UnitedHealth Group announced today that it has reached an agreement in
principle with AARP to extend and broaden their long-time relationship
focused on improving the health and well-being of Americans 50 and older.
The extended agreement, which is expected to run through December 2020,
will enable UnitedHealth Group to serve AARP’s 37 million members by
drawing upon the ever-expanding capabilities across its businesses,
including UnitedHealthcare in health benefits and Optum in health
services. UnitedHealthcare will continue to offer a portfolio of
AARP-branded products, and Optum will continue to provide health care
navigational and decision support services. As part of the expanded
relationship, AARP will become the Founding Consumer Advocate
Organization of Optum Labs, Optum’s research and innovation facility
focused on data-driven health care research and clinical translation.
“For more than 15 years UnitedHealth Group has delivered on a commitment
to improve health care for people age 50 and over so that they can live
healthier and more fulfilling lives through our products that carry the
AARP name,” said Stephen J. Hemsley, president and chief executive
officer of UnitedHealth Group. “We are honored to build upon our unique
and innovative relationship with AARP, which has helped both
UnitedHealthcare and AARP provide better support and value to the
consumers we serve. We now have the opportunity to further match our
health care expertise with AARP’s clear focus on improving access to the
health care marketplace for those 50 and over, and all Americans, as
well as improving the quality of that marketplace.”
Through the extended agreement, UnitedHealthcare will continue to offer
a diversified portfolio of AARP-branded Medicare-related and indemnity
insurance products, including Medicare Advantage, Medicare Part D and
Medicare supplement products. UnitedHealthcare is the nation’s largest
business dedicated to meeting the health and well-being needs of seniors
and other Medicare beneficiaries, with more than 10 million people
enrolled in its Medicare plans. The majority are members in an
AARP-branded plan.
“Since we first began working together in 1997, AARP and UnitedHealth
Group have brought our respective strengths and resources together to
help people live healthier lives,” said Barry Rand, chief executive
officer of AARP. “Broadening our relationship over the years has allowed
us to have a tremendously positive impact on the lives of Medicare
beneficiaries, and AARP looks forward to continuing its work to improve
health care and provide access to high-quality, affordable care. The
extended relationship with UnitedHealth Group will help us do this.”
Over the past five years, UnitedHealth Group has worked with an AARP
subsidiary to complete more than 100 studies aimed at transforming
health care for Medicare beneficiaries by improving the quality and cost
of care. This knowledge has led to the establishment of comprehensive
case management programs, decision support and emergency room diversion
programs, and web-based tools for members and their caregivers. The new
agreement will expand this commitment to research as AARP will join
Optum Labs’ mission to advance innovation and improvement in health care.
“We are pleased that AARP is extending its relationship with Optum and
joining Optum Labs to discover meaningful and actionable ways to improve
our health system,” said Larry Renfro, chief executive officer of Optum.
“AARP and Optum are bringing together the best consumer insight, health
information and research expertise to drive innovation and improve the
health care journey for millions of Americans. We look forward to
exploring additional ways our two organizations can work together in the
future.”
About UnitedHealth Group
UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) is a
diversified health and well-being company dedicated to helping people
live healthier lives and making health care work better. With
headquarters in Minnetonka, Minn., UnitedHealth Group offers a broad
spectrum of products and services through two distinct platforms:
UnitedHealthcare, which provides health care coverage and benefits
services; and Optum, which provides information and technology-enabled
health services. Through its businesses, UnitedHealth Group serves more
than 85 million people worldwide. For more information, visit
UnitedHealth Group at www.unitedhealthgroup.com.
About UnitedHealthcare
UnitedHealthcare is dedicated to
helping people nationwide live healthier lives by simplifying the health
care experience, meeting consumer health and wellness needs, and
sustaining trusted relationships with care providers. The company offers
the full spectrum of health benefit programs for individuals, employers
and Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, and contracts directly with
780,000 physicians and other health care professionals and 5,900
hospitals and other care facilities nationwide. UnitedHealthcare serves
more than 40 million people in health benefits and is one of the
businesses of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH), a diversified Fortune 50
health and well-being company.
About Optum
Optum is a leading information and
technology-enabled health services business dedicated to helping make
the health system work better for everyone. With more than 35,000 people
worldwide, Optum delivers intelligent, integrated solutions that
modernize the health system and help to improve overall population
health. Optum is part of the UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH).
About Optum Labs
Optum Labs is a center for collaborative
research and innovation, providing unique data and analytic resources
that enable stakeholders from across the health care ecosystem to drive
advances that lead to improved patient care and outcomes. Optum Labs was
established in early 2013 through a partnership with Optum and Mayo
Clinic. Optum Labs is part of Optum, a leading information and
technology-enabled health services business dedicated to helping make
the health system work better for everyone. For more information, visit www.optum.com/optumlabs.
About AARP
AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization,
with a membership of more than 37 million, that helps people turn their
goals and dreams into real possibilities, strengthens communities and
fights for the issues that matter most to families such as healthcare,
employment and income security, retirement planning, affordable
utilities and protection from financial abuse. We advocate for
individuals in the marketplace by selecting products and services of
high quality and value to carry the AARP name as well as help our
members obtain discounts on a wide range of products, travel, and
services. A trusted source for lifestyle tips, news and educational
information, AARP produces AARP The Magazine, the world's largest
circulation magazine; AARP Bulletin; www.aarp.org;
AARP TV & Radio; AARP Books; and AARP en Español, a Spanish-language
website addressing the interests and needs of Hispanics. AARP does not
endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to political
campaigns or candidates. The AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity
that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in
need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors.
AARP has staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia,
Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Learn more at www.aarp.org.
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Copyright Business Wire 2013