I am sick of all these phone calls, UNITED HEALTHCARE

[ce7177]

United Health Care: calls from 443-853-6898
I am TIRED OF THESE 2-3X wkly calls!!!!!!!!!!! wants to have a "home service" available from my medical insurance ...hang up! I NEVER gave my cell # for _this_
Caller: Home service United HealthCare?? AARP do something about it! I joined via, YOU

[GailL1]

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@necolson wrote:

I am new to Medicare and to my United Heathcare Supplement. I have to say that I, too, am getting sick of the courtesy calls from United Healthcare. Today's was to tell me that they will be calling in a couple of days with important health related questions.. . . .

. . . . . Any guidance will be welcome because they are getting really annoying.

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Just for clarity, @necolson -

You have Original Medicare with a Medicare Supplemental (MEDIGAP) Plan from UHC 

OR

You have a Medicare Advantage Plan through UHC

Your answer will depend on your request for any guidance.

[necolson]

In answer to your question, I have Original Medicare with a Medicare Supplement.

[GailL1]

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@necolson wrote:

In answer to your question, I have Original Medicare with a Medicare Supplement.

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Then the phone calls are REALLY WEIRD; they are probably trying to sell you something else or to get you to switch to their MA plan - or it could be someone fishing to get your info.

Medicare.gov - Identity theft: protect yourself 

If from UHC - The health questions may be qualifiers to what product(s) you might have some interest. MA plans give the same benefits as traditional Medicare but in a different way.  MA plans can offer additional benefits not covered by traditional Medicare - it is up to them what but it could be things like transportation to and from appointments, perhaps meal deliveries OTC medication discounts or even something more appealing like a walkin bath - it varies what they offer.

MA plans get part of their Medicare pay for rating you and your health conditions - the more conditions you have, the more Medicare pays the MA plan to take care of your healthcare needs.

But since you don't have a MA plan but instead have traditional Medicare with a Supplemental plan (which is only GAP insurance) then there is nothing I can think of that a MEDIGAP insurer needs from you as far as info on your health - Medicare actually handles your claims and sends them the Medigap insurer for their part of the payment - that is basically all the Medigap insurer does - pay their part of the claim when they get it from Medicare.  If Medicare pays/ doesn't pay - the same is true of the Medigap plan.

Just be careful that you know who you are talking to and what info is given or what info they want and why.

[necolson]

Thank you!

[c443346e]

I keep getting these calls as well but they come up as scam on my phone. So I called UHC and told them what was going on. First they said it doesn't look like one of their numbers, then they tried calling the number which came up as disconnected 5 minutes after they called me. Then they researched my account and said there are no records of  of any calls that need to be made to me from UHC for any reason. The only time it showed I was to receive a call from them was for a welcome call 1 1/2 years ago when I became a member. THIS IS A SCAM!!!!! The phone number calling me is 952-367-8000. If you receive a call from them, UHC verified it is a scam.

[lmdella]

I think the calls are a good idea for people who don't maintain a good, regular relationship with a primary care physician.  For those of us who do, however, it's really annoying, and there should be a way we can opt out.

[SharonB897005]

As a licensed agent for Medicare Advantage Insurance carriers, I work with clients that have chosen United Healthcare as their coverage.  If you have also done that you will periodically receive calls from a nurse to check with you about your health, to see how your chronic illnesses are such as diabetes or high blood pressure.  Also, once a year a housecalls provider will schedule an in home appointment to come out and do another annual assessment.  These have proven very helpful and, in some cases, have detected early colon cancer.    

So, when you get that annoying phone call asking about housecalls or for personal information make sure it's your insurance plan first. Then, if you are comfortable giving the information proceed. You do not have to participate in these programs. They are optional.

I always tell my clients that if they are happy with their current coverage,  just tell the person on the phone that or give them my number to contact. It doesn't always stop the calls. 

But, I have heard if you tell them you have "the state" plan, they will leave you alone.

Your NC Medicare Agent 

God bless!

[ChrisWjames]

The calls are spam. Period. Whether you think they are beneficial or not does not matter. If people don't want to be contacted, the law says under the TCPA they need a way to opt out. 

These calls are truly only for the benefit of UHC by nosing into people's homes and private lives and finding ways to cut their benefits.

[somarco]

@SharonB897005 what the heck is a "state" plan?

[SharonB897005]

As a licensed agent for Medicare Advantage Insurance carriers, I work with clients that have chosen United Healthcare as their coverage.  If you have also done that you will period receive calls from a nurse to check with you about your health, to see how your chronic illnesses are such as diabetes or high blood pressure.  Also, once a year a housecalls provider will schedule an in home appointment to come out and do another annual assessment.  These have proven very helpful and have detected in some cases early colon cancer and allowed treatment 

[BarbaraF801337]

If I see my doctor all the time--at least monthly, why do I need UHC calling me, asking me intrusive questions, and disappearing for a year!?  If I want the help, I'll ask for it!  And then I tell the caller to remove me from the call list, to no avail.  This is an invasion of privacy and needs to stop.

[MaF952838]

I don't want an insurance bureaucrat inserting herself between me and my providers.  Gathering personal information from my HOME and using it against me later.  The only thing that can be of benefit to UHC is to deny claims based on these "home health" visits.  What a waste of money. 

[GailL1]

I am sure these health assessments by MA insurers could be very helpful, @SharonB897005 

However, let's not forget that MA providers get a bonus pay from Medicare if the beneficiary is rated at a higher risk.  The reasoning behind this (goal of risk payments) is that they want these insurers to keep these (perhaps sicker) folks under their care - Traditional Medicare doesn't want the "more" sick in their fold - and it actually penalizes the beneficiary because they probably can't get a reasinably priced supplemental plan by then either, if at all.  So Medicare pays a bonus to the insurer for treating these potentially "sicker" folks.

It all goes back to how the info is justifiably used and interpreted.  It should be a combination, not one or the other. (an "and" not an "or")

- to benefit the beneficiary

- to benefit the insurer's pocket

I am sure that that final decision is above your pay grade.  It happens with all the data combined - from doc, from health assessers, from test, from Dx codes -

But if the system of payment to insurers from Medicare were not so complicated and there were not so many special calls - perhaps it would be a little more forthcoming.  It is all for meeting the goal (as described above).

[somarco]

@GailL1 for those who want more "inside baseball" about the Medicare payment system, this KFF article is written in mostly plain English.

https://www.kff.org/medicare/fact-sheet/medicare-advantage/

Probably more information than most people want or need  . . .

But the phone calls are about saving money.

Their (insurance carrier) money, not yours.

[GailL1]

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@somarco wrote:

@GailL1 for those who want more "inside baseball" about the Medicare payment system, this KFF article is written in mostly plain English.

https://www.kff.org/medicare/fact-sheet/medicare-advantage/

Probably more information than most people want or need  . . .

But the phone calls are about saving money.

Their (insurance carrier) money, not yours.

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Yep, it is about the insurer's money - but if this program worked as designed for it's target purpose, it is suppose to save Medicare money too.  Shenanigans shouldn't play a part - not saying that there are shenanigans but it is hard to trust but verify the way it seems to be set up - seems the verification of the risk could be and should be more cut and dried.  

[StephanieA178613]

When working I had UHC and they pushed these annual wellness exams and risk assessments.  They tell you its to help lower premiums.  Not once in 10 years did our premiums go down.   What I dont like is all the third party contactors UHC hires for these services.  It is no wonder medicare costs are so high.  They put 2 to 3 groups inbetween you and your doctor and each get paid.

[thomasb424875]

Removed reply to avoid possible retaliation.

[mc4039]

What's up with these "House Calls" program? I have a great relationship with my primary doctor, I make all of my visits, have all of my tests run on time, yet UHC keeps calling me about these home visits. I find it to be a gross invasion of privacy. I believe there is an ulterior motive and someone needs to start looking into this from a legal standpoint. I don't appreciate UHC trying to wedge itself between me and my Doctor. I already canceled my car insurance and house insurance that I had through AARP/Hartford and went back to State Farm. Perhaps I need to do the same with UHC. Also, I am tired of getting all of these renewal letters from AARP when I have over two years left on my membership. What’s up with that?

[StephanieA178613]

House Calls is a service not a requirement. They are notorious for bothering people. I agree with you about there being Medicare, UHC and their contractors between you and your doctor. No wonder Medicare costs are high. Too many people making money off something you already paid for.

[CaroleW755826]

I blocked the 443 number calling from Maryland. They call but it doesn't ring. So they leave a message. We accepted one house call last year and got bad advice. We will never accept their call but I would like to know how to completely stop them. 

[necolson]

I called and said I wanted the calls to stop. They put me on a no call list. Haven't been bothered since.

[FrancisH736859]

i did the same thing.  Then when I called them they would not return my calls!  I called the nurses line and she got thru and the navigator Said:. You asked us to put you on a no call list so that means we cannot call you!  He was snarky.  I asked for a supervisor and eventually was put through to someone who was Snarky again.  I think if you don't fall In line with their program they want you to say you want to quit.  Now I get my mail box jammed with magazines and reminders, and more junk surveys.  I kid you not.  Unbelievable. I am saving every box and going to show my representative how much mail I get from them every single month. 

[GailL1]

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@CaroleW755826 wrote:

. . . . . We accepted one house call last year and got bad advice.

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Just in a general manner . . . .

What did they do during the house call ?  Was it just about you and your bodily health or did they look around your home environment for safety and/or perhaps about specific things which would / could make your life easier or better - health-wise or care-wise?

Can you say what was the "advice" they gave.

Do you have a Medicare Advantage plan with UHC or some other type plan?

[dugsdale]

Exactly as pclarkaz says below: United makes more money by sending a (perhaps qualified) medical person to check you out, looking for conditions you might have that put you into a higher risk category for Medicare, meaning Medicare has to pay United more to cover you. Results? Profit for United! It stinks. May not be illegal (that is, if United tells Medicare the truth, and frankly how would WE know?) but it's not motivated by any other than $$ concerns.  Here's an article that may help: 

https://publicintegrity.org/health/home-is-where-the-money-is-for-medicare-advantage-plans/

[StephanieA178613]

From what I've read UHC gets money for every "risk" they report to Medicare but they are not required to use that money for the Med Advantage program.   Before retirement, I had regular group insurance thru UHC and they claimed the annual health risk assessments and wellness checks they were pushing, would help hold premiums down.  In the over 10 years of doing these, premiums skyrocketed and many employees who honestly answered HRA questions got dinged on their "score" which translated into less money being deposited in their Health Savings Account by the company. 

[somarco]

I have not gone through all 5 pages of comments and replies, but it is entirely possible the calls are not from UHC or AARP representatives. Seniors are BOMBARDED with calls routinely, especially during open enrollment. The caller CLAIMS to be with a carrier or marketing group (such as AARP).

They may also claim to be with Medicare.

You will also get mail and email from individuals soliciting your business. They can and will make all kinds of claims to get you to switch plans or buy a product they claim is "free" if you are on Medicare.

You can put a call block on your phone where numbers not whitelisted will be rejected. That will stop the robocalls but you will also miss calls you would like to receive.

Consider doing what many of us do. Don't answer any phone number you don't recognize. Let it go to voice mail.

Most of those callers will not leave a voice mail message.

You can also do what my wife does. Pick up the phone but say nothing. Robocalls will generally disconnect after 20 seconds or so of dead air.

[mc4039]

The calls are coming from UNited Health Care

[BarbMHill]

Thank you for your reply. It is DEFINITELY  UHC.  They do leave a message to call them back. 

[BarbMHill]

Thank you for your reply. It is DEFINITELY  UHC.  They do leave a message to call them back. You can not block the number because it is not always the same. The program is called “House Call’s”.  

[bizman1951]

My problem is with United Healthcare itself.  Their drug coverage sucks.  I am a type one diabetic.  My costs for insulin through United Healthcare is 565.00 per month.  Instead I get it through Medicare for 320.00 a month.  I thought the purpose of supplimental insurance was to cover some of the cost that Medicare doesn't cover.  So how is it that I get drugs cheaper without the insurance then with it?

This smacks of a scam to me.  Who is getting this extra 250.00?  Maybe AARP has its hand in the till so they will sponser second rate insurance.  How is this kind of treatment good for us seniors?