Medicare Advantage, Part D, and Medigap plans available in your area. Then, you can view details, compare plans, and enroll in the plan you like. The website is very user-friendly, and it’s easy to spot key details like deductible costs and copays. Plus, you can check to see if your current doctors participate in the plans you’re interested in.
Pro Tip: Visit our guides to the best Medigap plans, best Medicare Advantage plans, and best Part D plans to compare the top insurance options for seniors.
You can enroll on the website or call UnitedHealthcare to have a representative walk you through the enrollment process. If you’d rather enroll by hand, that’s possible, too. You can download and print out a paper enrollment form, fill it out, and mail it to UnitedHealthcare.
What Other Options Exist to Pay for Senior Care?
Medicare covers a lot of your senior care needs, but not everything. For example, if your only needs are assistance with ADLs, Medicare won’t cover that. That means if you need help with bathing, dressing, preparing meals, or transportation, you’ll need to use other payment methods to cover the services.
Seniors and their families can pay for these costs with:
- Personal savings
- Retirement accounts
- Social Security income
- Long-term care insurance policies
- Private pay
- Home care loans
Kaiser Family Foundation. (2022). Medicare Advantage in 2022: Enrollment Update and Key Trends.
United Healthcare. (2022). Medicare Coverage Options.
UnitedHealth Group. (2021). UnitedHealthcare’s 2022 Medicare Plans Shaped by Consumer Expectations for Value, Choice and Experience.
Medicare.gov. (2022). Home health services.
Kaiser Family Foundation. (2021). Medicare Advantage 2022 Spotlight: First Look.
Kaiser Family Foundation. (2022). Medicare Advantage in 2022: Enrollment Update and Key Trends.
Administration for Community Living. (2020). How Much Care Will You Need?.
Genworth. (2022). Cost of Care Survey.