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grandparents-plans

UnitedHealthcare celebrates grandparents

At UnitedHealthcare®, we know the important role grandparents play in their grandchildren’s lives. Many children live with one or both grandparents who serve as the main caregiver. Other grandparents give their love and support from close in town or far away. Whatever the case, we want to celebrate all grandparents. We recognize all you do, every day, to help raise happy, healthy kids.

Multi-generational families, including “grandfamilies,” are becoming more and more common. According to Generations United, grandfamilies are “families where grandparents, other relatives, or close family friends are raising children because the children’s parents are unable to do so.1”

Just how special are grandparents?

Being a grandparent is rewarding. When grandparents, grandchildren and other relatives live together, it’s a chance to get to know one another better. It’s a chance to learn from one another. And it may draw you even closer than ever before.

  • Nearly 8 million children in the U.S. live in households headed by grandparents or other relatives.2
  • And in roughly 1 in 3 of these households, neither of the children’s parents live in the home.3

Serving as a parent or guardian to your grandchild can also be challenging. Children and caregivers in grandfamilies experience more significant health, mental health, social and financial challenges than those in the general population.4

UnitedHealthcare recognizes these challenges. And in celebrating grandparents, we're here to help you access health, wellness, nutrition and care resources to help you and your family live healthier lives.

grandparents-events-celebrate

Grandfamilies Guide to Good Health

Raising grandchildren is very rewarding. But it's not always not easy. Our Grandfamilies Guide to Good Health can help. Inside, you’ll find tips to help keep your family healthy in:

Body — How to eat healthy, stretch your food dollars and get proper preventive care

Mind — Ways to help with mental health and substance use issues

Soul — Fun and rewarding things to do while spending time together

Download Grandfamilies Guide to Good Health

Dual Special Needs plans (D-SNP)

As a grandparent, taking care of your family means taking care of yourself, too. This includes having the right coverage for your needs. 

A Dual Special Needs plan, or D-SNP for short, is a type of health insurance plan for people who have both Medicare and Medicaid. These plans are designed for people who may need more help because of disabilities, age or health conditions. A D-SNP plan works together with your Medicaid plan. You’ll keep all your Medicaid benefits. Plus, with a D-SNP, you could get more benefits and features than with Original Medicare. 

Visit GetDual.com to learn more about some popular health plans to consider.

What is a Dual Special Needs plan (D-SNP)?

A Dual Special Needs plan (D-SNP) is a type of Medicare Advantage plan. It’s for people who have both Medicare and Medicaid.

These plans are designed for people who may need more help because of disabilities, age, income or health conditions.

D-SNPs work with your state medical assistance program with the goal of providing access to the quality health care you deserve at a price you can afford.

More about what is a D-SNP?

D-SNP eligibility

Each state will determine if you qualify for a dual health plan (Medicaid + Medicare).

You are eligible for a Dual Special Needs plan if you qualify for Medicaid, you receive Medicare Parts A and B (Original Medicare) benefits and if you live in the coverage area for the D-SNP plan.

If you don't meet all the requirements, you may still be partially eligible for a D-SNP.

Learn which plan is right for you.

More about D-SNP eligibility

Benefits of a D-SNP health plan

With a D-SNP health plan, you could get more benefits than with either Original Medicare or Medicaid alone. You'll keep all your Medicaid benefits, plus add even more at no extra cost to you. Some examples of extra benefits may include:

  • Routine dental care 
  • A monthly credit to spend on healthy food, over-the-counter products and pay utility bills 
  • Routine eye exams, plus credit for eyewear 
  • Routine hearing exams, plus credit for hearing devices 
  • Rides to health care visits and the pharmacy
More about D-SNP benefits

Helpful resources

Finding it hard to afford food?

  • Feeding America is a network of food banks. Type in your ZIP code and find places to get free food, plus dates and times for pickup.
  • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), also known as food stamps, and Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) help families buy healthy food.

Hope and healing may be a phone call away

  • The Substance Use Disorder Helpline is private and available 24/7. Call 1-855-780-5955.
  • If you or someone you know has thoughts of suicide or  an emergency, call 911 or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-T A L K (8255).

Stay connected to your community

  • Volunteer at a local organization such as a church or community center. Get started
  • Improve your social connectedness through tips from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Check out UHCHealthierLives.com to find help on your own, for things like housing, getting food every day, getting to the grocery store or feeling safe.

Educational materials

Download educational materials to help you and your family learn about healthy habits and resources to live a healthier life.

This information is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for the advice of a doctor. Consult your doctor prior to beginning an exercise program or making changes to your lifestyle or health care routine.

References

1 Building Resilience: Supporting Grandfamilies' Mental Health and Wellness - Generations United (gu.org)
2 GU_2023-Grandfamilies-Report_Infographic-Bifold-Final.pdf
3 GU_2023-Grandfamilies-Report_Infographic-Bifold-Final.pdf
4 23-Children-Thrive-in-Grandfamilies.pdf (gu.org)


Disclaimer:
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This site contains links to other websites. UnitedHealthcare is not responsible for the content of these sites, which are provided for information purposes only and they are not intended to be nor should be construed as a substitute for medical, nursing, or professional health care advice or services. Please check to see what resources are covered under plan benefits by calling the number on the back of your ID card. Accessing the listed resources could result in service fees billed directly to you from these resource providers and may impact HSA eligibility.

Last Updated: 10.10.2024 at 11:00 AM CDT

Disclaimer information
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Looking for the federal government’s Medicaid website? Look here at Medicaid.gov.

UnitedHealthcare Dual Complete plans

Plans are insured through UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company or one of its affiliated companies, a Medicare Advantage organization with a Medicare contract and a contract with the State Medicaid Program. Enrollment in the plan depends on the plan’s contract renewal with Medicare. This plan is available to anyone who has both Medical Assistance from the State and Medicare. Benefits, features and/or devices vary by plan/area. Limitations, exclusions and/or network restrictions may apply. Benefits, premiums and/or co-payments/co-insurance may change on January 1 of each year.

Premium disclaimer

Dual Special Needs plans have a $0 premium for members with Extra Help (Low Income Subsidy).

Benefit disclaimer

Benefits, features, and/or devices vary by plan/area. Limitations, exclusions and/or network restrictions may apply.

Nurse Hotline disclaimer

This service should not be used for emergency or urgent care needs. In an emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. The information provided through this service is for informational purposes only. The nurses cannot diagnose problems or recommend treatment and are not a substitute for your provider's care. Your health information is kept confidential in accordance with the law. The service is not an insurance program and may be discontinued at any time. Nurse Hotline not for use in emergencies, for informational purposes only.

UnitedHealthcare Connected® for MyCare Ohio (Medicare-Medicaid plan)

UnitedHealthcare Connected® for MyCare Ohio (Medicare-Medicaid plan) is a health plan that contracts with both Medicare and Ohio Medicaid to provide benefits of both programs to enrollees. 

UnitedHealthcare Connected® (Medicare-Medicaid plan)

UnitedHealthcare Connected® (Medicare-Medicaid plan) is a health plan that contracts with both Medicare and Texas Medicaid to provide benefits of both programs to enrollees.

UnitedHealthcare Connected® for One Care (Medicare-Medicaid plan)

UnitedHealthcare Connected® for One Care (Medicare-Medicaid plan) is a health plan that contracts with both Medicare and MassHealth (Medicaid) to provide benefits of both programs to enrollees. 

UnitedHealthcare Connected® general benefit disclaimer

This is not a complete list. The benefit information is a brief summary, not a complete description of benefits. For more information contact the plan or read the member handbook. Limitations, copays and restrictions may apply. For more information, call UnitedHealthcare Connected® Member Services or read the UnitedHealthcare Connected® member handbook. 

UnitedHealthcare Senior Care Options (HMO SNP) plan

UnitedHealthcare Senior Care Options (SCO) is a Coordinated Care plan with a Medicare contract and a contract with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Medicaid program. Enrollment in the plan depends on the plan’s contract renewal with Medicare. This plan is a voluntary program that is available to anyone 65 and older who qualifies for MassHealth Standard and Original Medicare and does not have any other comprehensive health Insurance, except Medicare. If you have MassHealth Standard, but you do not qualify for Original Medicare, you may still be eligible to enroll in our MassHealth Senior Care Option plan and receive all of your MassHealth benefits through our Senior Care Options (SCO) program.

Star ratings disclaimer

Every year, Medicare evaluates plans based on a 5-Star rating system. The 5-Star rating applies to plan year 2024.

Important provider information

The choice is yours

We will provide you with information to help you make informed choices, such as physicians' and health care professionals' credentials. This information, however, is not an endorsement of a particular physician or health care professional's suitability for your needs.

The providers available through this application may not necessarily reflect the full extent of UnitedHealthcare's network of contracted providers. There may be providers or certain specialties that are not included in this application that are part of our network. If you don't find the provider you are searching for, you may contact the provider directly to verify participation status with UnitedHealthcare's network, or contact Customer Care at the toll-free number shown on your UnitedHealthcare ID card. We also recommend that, prior to seeing any physician, including any specialists, you call the physician's office to verify their participation status and availability.

Some network providers may have been added or removed from our network after this directory was updated. We do not guarantee that each provider is still accepting new members.

Out-of-network/non-contracted providers are under no obligation to treat UnitedHealthcare plan members, except in emergency situations. Please call our customer service number or see your Evidence of Coverage for more information, including the cost- sharing that applies to out-of-network services.

American Disabilities Act notice

In accordance with the requirements of the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 ("ADA"), UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company provides full and equal access to covered services and does not discriminate against qualified individuals with disabilities on the basis of disability in its services, programs, or activities.

Referrals

Network providers help you and your covered family members get the care needed. Access to specialists may be coordinated by your primary care physician.

Paper directory requests

Paper copies of the network provider directory are available at no cost to members by calling the customer service number on the back of your ID card. Non-members may download and print search results from the online directory.

Inaccurate information

To report incorrect information, email provider_directory_invalid_issues@uhc.com. This email box is for members to report potential inaccuracies for demographic (address, phone, etc.) information in the online or paper directories. Reporting issues via this mail box will result in an outreach to the provider’s office to verify all directory demographic data, which can take approximately 30 days. Individuals can also report potential inaccuracies via phone. UnitedHealthcare Members should call the number on the back of their ID card, and non-UnitedHealthcare members can call 1-888-638-6613 / TTY 711, or use your preferred relay service.

Declaration of disaster or emergency

If you’re affected by a disaster or emergency declaration by the President or a governor, or an announcement of a public health emergency by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, there is certain additional support available to you.

  • Part A, Part B, and supplemental Part C plan benefits are to be provided at specified non-contracted facilities (note that Part A and Part B benefits must be obtained at Medicare certified facilities);
  • Where applicable, requirements for gatekeeper referrals are waived in full;
  • Plan-approved out-of-network cost-sharing to network cost-sharing amounts are temporarily reduced; and
  • The 30-day notification requirement to members is waived, as long as all the changes (such as reduction of cost-sharing and waiving authorization) benefit the member.

If CMS hasn’t provided an end date for the disaster or emergency, plans will resume normal operation 30 days after the initial declaration.