We recommend the following best practices:

• Telemedicine: Utilize HealthiestYou.com for basic health needs like flu symptoms and stomach aches. A nurse or doctor can diagnose and prescribe medications through the app.
• Urgent Care: Choose Urgent Care over the Emergency Room whenever possible, as ER services are significantly more expensive and should only be used for life-threatening conditions.
• In-Network Providers: Since the ProtectorGuard plan is a PPO, you can search for in-network providers to benefit from discounted rates. You can find providers on the UHOne website.

• Enhanced Health Protector Guard (HPG) plans: These are "Basic Health Coverage" or "Medically Underwritten Plans" designed for healthy individuals and typically offer richer benefits at more affordable rates compared to ACA plans.
• Supplemental plans: We often recommend adding Accident plans with HPG plans, and can also discuss Critical Illness, Dental, and Vision plans.

• Affordable Care Act (ACA) Plans: These are government plans that guarantee coverage and do not require medical underwriting. They cover 10 "minimum essential coverages" including pediatric dental, maternity, mental health, and substance abuse. ACA plans can be very expensive due to covering a large number of claims related to pre-existing conditions.
• Medically Underwritten Plans (Private Insurance): These plans are customizable and typically more affordable with richer benefits. They require you to medically qualify by being healthy and without major medical conditions. They focus on 6 of the 10 minimum essential coverages, excluding pediatric dental, maternity, mental health, and substance abuse.

Most of our UnitedHealthOne plans utilize the United Healthcare Choice Plus PPO network.

• PPO (Preferred Provider Organization): Benefits are provided both in-network and out-of-network. You don't need referrals to see a specialist, and you have coverage anywhere in the U.S. This offers flexibility and wider access to providers.

You can use the Optum Perks mobile app to search for your prescriptions and find the lowest cost in your area. Present your Health ProtectorGuard insurance card along with the Optum Perks Rx coupon at the pharmacy, pay out-of-pocket, and you will receive a benefit check directly from UnitedHealthOne via mail.