Users Of UnitedHealthcare Online Cost Estimator Tool More Likely To Select Higher-Quality Primary Care Professionals

Consumers covered by a health insurance plan through UnitedHealthcare who used the free online myHealthcare Cost Estimator (myHCE) tool to price medical care were seven percent more likely to receive care from primary care physicians with high value designations than UnitedHealthcare members who did not use the tool.  Users of the tool were younger, more often female, and more often enrolled in a consumer-directed health plan.

The tool allows users to view specific pricing by episode of treatment alongside provider organization quality and cost information. The quality information is based on UnitedHealth Premium Designation (UHPD) program analysis of the . . .