Health equity

Every individual is unique with diverse health needs and challenges. For employers, it's critical to account for that in your benefits plan. This can help ensure no employee or family member is overlooked.

At UnitedHealthcare, we work with employers like you to help address barriers to health care. Where people are born, live, learn, work and age can all impact their health and how they access care. Together, we can work toward the goal of helping all people live healthier lives and make the health system work better for everyone.

Improving health literacy

When employees don’t understand how their benefits work or how to navigate the health system, employers may face real consequences. These may range from unintended health care costs to less healthy, less productive workforces.

UnitedHealthcare collaborates with employers to address this gap. Targeted member education, plain-language communications and navigation support are embedded within our products and experiences. This can help employees understand their benefits more clearly and drive better health outcomes for all.

Expanding access to care

From provider deserts to cost barriers that put quality care out of reach, access remains an ongoing challenge. But it’s a challenge UnitedHealthcare is addressing. Our large national network, benefit solutions and care navigation tools aim to meet employees and their families where they are.

Reducing health disparities

Health disparities are higher rates of illness, injury, disability or mortality within a community. They’re driven by social, economic or environmental disadvantages. Health disparities cost the U.S. health system more than $450B annually.¹

For employers, these inequities translate into higher plan costs and a workforce where certain groups of employees often feel overlooked. UnitedHealthcare works alongside employers to identify disparities within their workforce. We can help implement targeted solutions that help improve health outcomes, lower costs and build healthier, more supported workforces.

Addressing social drivers of health

More than 80% of a person's health is determined by factors outside the doctor's office.² Things like food access and housing stability to transportation and economic opportunity all have an impact. These non-medical, community-level factors that shape health outcomes are called social drivers of health (SDOH).

Employers can work with a carrier to help identify and address these challenges. At UnitedHealthcare, we take a proactive, data-informed approach. We identify impacted members and connect them to resources that can help reduce barriers. This may help people live healthier lives and drive lower costs for all.

Building healthier communities

When communities lack access to nutritious food, stable housing or quality care, employees are more likely to delay treatment. They may also carry unaddressed health issues into the workplace.

For more than 20 years, UnitedHealth Group has committed over $1B to local and national initiatives.³ This includes community-level programs that combine data insights with on-the-ground partnerships. These initiatives expand access to care and strengthen the conditions that drive better health outcomes for employees and the communities where they live and work.