What You Should Know:
– UnitedHealthcare today announced the launch of a new virtual-first health plan called NavigateNOW designed to provide people with a personalized virtual care team to provide medical and behavioral health services with a seamless hand-off for in-person treatment if needed
– Through this new health plan, eligible UnitedHealthcare members will be able to receive various types of care, including wellness, routine, chronic condition management, urgent and behavioral health services, wherever they are.
– Starting this year for select employers in nine markets, NavigateNOW will provide people with a comprehensive medical plan that offers a simpler, more convenient experience at approximately 15% less premium cost than traditional benefit plans. People in the NavigateNOW plan will receive 24/7 access to a personalized Optum care team for primary, urgent and behavioral health care services, backed by a national UnitedHealthcare network of care professionals.
NavigateNOW Benefits for Enrolled Members
Enrolled members in NavigateNOW will be able to complete a health profile to indicate personal preferences, current medications and existing health conditions. Based on the assessment, each member is matched with a personalized care team, which may include a board-certified physician and other care providers who will work together to deliver primary, urgent and behavioral health care. This care team is led by a dedicated primary care provider who will virtually deliver care and seamlessly connect the individual to in-person Optum providers and other health professionals when necessary. The integrated care model is designed to identify health issues earlier, promote the use of preventive care, and deliver whole-person care in the most appropriate setting.
Powered by Optum’s Virtual Care Platform
NavigateNOW is supported by Optum’s new virtual care platform and virtual medical group, which helps bring simplicity to getting care whenever and wherever it is needed. The proprietary virtual care platform enables UnitedHealthcare members to schedule appointments online and provides multiple ways for them to communicate with their care team, such as live chat and video visits. If after a virtual visit a member needs additional health services, such as for a procedure or an X-ray, the care team can use the platform’s precision navigation tools to help connect the individual to a care provider in UnitedHealthcare’s national network, including over 1,600 facilities in Optum’s national ambulatory provider network.
NavigateNOW Costs
Enrolled members will pay $0 for virtual and in-person primary care and behavioral health visits, virtual urgent care and most generic medications, with unlimited chat, online scheduling and on-demand, same-day appointments. NavigateNOW members also gain access to a wearable device well-being program that enables people to earn more than $1,000 per year by meeting certain daily activity targets, including for walking, cycling, swimming and strength training (among dozens of others).
Availability
NavigateNOW is being offered to employers in the following markets: Little Rock, Ark.; Fort Myers, Fla.; Pittsburgh; Springfield, Mass.; Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minn.; Richmond, Va.; Indianapolis; Dallas; and Houston.
