UnitedHealth Group to Extend, Broaden Its Relationship with AARP to Focus More Than Ever on Improving Americans’ Health and Well-Being
UnitedHealth Group announced today that it has reached an agreement in principle with AARP to extend and broaden their long-time relationship focused on improving the health and well-being of Americans 50 and older.
The extended agreement, which is expected to run through December 2020, will enable UnitedHealth Group to serve AARP’s 37 million members by drawing upon the ever-expanding capabilities across its businesses, including UnitedHealthcare in health benefits and Optum in health services. UnitedHealthcare will continue to offer a portfolio of AARP-branded products, and Optum will continue to provide health care navigational and decision support services. As part of the expanded relationship, AARP will become the Founding Consumer Advocate Organization of Optum Labs, Optum’s research and innovation facility focused on data-driven health care research and clinical translation.
“For more than 15 years UnitedHealth Group has delivered on a commitment to improve health care for people age 50 and over so that they can live healthier and more fulfilling lives through our products that carry the AARP name,” said Stephen J. Hemsley, president and chief executive officer of UnitedHealth Group. “We are honored to build upon our unique and innovative relationship with AARP, which has helped both UnitedHealthcare and AARP provide better support and value to the consumers we serve. We now have the opportunity to further match our health care expertise with AARP’s clear focus on improving access to the health care marketplace for those 50 and over, and all Americans, as well as improving the quality of that marketplace.”
Through the extended agreement, UnitedHealthcare will continue to offer a diversified portfolio of AARP-branded Medicare-related and indemnity insurance products, including Medicare Advantage, Medicare Part D and Medicare supplement products. UnitedHealthcare is the nation’s largest business dedicated to meeting the health and well-being needs of seniors and other Medicare beneficiaries, with more than 10 million people enrolled in its Medicare plans. The majority are members in an AARP-branded plan.
“Since we first began working together in 1997, AARP and UnitedHealth Group have brought our respective strengths and resources together to help people live healthier lives,” said Barry Rand, chief executive officer of AARP. “Broadening our relationship over the years has allowed us to have a tremendously positive impact on the lives of Medicare beneficiaries, and AARP looks forward to continuing its work to improve health care and provide access to high-quality, affordable care. The extended relationship with UnitedHealth Group will help us do this.”
Over the past five years, UnitedHealth Group has worked with an AARP subsidiary to complete more than 100 studies aimed at transforming health care for Medicare beneficiaries by improving the quality and cost of care. This knowledge has led to the establishment of comprehensive case management programs, decision support and emergency room diversion programs, and web-based tools for members and their caregivers. The new agreement will expand this commitment to research as AARP will join Optum Labs’ mission to advance innovation and improvement in health care.
“We are pleased that AARP is extending its relationship with Optum and joining Optum Labs to discover meaningful and actionable ways to improve our health system,” said Larry Renfro, chief executive officer of Optum. “AARP and Optum are bringing together the best consumer insight, health information and research expertise to drive innovation and improve the health care journey for millions of Americans. We look forward to exploring additional ways our two organizations can work together in the future.”
UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) is a diversified health and well-being company dedicated to helping people live healthier lives and making health care work better. With headquarters in Minnetonka, Minn., UnitedHealth Group offers a broad spectrum of products and services through two distinct platforms: UnitedHealthcare, which provides health care coverage and benefits services; and Optum, which provides information and technology-enabled health services. Through its businesses, UnitedHealth Group serves more than 85 million people worldwide. For more information, visit UnitedHealth Group at .
UnitedHealthcare is dedicated to helping people nationwide live healthier lives by simplifying the health care experience, meeting consumer health and wellness needs, and sustaining trusted relationships with care providers. The company offers the full spectrum of health benefit programs for individuals, employers and Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, and contracts directly with 780,000 physicians and other health care professionals and 5,900 hospitals and other care facilities nationwide. UnitedHealthcare serves more than 40 million people in health benefits and is one of the businesses of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH), a diversified Fortune 50 health and well-being company.
Optum is a leading information and technology-enabled health services business dedicated to helping make the health system work better for everyone. With more than 35,000 people worldwide, Optum delivers intelligent, integrated solutions that modernize the health system and help to improve overall population health. Optum is part of the UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH).
Optum Labs is a center for collaborative research and innovation, providing unique data and analytic resources that enable stakeholders from across the health care ecosystem to drive advances that lead to improved patient care and outcomes. Optum Labs was established in early 2013 through a partnership with Optum and Mayo Clinic. Optum Labs is part of Optum, a leading information and technology-enabled health services business dedicated to helping make the health system work better for everyone. For more information, visit .
AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, with a membership of more than 37 million, that helps people turn their goals and dreams into real possibilities, strengthens communities and fights for the issues that matter most to families such as healthcare, employment and income security, retirement planning, affordable utilities and protection from financial abuse. We advocate for individuals in the marketplace by selecting products and services of high quality and value to carry the AARP name as well as help our members obtain discounts on a wide range of products, travel, and services. A trusted source for lifestyle tips, news and educational information, AARP produces AARP The Magazine, the world's largest circulation magazine; AARP Bulletin; ; AARP TV & Radio; AARP Books; and AARP en Español, a Spanish-language website addressing the interests and needs of Hispanics. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to political campaigns or candidates. The AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. AARP has staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Learn more at .