Surest health plan eliminates deductibles and helps lower the total cost of care
If you think the health system is too complicated, you may be pleasantly surprised by Surest® from UnitedHealthcare. It’s a modern employer-sponsored health plan designed to help simplify the process of choosing where to receive care by offering members the information they need upfront, enabling them to comparison shop for care.
“We are seeing improved access for Surest members by making it possible for people to shop for care like they do for other services, which in turn is driving savings for employers,” said Alison Richards, CEO of Surest for UnitedHealthcare. “This is a common-sense approach that we created by listening to what people want and then giving it to them.”
What’s different with the Surest health plan?
For starters, there's no deductible to chip away at and no coinsurance to worry about weeks after receiving care.
“With traditional health plans, these charges can be a source of frustration and confusion for some members,” Alison said. “We removed them from the plan to simplify how members choose and pay for care.”
Eliminating deductibles and coinsurance has made it easier for people enrolled in Surest to understand their benefits. For one large employer, 82% of members reported a better understanding of their Surest plan compared to their previous health plan.1
The other differentiator: Upfront pricing
Using the Surest app or website, members can check and compare prices and provider options in advance of seeking care, with lower prices indicating providers have a track record of delivering effective, cost-efficient care.
This upfront pricing also helps people shop for and access care that is right for them while avoiding the surprise of a medical bill that, with a traditional health plan, might show up weeks or months after a service or procedure.
The result, according to a recent study, is that Surest members pay 54% less out of pocket, on average, compared to those in traditional plans.
Surest’s unique plan design encourages members to actively engage with their benefits and decisions about their care. And data shows that it’s working. In fact, 79% of Surest members use the member app as intended to search for and compare provider options, and 72% did so 30 days before a surgery. This engagement, in turn, helps connect them to high-value care providers.
“The Surest health plan addresses many of the obstacles that consumers face, including by eliminating complicated math with clear, upfront cost and coverage details,” Alison said. “The plan gives people choice and flexibility to fit their personal needs and lifestyle.”
Employers that offer Surest are also seeing lower total costs of care year-over-year. With Surest, employers see an average of 11% in savings per-member-per-month compared to traditional plans, according to a 2022 study, and a 2024 third-party study conducted by Aon, a leading global professional services firm, found the Surest health plan led to lower claim costs, saving members more than $400 per year.2
The study showed consistent savings for people of all ages who received treatment for various chronic conditions, including:
- 12% lower costs for migraines
- 11% lower costs for mood disorders
- 10% lower costs for anxiety
- 8% lower costs for back pain
- 7.5% lower costs for diabetes
“The innovative design of Surest, including an intuitive digital experience, variable copays, and upfront cost and coverage information, is helping promote health equity by enabling all types of people to benefit from lower costs and high-value care, ranging from people who are young and healthy to those who are older or managing multiple chronic conditions,” said Dan Kueter, CEO of the UnitedHealthcare commercial business.
People who’ve tried the Surest plan usually like it
Consumers cite ease of use, price clarity and cost savings as some of the top advantages. According to the study, savings were driven by lower medical and pharmacy spending, including fewer outpatient surgeries (12% lower) and emergency room visits (10% lower).
At the same time, the study found a 30% increase in telehealth use among Surest members, demonstrating that the plan helps provide improved access to health care services and added convenience for members.
Surest is available nationwide3 to employers with self-funded health plans and, in early 2025, to employers with level-funded health plans that include 2-50 employees. It’s also available in 39 states to employers with fully insured plans that include 51 or more employees.
For more information, visit Surest.com.
