Connector Model

Offer your retirees access to quality health care while reducing your costs and administration time with our Connector Model.

This option is most effective if you wish to endorse certain Medicare plans while eliminating your subsidy toward retiree coverage or provide the subsidy through a retiree account.

What is the Connector Model?
The Connector Model is an exchange model that helps connect retirees to individual health coverage options based on their needs. We use a proven retiree engagement strategy to help them feel comfortable and confident in their plan selection.

How can the Connector Model benefit my organization?
Our goal is to help you achieve your financial targets and realize greater operational efficiencies, while supporting a smooth and positive health care coverage transition for your retirees.

• Service. UnitedHealthcare provides a superior customer experience so the transition for your retirees is simple and easy. We combine leading-edge retiree educational materials, online decision support tools, and retiree-focused call center support and open enrollment meeting support.
• Choice. UnitedHealthcare offers one of the broadest portfolios of individual health insurance products available with a customer service team specially trained to help retirees find the best plan for their situation. This helps provide a meaningful choice that does not overwhelm retirees.
• Cost Control and Savings. Substantial cost savings can be achieved due to the efficiency of our individual retiree products, which integrate more readily with Medicare. Employers can provide a subsidy towards the premium costs or allow retirees to remain solely responsible for the cost of selected plans. In addition, individual retiree health plans often provide better benefits at a lower cost than many existing traditional employer group plans.
• Flexibility. We can customize our engagement strategy based on your needs and transition goals.
• Simplified Administration. A one-stop shop for multiple product offerings, plus in-house banking and record keeping services for employer-defined subsidy amounts through Retiree Reimbursement Accounts (RRAs).
• Financial Integration. As an option, we offer in-housing banking and record keeping services that make the administration of employer-defined retiree accounts even easier.

How does it benefit retirees?
With the Connector Model, your retirees are able to choose the type of individual health coverage that best fits their needs and budget. They'll benefit from:

• One of the broadest portfolios of private Medicare plans in the industry.
• Online tools and print materials designed to help retirees understand the types of individual Medicare plans including UnitedHealthcare offerings.
• Trained, Medicare-focused call center experts help retirees understand their options, enroll in a plan, and understand how their new benefits compare to their previous plan.
• Flexibility—retirees can switch to another UnitedHealthcare Medicare plan if their coverage needs change.
• Retirees will find that individual health plans often provide better benefits at a lower cost than many existing traditional employer group plans.

What are the Employer Subsidy Options?

• Retiree Reimbursement Account (RRA)
  You can help your retirees purchase an individual plan with tax-advantaged retiree reimbursement accounts through our financial services division (subject to qualification). Our RRAs offer automated monthly premium payments, reducing your administration burden and freeing retirees from paying out of pocket (subject to account balance). You can also allow copay reimbursement. RRAs offer tremendous flexibility in level and frequency of financial support. For example, a retiree can receive an annual fixed dollar subsidy or a single one-time lump sum credit at retirement.
• Split Billing
  We also offer the option to split the bill between the employer and the retiree. Split billing is appealing because it mirrors how employers and retirees have traditionally managed employer subsidies. Employers are sent a monthly bill for the subsidized portion of retiree premiums; retirees are billed the remaining portion of the premium. Split billing is easy to understand for retirees and employers with no additional cost.

Learn more about the Connector Model
Talk with a representative about how the Connector Model can work for you.

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