United Healthcare of Colorado
Reviewed by Leslie Jablonski – Fact checked by Christine Corsini
United Healthcare of Colorado (UHC) is among the most popular and established health insurance carriers in the Rocky Mountain state.
Boasting one of the largest networks of physicians, hospitals, and other care providers in Colorado, United Healthcare provides comprehensive and affordable health insurance plans to both individuals and businesses throughout the state.
This article explains the key features and benefits of United HealthCare of Colorado plans.
But if you want to speak to an experienced person, just click here and set up a call with one of our experienced Personal Benefits Managers.
Vast Provider Network
United Healthcare is known for having a vast network of healthcare providers, including hospitals, physicians, and specialists.
This extensive network can provide you with a wide range of options when it comes to choosing healthcare professionals, making it easier to find a provider that suits your needs.
Financial Protection
Health insurance plans from United Healthcare can provide financial protection by helping you and your family cover the cost of both expected and unexpected medical care.
With a health insurance plan such as United Health Care, you can vastly reduce the risk of economic shock due to large unexpected medical costs. Instead, insurance helps limit your risk to relatively manageable out-of-pocket costs such as deductibles, copays, and coinsurance.
Wide Range of Choices
United Health Care offers a diverse range of health insurance plans for individuals and small business owners.
They have options such as health maintenance organization (HMO) plans, preferred provider organization (PPO) plans, high-deductible health plans (HDHPs), and more.
This variety allows you to choose a plan that aligns with your specific healthcare requirements and budget.
United Healthcare of Colorado Additional Benefits
United Healthcare of Colorado plans often come with additional benefits and features, including:
- Preventive care
- Access to a dedicated Personal Healthcare Advocate
- Prescription drug coverage
- Maternity care
- Mental health care
- Drug and alcohol addictions treatment
- Wellness programs
- Chronic disease management programs
UHC Wellness Incentive Programs
Colorado United HealthCare members have the opportunity to reduce premiums while improving their physical and mental health.
UHC’s three health incentive programs, Renew, Active Motion, and Rally, allow you to save by meeting exercise and active living goals. Each goal you achieve potentially helps you lower your monthly health insurance premium.
UHC Dental and Vision Coverage
United Healthcare offers optional coverage for dental and vision care, including discounts on LASIK procedures. These plans are designed to be affordable even to lower and middle-income families.
You can purchase optional dental and/or vision coverage for yourself and your family in the individual market.
Many Colorado employers make United HealthCare dental and vision coverage available as a voluntary benefit. That is, employees can purchase these plans via payroll deduction, at little or no cost to the employer.
UHC Member Resources
United Healthcare of Colorado features an intuitive, easy-to-use web portal and mobile app. These tools make it easy to manage your account and coverage, track your progress towards meeting deductibles, review claim status, and find in-network doctors and other providers while on the go.
These digital resources allow you to have more control and visibility over your healthcare journey and provide you with a better overall healthcare experience.
Qualifying for a Premium Subsidy in Colorado
United Healthcare customers can choose from a variety of fully-qualified Affordable Care Act compliant plans.
These plans may be good choices for low-to-moderate income Colorado residents, because they potentially qualify for premium subsidies under the ACA.
You can purchase these plans through Colohealth.com, or you can contact one of our experienced Personal Benefit Managers to enroll.
Small Business Group Health Solutions
United Healthcare is extremely competitive in the small business market.
In today’s competitive market for talent, offering a quality health benefits package is critical. Without a great health plan in place, it’s difficult or impossible to recruit and retain quality workers. But having a competitive health plan in place that your employees can afford can go a long way toward
United Healthcare offers a range of benefits of interest to small employers:
- Access to telemedicine and virtual care 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
- Access to top smoking cessation programs
- Weight loss assistance
- Chronic condition management services
The Small Business Tax Credit
Small businesses with 50 full-time equivalents or less can offer a solid range of health plans through United Healthcare.
United Healthcare’s group plans may also help you qualify for the Small Business Health Insurance Tax Credit. This tax credit – available to qualifying employers with 25 full time employees or fewer – is worth up to 50% of the cost of the plan.
You may qualify if you can say “yes” to each of the following criteria:
- You have fewer than 25 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees in your organization.
- Your average employee salary is about $56,000 per year or less. The lower your average workers’ salaries, the more significant your tax credit may be.
- You pay half of your full-time employees’ premium costs or more.
- You offer SHOP coverage to all full-time employees.
Note: Part-time workers are not counted against you for the purposes of calculating the Small Business Health Insurance Tax Credit. You don’t have to extend benefits to part-time or seasonal workers to qualify for the credit.
With dozens of options available, United HealthCare of Colorado has a plan for everyone, regardless of age, income level or location within Colorado.
The Small Business Tax Credit
All United Healthcare’s Affordable Care Act-qualified plans sold in Colorado include basic preventative care services as well as an annual wellness visit with a primary care provider, as well as vaccinations.
Beyond that, Colorado health insurance consumers can choose from four basic plan tiers: Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum.
Bronze plans typically cover 60% of your healthcare expenses until you meet an annual out-of-pocket maximum, and then 100% after that.
With Silver plans, the insurance company covers up to 70%of your costs until you meet an annual out-of-pocket limit.
Gold plans cover up to 80%.
And Platinum plans cover up to 90%.
Note: To qualify for an Affordable Care Act premium subsidy, you must enroll in a Silver, Gold or Platinum tier plan.
Bronze plans feature the lowest premiums without accounting for a subsidy. But they do not qualify for a subsidy.
You will have to pay your entire premium out of pocket…along with your deductible and 60% of your additional medical bills, until you reach your annual out-of-pocket cap.
United Healthcare of Colorado Network Requirements
With most United Healthcare of Colorado plans available, you will need to get all non-emergency care from physicians and facilities authorized under your plan.
HMOs generally require you to get a referral from your primary care physician (PCP) before you see a specialist.
With a PPO, you have more leeway to see a specialist without first getting a referral. But you must still get any non-emergency care from within your plan’s network or you may face higher out-of-pocket costs.
How Subsidies Work With United HealthCare of Colorado
If you qualify for a subsidy under the Affordable Care Act, it will be automatically applied towards your health insurance premium. The difference between the total premium and the subsidy amount will be the amount you’re responsible for.
Member Resources
You can click here and answer a few questions for a fast and free health insurance quote. We’ll ask you for some basic information. If you like what you see, and if it’s Open Enrollment season, or you qualify for a Special Enrollment due to a qualifying life event, you can sign up online in minutes.
And, of course, you can speak live as well!
You can reach out to us at 800-913-6381. Ask to speak with a Personal Benefits Manager. Or you can click here to set up an appointment for a free one-on-one consultation and recommendation.
At ColoHealth, our mission is to find each client a suitable health plan that meets their unique requirements. Our team is always available to assist with choosing or changing your coverage at any time.
Frequently Asked Questions About United Healthcare of Colorado
Q: What types of health insurance plans does United Healthcare offer in Colorado?
United Healthcare offers a range of plans, including health maintenance organization (HMO) plans, preferred provider organization (PPO) plans, high deductible health plans (HDHPs), and point of service (POS) plans.
Q: Can I sign up at any time? Or is there a limited enrollment period?In the individual health insurance market, you can only sign up for United HealthCare during Open Enrollment Period (Nov. 15th – January 15th in Colorado), or if you qualify for a 60-day Special Enrollment due to a qualifying life event.
If you are outside of the open or special enrollment period, and you need to get a health plan in place right away, you should consider a health sharing plan.
These affordable, flexible, budget-friendly plans are a non-insurance alternative to traditional insurance solutions like United Healthcare of Colorado. And they provide more flexibility when it comes to choosing your own doctor.
Learn more about healthsharing plans in Colorado.
Need help? Contact one of our experienced Personal Benefit Managers today for a free consultation and review.
Q: Can I open a Health Savings Account (HSA) with a United Healthcare plan?
Yes, some United Healthcare plans are compatible with HSAs. These plans typically have a higher deductible but offer tax advantages as contributions to the HSA are tax-deductible and withdrawals for qualified medical expenses are tax-free.
Q: What care networks does United Healthcare have in Colorado?
United Healthcare has an extensive network of healthcare providers in Colorado. Their networks typically include hospitals, physicians, specialists, and other healthcare professionals. The specific network can vary depending on the plan you choose.
Q: Can I see a specialist without a referral with United Healthcare plans in Colorado?
Depending on the plan you choose, some United Healthcare plans may require a referral from your primary care physician (PCP) to see a specialist. However, certain plans offer direct access to specialists without a referral.
Q: What prescription drug coverage options are available with United Healthcare plans?
United Healthcare offers various prescription drug coverage options, including formularies with different tiers of medications. These plans may have preferred pharmacies where you can obtain prescriptions at lower costs.
Q: Are there wellness programs or resources available with United Healthcare plans?
Yes, United Healthcare often offers wellness programs and resources to promote healthy living and preventive care. These may include fitness discounts, smoking cessation programs, weight management resources, and health coaching services.
Q. Do United Healthcare plans qualify for a subsidy?Yes, if you meet the income qualifications under the Affordable Care Act and the United Healthcare policy you select is offered on the Connect for Health Colorado exchange, you can generally qualify for a subsidy.
However, if your income is high, your subsidy will be reduced or eliminated altogether, depending on the number of people in your household.
Q: Does United Healthcare offer group insurance for business owners?
Yes. United Healthcare has the capacity to handle groups of any size, but is particularly competitive for smaller companies with 50 employees or fewer.
United Healthcare also offers high-deductible health plans for both individuals and employees. These tend to have lower premiums, and allow you to make pretax contributions to a health savings account.
Q: How do high deductible health plans (HDHPs) work?
HDHPs are insurance plans with lower premiums and higher deductibles compared to traditional plans. They require you to pay more out-of-pocket before insurance coverage kicks in. However, they are often paired with HSAs, providing tax benefits and the ability to save for future healthcare expenses.
Q: What should I do if I need care from a provider outside of United Healthcare’s network?
If you need care from an out-of-network provider, check your specific plan’s coverage details. Some plans may provide limited coverage for out-of-network care, while others may require you to pay higher out-of-pocket costs. It’s important to review your plan documents or contact United Healthcare to understand the coverage and potential costs associated with out-of-network care.
Q: Does United Healthcare cover preventive care services in Colorado?
Yes, United Healthcare plans typically cover a range of preventive care services, such as annual check-ups, vaccinations, and screenings, as recommended by the Affordable Care Act. These services are often covered at no additional cost to you when received from an in-network provider.
Q: Can I use telemedicine services with United Healthcare plans in Colorado?
Yes, many United Healthcare plans provide access to telemedicine services, allowing you to consult with healthcare providers remotely for non-emergency medical needs. Telemedicine can be a convenient option for minor illnesses, follow-up visits, or mental health consultations.
Q: How can I find a doctor or healthcare provider within United Healthcare’s network?
United Healthcare provides online directories and mobile apps that allow you to search for in-network doctors, hospitals, and specialists. These tools usually provide information about their locations, specialties, and patient reviews.
Q: Can I change my United Healthcare plan during the open enrollment period?
Open enrollment is the designated time each year when you can enroll in or switch health insurance plans. United Healthcare follows the open enrollment period set by the government or your employer. During this time, you can evaluate your options and make changes to your plan if needed.
Health Insurance Instant Quote
COLORADO HEALTH INSURANCE INFORMATION
- Plans approved and authorized under the Affordable Care Act
- Covers Pre-Existing conditions
- Low cost subsidized plans available to those earning
< 400% of the federal poverty level - Unlimited lifetime benefits
- Available during open enrollment (November 1 – January 15), or if you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period
Healthshare Instant Quote
HEALTH COST-SHARING INFORMATION
- Not Colorado health insurance, but a way for like-minded individuals to share medical expenses
- Waiting periods on pre-existing conditions
- May exclude sharing for certain conditions or activities
- Enroll any time
- Much lower monthly cost than unsubsidized health insurance
Colorado United Healthcare Reviews
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Family-Friendly Health Plans
Our United Health plan has been a great fit for my family, providing essential health benefits and a decent network of doctors in Colorado. The kids’ pediatric care and my wife’s specialist visits are well-covered. I would appreciate more clarity in billing statements, though.
They mess up Over the counter credits every time
I’m trying to buy over the counter products that are approved in my plan via the APP and MANY phones calls to Customer Service and yet EVERY time I purchase them they come out of my Rewards account and NOT out of my OTC account like they should. I’ve now spent over FOUR hours on the phone with more than SIX people and the answer is TOO BAD SO SAD!!!!!!!!!! That’s how their computer works and there is nothing they can do to help me!!!! What kind of customer service or stupid computer system is this??
Terrific
I’ve been with United Healthcare for years, and they never disappoint. They have a great network of doctors around here, and I have no trouble finding in-network providers. The customer service representatives are knowledgeable and quick to resolve any issues.
Their website and app are both pretty easy to use, once you get into them. Not the cheapest option out there, but you get what you pay for.
Awesome experience with UHC
United Healthcare is simply amazing! Their extensive provider network ensures I always have access to top-notch healthcare.
The customer service team is friendly and helpful, and their online portal makes managing my policy a breeze. I highly recommend United Healthcare for their outstanding coverage and service
Switching to healthsharing
The Good:
Lots of plans available to choose from.
Good networks in urban areas of Colorado.
The Bad:
Customer service can be a challenge. The individual reps are okay, but the company is so big it’s hard to talk to the right person, and I’ve had some long wait times.
I’ve had a couple of issues getting claims paid in a timely manner.
Premiums are high, especially if you don’t get a subsidy. We don’t, so I’m switching to a Netwell healthshare plan that’s available at almost half the cost.
If your employer’s paying for it or you get a subsidy, then it’s a good deal. Otherwise I’d look around. There aren’t a lot of choices in Colorado but if you’re in good health then look at a healthshare plan and you have more choices.
Five stars. Would recommend.
UHC has been terrific for us. First, they have a very strong network of providers here in Denver.
I’ve seen some complaints about getting claims paid, but I’ve never had a problem, and we’ve had a lot of claims.