UnitedHealthcare and healthcare provider Sharp Healthcare have announced a five-year contract renewal that also includes the rebranding of a current United Medicare Advantage plan to be called Sharp SecureHorizons Plan by UnitedHealthcare (HMO).
The MA plan will offer members a premium that includes Medicare Part D prescription coverage at a price that is the same as seniors would pay for Medicare Part B alone. The insurance product is set to launch in 2012.
"The people we serve will benefit through long-term access to the outstanding Sharp facilities and care providers, and through the clarity we can offer through the rebranded Sharp SecureHorizons Plan," said Michael McCarthy, regional executive director of UnitedHealthcare Medicare Solutions in Southern California, in a press release. "Through collaboration with such a trusted and highly regarded healthcare system over the next five years, we're confident we can provide our members with enhanced value and quality coverage."
[See also: Anthem Blue Cross, Sharp HealthCare pilot San Diego-area ACO; Medicare Advantage premiums down for second straight year]
Under the new health plan, Sharp Healthcare will be the exclusive network care provider of the SecureHorizons MA plan. Members of the plan will have exclusive access to Sharp's four full-service hospitals and three specialty hospitals and outpatient center. The network also includes a physician network of more than 1,100 primary care and specialty care doctors practicing at both the Sharp Community Medical Group and Sharp Rees-Stealy Medical Group.
In addition to the Sharp branded Medicare plan, UnitedHealthcare will offer three other MA plans in the San Diego County market sold under the AARP MedicareComplete brand name. As part of the new contract members of these plans will also have access to Sharp facilities and doctors.
In all, United has more than 9 million Medicare members nationwide. Of those 320,000 live in California and a total of 60,000 reside in San Diego County.