United with communities to advance health equity

Helping people live healthier lives. Making the health system work better for everyone. It’s our mission – and improving community health is vital to achieving it. Learn about the health equity challenges we’re addressing, and how our programs are making a difference in communities across the country. 

Healthier communities help us all do better

Supporting healthier and more equitable communities does more than improve individual lives. By understanding the needs of our communities, we can help make the whole system work better for everyone. From financial support to building health centers to creating jobs, we’re teaming up with community partners to help grow existing efforts and develop new resources.  

How healthier, empowered communities can make an impact

  • Ease the strain on health care systems. Care is more efficient when people get the right health and social support at the right time.

  • Lower the cost of care. When people stay healthy, the overall costs of care typically go down. This is often true for patients and the providers who deliver care.

  • Help people thrive. Healthy people create a stronger workforce. When a community’s workforce is strong, its economy is often strengthened too. 

Understanding the challenges our communities face

Advancing equitable health care starts with listening. By understanding what our communities need, we can work together to identify opportunities and address their biggest challenges. Some of these challenges include the following:

Location

Did you know the ZIP code and community where people live determine their health more than genetics? In communities across the country, health services are stretched thin, at capacity or even nonexistent. This leaves many communities unable to deliver equitable access to care.

Unjust systems

Both historically and still today, unjust systems shape the health of communities. Cities and neighborhoods across the country feel the impact. Whether it’s lack of funding or lack of access, unequal systems are one of the biggest drivers of social health. 

Existing solutions with limited reach

From managed care organizations to community-based organizations, there are no shortage of groups trying to improve community health. While their work is essential, their reach and impact can be limited by resource and financial constraints. It’s time for all of us – particularly businesses and health care systems – to step up, collaborate and do our part to make things better.

Assuming before listening

It’s one thing to look at statistics and assume what a community needs. It’s another to hear about those needs from the people who live there. By meeting with community members and leaders, we get the chance to listen, understand their unique strengths and learn the best ways we can offer support.

Advancing health equity from the ground up​

Helping solve our communities’ biggest challenges takes all of us working together. Our programs focus on advancing health equity at the individual, organizational and community level. With our support, communities can address social needs, strengthen health care access and support well-being at the ground level.

Supporting individual members

My Community Connections focuses on understanding our individual plan members’ social needs and how they affect their health. Then, we connect them to supportive plan benefits and quality community resources. We also look at larger health trends and the social needs of member communities. This helps us learn where we can help fill gaps or expand access to care. 

 

Expanding community access to care

Empowering Health addresses the issues that impact people’s health. We work with community-based organizations to help improve the health and wellness of people who may often be overlooked. Our focus is on investing in the work of nonprofits, community connections and volunteerism. This supports our community partners in the ways they need to improve care access and address the social determinants of health.

Learn more about Empowering Health

Developing solutions with community partners

UnitedHealthcare Catalyst™ has created community-based partnerships in 28 states across the country. This program combines UnitedHealthcare’s analytic insights with community input and experience. Together, we identify health challenges to address and create coordinated, community-based solutions. The goal is to build on a community’s existing work and resources to make the most impact over time.

Collaborating with underserved communities

UnitedHealthcare Communities of Health is a large-scale, ongoing community program. We proactively reach out to underserved neighborhoods to learn about the root causes affecting their community and the resources they feel are missing. Then, we work together to build those resources, like healthy food access points and neighborhood clinics. This can support better care access, improve job opportunities and drive economic growth for the whole community.

Investing in community improvements

UHG Treasury Partnership leads our tax credit and social impact investment strategies. Our investments focus on key areas like health care access and affordable housing for underserved communities. Since 2011, we’ve invested nearly $800 million to help build nearly 19,000 new homes in 27 states and the District of Columbia. We’ve also invested more than $90 million in several social impact projects. These include building or expanding health centers and improving health outcomes in the communities we serve.

How to get involved

Everyone has a part in addressing health equity. Join us to help make real, lasting change.

  • Challenge the status quo for the role businesses and the health care system play in improving the health of our communities
  • Collaborate with a diverse group of partners to help support the biggest needs in the community, from programming to physical spaces

Find out how your business or organization can start making a difference.

Contact Lauren Montwill at lauren_montwill@uhc.com