New UnitedHealthcare Plan Reduces Premiums, Improves Care Coordination

UnitedHealthcare collaborated with Canopy Health, a physician- and hospital-owned restricted Knox-Keene licensed provider network, to provide consumers with a new health plan focused on improving care coordination and reducing costs.

“The California Doctor’s plan offers plan participants the opportunity to save up to 25% on premiums compared to a traditional PPO offering, as well as $0 copays for primary care and urgent care, 24/7 telehealth visits, and care coordination driven by a patient’s primary care physician,” stated UnitedHealth Group in the press release.

The new health plan will be available for members with employer-sponsor health coverage in nine Bay Area counties in California including: Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano, and Sonoma.

“In designing the California Doctors Plan, we wanted to not only offer significant cost-savings but also a more personalized, simplified and coordinated care experience that can help people improve
their health and well-being,” said Steve Cain, CEO of UnitedHealthcare in Northern California. “Our relationship with Canopy Health is working so well because we share a commitment to providing consumers and employers with high-value health care.”

Canopy Health and UnitedHealthcare began a partnership in 2017 with the launch of the SignatureValue HMO plan which provided unique flexibility in provider choice with lower premiums. Members enrolled in California Doctors Plan, Signature Value HMO plan, and UnitedHealthcare Canopy Health Medicare Advantage plan will also have access to improved customer service experience via a personalized concierge support system.

Both companies explain that this is part of an aggressive multiyear plan to improve care and reduce costs through various population health and value-based initiatives.

“Employers are looking for high-quality, cost-effective health plan solutions, and our collaboration with UnitedHealthcare allows us to bring those to the market quickly,” said Mike Robinson, CEO of Canopy Health. “We are pleased to work with a partner like UnitedHealthcare that shares our commitment to improving people’s health and quality of life by providing them a better health care experience.” —Edan Stanley