Table of Contents
DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens will open 14 UnitedHealthcare Medicare services centers in stores in five metropolitan areas as part of a multiyear agreement.
“We are expanding access to UnitedHealthcare Medicare resources to better serve our members, providing them with all the valuable benefits they have come to expect from their UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans plus delivering the customer service and information they desire locally within Walgreens,” said Mike Anderson, CEO of the Medicare Part D business at UnitedHealthcare.
The services centers will begin to open in January at Walgreens stores in the Las Vegas, Phoenix, Cleveland, Denver and Memphis markets. Through these centers, Walgreens customers can learn more about Medicare, meet with service advocates to discuss their UnitedHealthcare plan benefits and even enroll in plans. UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage members can also make an appointment for an in-store annual wellness visit through UnitedHealthcare’s HouseCalls program, helping make it easier to get needed care, tests and treatment.
“Walgreens collaboration with UnitedHealthcare helps people navigate their healthcare options and provides convenient access to affordable care,” said Rick Gates, senior vice president of pharmacy and health care at Walgreens. “Through strategic partnerships like this, Walgreens store locations can offer comprehensive services tailored to the specific needs of the communities we serve that are conveniently accessible alongside our pharmacy services.”
The two companies are also collaborating on the new AARP Medicare Advantage Walgreens plans from UnitedHealthcare to deliver lower prescription drug costs and convenient access to medications. The new plans expand on UnitedHealthcare’s 2020 Medicare Advantage offerings. With Walgreens as the preferred retail pharmacy, many of the plans will feature no premiums and zero co-pays on primary care visits, preventive care and many common generic drugs, offering another way for plan members to save.
The plans will feature benefits available through most UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans including a broad health care network, dental and vision coverage, and access to Renew Active, UnitedHealthcare’s Medicare fitness program for mind and body.
AARP Medicare Advantage Walgreens plan members are not limited to using Walgreens and may continue to fill prescriptions at most retail pharmacies or through mail order from OptumRx. At Walgreens, plan members will enjoy lower co-pays for drugs, access to additional in-store value, enhanced discounts through the Walgreens Balance Rewards program and simple to use digital tools through Walgreens. The 46 plans will be available across 24 states where 16.2 million people eligible for Medicare reside. Consumers can enroll during the Medicare Annual Enrollment from October 15 through December 7 when people eligible for Medicare can choose their coverage.
Serving more than 12 million Medicare beneficiaries, UnitedHealthcare’s UnitedHealthcare’s Medicare plans offer programs that help people stay active, improve health and navigate complex care needs. The only company to offer Medicare plans with the AARP name, UnitedHealthcare serves one in five people in the Medicare program through its portfolio of plans.
