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Frequently Asked Questions
Obtain answers to commonly asked questions related to Medicare, your plan, and UnitedHealthcare®
Medicare Part A and Part B are usually referred to as "Original Medicare". Part A offers coverage for your hospital stays, while Part B offers coverage for doctor visits and outpatient care. You receive your benefits directly from the government. Medicare then pays fees for your care directly to the doctors and hospitals you visit.
Medicare Part C plans are usually referred to as Medicare Advantage plans. All Medicare Advantage plans are provided by private insurance companies, like UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company, and they all combine coverage for hospital stays (Medicare Part A) with coverage for doctor visits and other outpatient care (Medicare Part B) into one plan. Some plans include prescription drug coverage (Medicare Part D), plus extra benefits like vision, hearing and dental coverage. Under Medicare Part C, the Medicare Advantage plan pays the fees for your care directly to the doctors and hospitals that you visit.
Medicare Supplement plans act as a supplement to "Original Medicare" (Parts A and B). Medicare Supplement plans help to pay for some of the costs, like coinsurance and deductibles that Original Medicare does not cover. If you enroll in a Medicare Supplement plan and need prescription drug coverage, you will need to enroll in a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan also.
No, retirees will use the UnitedHealthcare Group Medicare Advantage ID card for all covered medical needs. MCHCP retirees will want to put their Original Medicare card somewhere for safe keeping. It is important retirees use their UnitedHealthcare ID card each time they receive medical services because UnitedHealthcare pays all claims directly. The claims no longer go to Medicare first. By always showing their UnitedHealthcare ID card, retirees make sure their claims get processed correctly, timely and accurately.
When a retiree turns 65 and becomes eligible for Medicare, he or she will be enrolled in the UnitedHealthcare Group Medicare Advantage plan. Your dependent’s coverage will not change until the dependent becomes eligible for Medicare.
A retiring individual who is not eligible for Medicare will stay on his or her current plan. When the retiree turns 65 or otherwise becomes eligible for Medicare, he or she will move to the Medicare Advantage Plan.
PPO stands for Preferred Provider Organization. The UnitedHealthcare® Group Medicare Advantage (PPO) plan is a “passive” PPO, meaning retirees are not restricted to using a network of doctors, hospitals and other health care providers. In addition, there is no financial preference given to network health care providers. Retirees pay the same cost share whether they see providers in or out of network, anywhere in the country.
The UnitedHealthcare Group Medicare Advantage (PPO) Plan is designed for MCHCP Medicare-Eligible Retirees. This plan is different and should not be confused with individual UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans that might be available in your area; most plans that are advertised on TV or in magazines are individual plans. Group insurance plans are purchased by an organization on behalf of a group. Individual plans are purchased by individuals for themselves or their family, either through an insurance company or a broker.
Yes. You must be enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B to be eligible for our retiree plans and you also must pay or continue to pay your monthly Part B premium. If you stop paying your Part B monthly premium, you risk losing your MCHCP medical coverage.
To find doctors or hospitals in our network, refer to the online Provider Directory. This directory is updated regularly to provide you with the most current list of network providers. If you would like help finding a network doctor or to request a written copy of the Provider Directory, please contact Customer Service Toll-free 1-844-884-1848, TTY 7118 a.m.-8 p.m. CST, Monday - Friday.
Click on the Resources tab in the menu at the top of your screen, then on the Appeals & Grievances link. This page provides detailed information about the appeals process.
This information is accessible within the member portion of the site. Once logged in, click the "Coverage & Benefits" link in the menu at the top of your screen. This page will provide your annual deductible and out-of-pocket costs for your health and prescription drug plan, as applicable.
This information is accessible within the member portion of the site. Once logged in, click the "Claims" link in the menu at the top of your screen. The Claims page will enable you to search for medical and/or drug claims by date range and will provide an overview of each claim searched.
MCHCP has specific rules that tell you when you can change or disenroll from your plan. Typically, any changes can only be made during the "open enrollment" period.It's important to understand MCHCP’s rules and timing. For example, if you disenroll from MCHCPs group-sponsored retiree health coverage, you are not allowed to re-enroll in the future. Speak with your MCHCPs Benefits Administrator to see what applies to you.
Each year that you are a member of a UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plan, you will receive an Annual Notice of Changes (ANOC) about six weeks before your plan's effective date. The ANOC explains any changes in coverage, costs, and benefits that will be effective for the upcoming year. You may also call the customer service number listed on your member ID card with any questions.
This information is accessible within the member portion of the site. Once logged in, click on the "View and Print Member ID Card" link on the home page.
If you are unable to find the links noted above, please call customer service using the number listed on your plan materials or the number noted for Plan Members on the Contact Us page.
No. MCHCP'S Medicare Part D prescription carrier will remain with Express Scripts Medicare.