New Program Can Help Supplemental Insurance Holders Start Claim Process

A UnitedHealth unit says a team can help a worker collect critical illness, hospital indemnity or accident benefits.

(Photo: Jim Mone/AP)

An arm of UnitedHealth Group Inc. has started what amounts to its own in-house navigator service for supplemental health insurance benefits.

UnitedHealthcare says its new Supplemental Health Benefit Assist Program team can help a worker who files a medical claim for a serious problem seek benefits from a critical illness insurance, hospital indemnity insurance or accident insurance arrangement.

The Benefit Assist team will contact the insured and help the insured start the claim process.

(Related: Feds Are Pushing Navigators to Promote AHPs, Short-Term Health)

UnitedHealthcare is offering the program all across the country, to employers with 250 or more employees enrolled in both UnitedHealthcare major medical coverage and in supplemental health benefits programs.

Managers at UnitedHealthcare can help the employees who need the benefits collect their benefits faster and more easily.

UnitedHealthcare notes that the accident and hospital indemnity plans can provide as much as $5,000 in quick cash.

A UnitedHealth critical illness policy can pay as much as $40,000 in benefits.

Correction: An earlier version of this story described the nature of the party that starts the assistance process incorrectly. The assist team starts the assistance process.

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