UnitedHealthcare debuts new app features so you can stay mobile
UnitedHealthcare's mobile app, Health4Me, has introduced new features that allow users to pay bills securely, manage their health care claims, and even compare prices of medical procedures in their area.
The mobile bill-payment service, for example, is available to more than 13 million UnitedHealthcare plan participants nationwide.
Anyone can use Health4Me, not just plan participants, to access market prices and health information, said Yasmine Winkler, UnitedHealthcare's chief marketing and product officer.
However, for UnitedHealthcare members the price estimates are personalized for the individual's own health plan and based on contracted rates with health care providers and facilities, Winkler said.
"In general, we believe Health4Me introduces a new standard in design, ease-of-use and personalization not yet offered by any competitor," Winkler added.
UnitedHealthcare, which has offices in Aurora, Bensenville, Hillside, Lisle, Rosemont, Schaumburg, Hillside and Chicago, said its app originally debuted in 2012 for plan participants. It has since been downloaded more than 1 million times. Another version of the app for guests, or nonmembers of UnitedHealthcare, debuted in 2014 and allows them to get general health information and certain features. It is for both Apple and Android.
The recently introduced features of Health4Me for members include paying their medical bills with their credit card, debit card, health savings account or bank account; helping consumers manage and understand their claims, monitor medical expenses for tax reporting and tracking their physical activity, including wirelessly connecting to a FitBit device.
For both members and guests, the app also enables users to comparison shop for health care for more than 755 medical services.
The price variance feature shows how users could make a decision with some idea of costs. For example, childbirth costs around the suburbs range from $8,899 to $28,034; a knee MRI costs $478 to $2,892; and back surgery, or lumbar fusion, costs between $19,387 to $121,461.
The payment feature, before it was added to the app, was previously available online at the company's member portal, www.myuhc.com. The mobile and online service, known as myClaims Manager, enables users to manage their claims and pay medical bills electronically by entering their credit card, debit card or bank account information, Winkler said.
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