UnitedHealth Premium gets an update

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1 Page 1 of 5 Login to myuhc.com Print all articles JANUARY 2014 UnitedHealth Premium gets an update Want to estimate your health care costs? Weight loss: Are you ready to get serious? Healthy recipe: Popcorn trail mix UnitedHealth Premium gets an update UnitedHealthcare regularly evaluates all the doctors in our network. We look at how they measure up against national quality standards and local cost-efficiency goals. And, we give doctors who meet those targets the UnitedHealth Premium designation. New results will be available beginning Jan. 8.1 Your doctor's rating may have changed. So, before you make medical appointments, visit myuhc.com to check out the results. This can help you get the most from your plan benefits. Look for the Tier 1 symbol In the past, doctors who met our UnitedHealth Premium standards were given two stars one for quality and one for cost efficiency. This year, we've retired the stars. But, you can still find the Premium designation next to the doctor's name. Exercise loves company Encourage a friend to join you for a workout or in a fitness class. You'll keep each other motivated and amp up the fun factor. To learn more about your fitness options, visit Source4Women. We are also introducing the Tier 1 symbol. If your health plan offers tiered benefits, the symbol helps you find doctors who have been recognized for providing value. Seeing these doctors could mean lower co-payments for you. 2 Tier 1 doctors have received high ratings in both quality and cost efficiency or in cost efficiency alone if there wasn't enough data to assess quality. We've rated doctors in the 26 specialties below. New specialties added for 2014 are in bold text. Primary care physicians Family practice Internal medicine OB-GYN Pediatrics Specialists Allergy Cardiology

2 Page 2 of 5 Cardiology electrophysiology Cardiology interventional Ear, nose and throat (ENT) Endocrinology General surgery General surgery colon/rectal Nephrology Neurology Neurosurgery spine Ophthalmology Orthopedics foot/ankle Orthopedics general Orthopedics hand Orthopedics hip/knee Orthopedics shoulder/elbow Orthopedics spine Orthopedics sports medicine Pulmonology Rheumatology Urology For help finding a doctor, visit myuhc.com. Or, call the toll-free member phone number on the back of your health plan ID card. 1 The results of our most recent evaluation for physicians in Connecticut, Delaware, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota and western Wisconsin will be available on April 2 on myuhc.com and in other network provider directories. 2 For specific benefit coverage amounts, refer to your benefit plan documents or call the toll-free member phone number on your health plan ID card. Want to estimate your health care costs? Play the Victorious PatientSM game! It shows you how myhealthcare Cost Estimator (myhce) can help you make more informed health care decisions. With myhce, you can research your health care options by getting to know the 4Ps: procedure, provider, price and place. When you play, you help the on-screen patients make decisions about each of the 4Ps. Each patient has a puzzle for you to solve. And, they get more difficult as you go along. Collect the myhce stars and use them when you're having trouble. Just as when you

3 Page 3 of 5 are making real health care decisions, myhce can help you make the process easier. Test your decision-making skills and see if you can make it through all 10 levels. When you're done, tell your friends about the game. And, visit myuhc.com to estimate your own health care costs. All UnitedHealthcare members can access a cost estimator online tool. Depending on your specific benefit plan and the ZIP code that is entered, either the myhealthcare Cost Estimator or the Treatment Cost Estimator will be available. A mobile version of myhealthcare Cost Estimator is available, and additional ZIP codes and procedures will be added soon. This tool is not intended to be a guarantee of your costs or benefits. Your actual costs and/or benefits may vary. When accessing the tool, please refer to the Terms and Conditions of Use and Why Your Costs May Vary sections for further information regarding cost estimates. Refer to your health plan coverage document for information regarding your specific benefits. Weight loss: Are you ready to get serious? The best-kept weight-loss secret isn't a fad diet or a pill. It's a lifestyle and a solid plan. If you've made up your mind to drop those extra pounds for good don't jump in without a course of action. That's because in this case, "ready" and "set" are just as important as "go!" Step 1: Let your doctor weigh in A smart place to start is to talk with your doctor. He or she can help you set a healthy target weight and suggest reliable ways to trim down. Your doctor might also refer you to a registered dietitian or weight-loss program for extra guidance and support.* Don't be surprised if your doctor cautions you not to peel off the pounds too quickly. Slow, steady weight loss 1 to 2 pounds each week is the best way to have lasting results. Step 2: Set the stage for success Here are some more wise preparations: Get psyched. Think about why shedding pounds matters to you. Do you want to feel your best? Play with your kids without getting winded? Lower your blood pressure? Prevent future health problems? Stock up. Fill your fridge and pantry with healthy foods. That way you'll have good choices on hand for meals and snacks. Think small. Come up with a couple of modest and doable ways to begin. For example: "I'll savor small treats on special occasions" is more realistic than "I'll give up desserts forever." Speaking of modest, how about downsizing your dishware? Using a smaller plate or bowl is a simple way to keep portions in check. And, here's another small change that can pay off big: Sneak short, brisk walks into your day aim for at

4 Page 4 of 5 least 10 minutes at a time. You'll burn extra calories. And, these quick outings may inspire you to be even more active. Once you have some mini-goals down, you can add others into your routine. Put time on your side. Don't let a busy schedule derail your efforts. For example, set aside specific times to plan nutritious, calorie-wise meals and snacks and to shop for the foods you'll need. And, here's an important one: Fit regular workouts into your day. See "How much exercise do I need?" Rally support it matters. Let others know about your goals and how they can help. Maybe your partner will team up with you to find healthy recipes the whole family can enjoy. Or, a neighbor or co-worker would gladly agree to be your walking buddy. Step 3: Be in it for the long haul Commit to these food and activity changes as a way of life your new life. That's the true secret of maintaining a healthy weight. Remind yourself that you're someone who enjoys healthy foods, watches portion sizes and stays active. Give it time and be proud of the trimmer, healthier new you. You can find more resources for losing weight at Source4Women and UHC TV. *Check your benefits plan to see what services may be covered United HealthCare Services, Inc. All rights reserved. Reprinted with permission from Healthy Mind Healthy Body February 2013 e-newsletter Join us for a seminar Mark your calendar to attend this online seminar: Lose weight the healthy way: Tips and tricks to go the distance Tuesday, Jan. 14, 12:30 p.m. ET, 11:30 a.m. CT Register today. Our seminars include audio and video. And, our expert speakers will answer your questions. If you miss the live session, you can watch or listen to it later at the Source4Women website. Healthy Recipe Popcorn trail mix A hearty and healthy snack, good for busy people on the run. View Recipe

5 Page 5 of United HealthCare Services, Inc. This newsletter contains general health information and is not intended to be medical advice or a substitute for professional health care. You should consult an appropriate health care professional for your specific needs and to determine whether making a lifestyle change or decision based on this newsletter is appropriate for you. Some treatments mentioned in this newsletter may not be covered by your health plan. Please refer to your benefit plan documents for information about coverage. Please remember, UnitedHealthcare does not provide health care services nor practice medicine. Doctors are solely responsible for medical judgments and treatments. The UnitedHealth Premium designation program is a resource for informational purposes only. Designations are displayed in UnitedHealthcare online physician directories at myuhc.com. You should always visit myuhc.com for the most current information. Premium designations are a guide to choosing a physician and may be used as one of many factors you consider when choosing a physician. If you already have a physician, you may also wish to confer with him or her for advice on selecting other physicians. Physician evaluations have a risk of error and should not be the sole basis for selecting a physician. Please visit myuhc.com for detailed program information and methodologies. Only individual physicians that meet UnitedHealth Premium designation criteria, or physicians in designated specialties who are part of medical groups that meet UnitedHealth Premium criteria for group practices and who have sufficient claims data for analysis, may be designated. All physicians that contract with UnitedHealthcare have met credentialing requirements. Regardless of designation, plan enrollees have access to physicians in the UnitedHealthcare network as described in their benefit plan. Specialties for which there are no quality guidelines currently established in the program are excluded from evaluation and are noted as such. The assessment result "Not Enough Data to Assess" is not an indicator of the total number of patients treated by the physician or the number of procedures performed by the physician. Rather, it reflects the statistical requirements of the Premium designation program, which includes only health plan claims associated with specific program measures and relevant to the physician's designated specialty. In some cases, there may not be enough data to complete the analytic process from a statistical standpoint. UnitedHealth Premium and myuhc.com are registered trademarks of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated. Source4Women is a trademark of UnitedHealth Group Inc. Insurance coverage provided by or through UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company or its affiliates. Administrative services provided by United HealthCare Services, Inc. or their affiliates.