Paying supplemental claims proactively can help employees focus on recovery

After an illness, injury or hospital stay, employees may not realize they’re eligible for a supplemental health claim payment. Benefit Assist can help.

April 10, 2025

Video

Financial wellness is a crucial component of an individual’s overall health. Whole-person health encompasses not only physical and mental health but also the ability to financially support the needs of daily living and well-being.

In today's fast-paced world, financial stress can be a significant concern for many and can end up negatively impacting an individual’s overall health and productivity.Employers should take note of this because 78% of employees report experiencing financial debt, with 44% stating that it impacts their job performance,¹ and another 41% of adults report carrying some type of medical-related debt.²

41%

of surveyed adults carry some form of medical debt²

An unexpected injury or illness can quickly exacerbate this debt. And when an employee — or their family member — is experiencing an unexpected injury or illness, the last thing they should be worrying about is how to pay for the care they need.

One way employers can help is by offering supplemental health benefits that work alongside their medical benefits. Supplemental health benefits — such as hospital indemnity, accident protection and critical illness — are designed to help employees pay for out-of-pocket medical costs that may not be covered by a person’s primary health insurance, or other expenses like groceries, rent, transportation and more.

UnitedHealthcare takes that financial protection a step further with Benefit Assist®. After an illness or injury, employees may not even realize they are eligible for a payment through their supplemental health benefit. With Benefit Assist for Supplemental Health employees get a personalized claim experience that lets them focus on their health, rather than on the paperwork involved with submitting claims and paying bills.

90%

of supplemental health claims are initiated by Benefit Assist³

Available to eligible employees at no additional cost, Benefit Assist for Supplemental Health utilizes a combination of technology and benefit advocates to help employees receive proactive supplemental claim benefit payouts, before they even submit a claim. When an eligible claim is detected, Benefit Assist will either autopay the claim or, when that’s not possible, alert an advocate to reach out to the employee to contact them about their potential benefit and help them submit the claim. In fact, 90% of supplemental health claims are initiated by Benefit Assist technology.³

Benefit Assist has also been found to drive increased benefit utilization, driving a:³

51% increase in Critical Illness claims — including cancer, heart attacks, strokes
96% increase in Accident Protection claims — including burns, fractures, eye injuries
102% increase in Hospital Indemnity claims — including labor/delivery, trauma, ICU stays

Benefit Assist for supplemental health claims: Helping employees get their benefits when they’re needed most

Video transcript

A blue U with three stripes appears on the screen. It starts to wiggle and moves offscreen to reveal an animation of 3 blue circles. One with a stethoscope in the circle, one with a hospital bed, and one with crutches. A female announcer speaks. Music plays throughout.

ANNOUNCER: When a diagnosis, hospital stay, or accident occurs, it's good to know you've got UnitedHealthcare Benefit Assist on your side.

The animation dissolves to reveal blue text on a white background.

ON SCREEN TEXT:

Benefit Assist simplify your claims process get your eligible benefits

ANNOUNCER: Benefit Assist is a program designed to help both simplify your claims process and get you the benefits you're eligible for so you can focus on what's most important, getting well.

The text dissolves to reveal two arms creating a heart with its hands. The hands dissolve to reveal white text over a blue background.

ON SCREEN TEXT:

Health + Supplemental = Benefit plan Assist

ANNOUNCER: You're eligible for Benefit Assist if you're enrolled in a health plan and have a UnitedHealthcare supplemental plan, like accident, critical illness, or hospital indemnity, and it's included at no additional cost. So how does Benefit Assist work?

The screen dissolves to an animation of a file folder on the left and a wallet on the right. They then dissolve top reveal a computer on a desk with a cup of tea. The announcer continues speaking.

ANNOUNCER: Through two proactive measures, one involving the claims process, the other automatic payouts. Benefit Assist keeps an eye out for medical claims that qualify you for a potential supplemental benefit payout. When one is found, a Benefit Assistant reaches out to you to help submit the claim so you can get your benefit payout quickly.

The animations dissolves to an animation of a cellphone being held by a hand. It then dissolves to two blue circles over a white background. One circle has a flower in it, the other a hospital bed. The circle then flip to yellow with a blue checkmark in each. The announcer continues.

ANNOUNCER: Most wellness and hospital indemnity claims are paid automatically, along with many accident protection and critical illness claims.

The animation dissolves to an envelope being put in a mailbox. It then dissolves to an orange arrow showing progress.

ANNOUNCER: Benefit Assist identifies the eligible medical event and mails out a check directly to you. Here, there's no need to file a claim or even wait for someone to contact you because the process is already underway with Benefit Assist in your corner.

The animation dissolves to a yellow circle with a blue checkmark in the center. The announcer continues.

ANNOUNCER: If additional information is needed, UnitedHealthcare will contact you and submit the claim on your behalf.

The screen dissolves to blue text over a white background.

ON SCREEN TEXT:

The claims process is simplified helping you get your benefits when they’re needed most

ANNOUNCER: The claims process is simplified, helping you get your benefits when they're needed most.

Three blue stripes wiggle on to the screen and form a U. It dissolves to reveal blue text over a white background in the center of the screen, then to gray text on the screen. The music fades.

ON SCREEN TEXT:

UnitedHealthcare

Not for use in AZ, NM and NY.

Benefit Assist support is available at no additional cost to groups with a health plan and supplemental health plan from UnitedHealthcare. Benefit payments associated with the Supplemental Health Plan Benefit Assist program are subject to eligibility requirements and benefits outlined in your UnitedHealthcare policy. For more details, contact your broker or UnitedHealthcare sales representative.

Specialty benefits and programs may not be available in all states or for all group sizes. Components subject to change. These policies have exclusions, limitations and terms under which the policy may be continued in force or discontinued. For costs and complete coverage details, contact your company or UnitedHealthcare.

UnitedHealthcare Accident Protection product is provided by UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company. The policies have exclusions, limitations, reductions of benefits, and terms under which the policy may be continued in force or discontinued. For costs and complete details of the coverage, call or write your insurance agent or the company. Some products are not available in all states. UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company is located in Hartford, CT.

UnitedHealthcare Critical Illness product is provided by UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company. Critical Illness coverage is NOT considered "minimum essential coverage" under the Affordable Care Act and therefore does NOT satisfy the mandate to have health insurance coverage. Failure to have other health insurance coverage may be subject to a tax penalty. Please consult a tax advisor. The policies have exclusions, limitations, reductions of benefits, and terms under which the policy may be continued in force or discontinued. For costs and complete details of the coverage, call or write your insurance agent or the company. Some products are not available in all states. UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company is located in Hartford, CT.

UnitedHealthcare Hospital Indemnity product is provided by UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company. The product provides a limited benefit for certain hospital indemnity plan benefits. Please note: HOSPITAL INDEMNITY coverage is NOT considered "minimum essential coverage" under the Affordable Care Act and therefore does NOT satisfy the mandate to have health insurance coverage. Failure to have other health insurance coverage may be subject to a tax penalty. Please consult a tax advisor. The policy has exclusions, limitations, reductions of benefits, and terms under which the policy may be continued in force or discontinued. For costs and complete details of the coverage, call or write your insurance agent or the company. This product is not available in all states. UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company is located in Hartford, CT.

© 2024 United HealthCare Services, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 24-3600723

EI232112019.1 10/24

What's next with Benefit Assist?

As we continue to expand our integration capabilities, we will be introducing Benefit Assist for Maternity Leave to cover eligible short-term disability maternity claims under UnitedHealthcare major medical and a fully insured short-term disability plan. Benefit Assist for Maternity Leave uses the same automated claim-monitoring process as it does for supplemental health benefits. When a short-term disability maternity claim and expected delivery date is auto-identified by the program, the expectant mother will receive a payment for their standard 6-week leave, up to 30 days prior to delivery date — all without having to file a claim — freeing up time to prepare for labor and delivery.

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Footnotes

Kassardjian, K. Three reasons it’s critical to help workers manage their finances. ALM BenefitsPro, August 14, 2024. Available: https://www.benefitspro.com/2024/08/14/three-reasons-its-critical-to-help-workers-manage-their-finances/.
Rakshit, S. et al. The burden of medical debt in the United States. Peterson-Kaiser Family Foundation, Feb. 12, 2024. Available: https://www.healthsystemtracker.org/brief/the-burden-of-medical-debt-in-the-united-states.
UnitedHealthcare Supplemental Health book of business, Jan. 1, 2024- Dec 31, 2024.

Disclaimers

NOT AVAILABLE IN NEW YORK.

THIS IS A LIMITED BENEFIT POLICY.

This information does not replace your official health plan documents. Please see your official health plan documents for all coverage details, which includes limitations and exclusions. The policies have exclusions, limitations, reductions of benefits, and terms under which the policy may be continued in force or discontinued. For costs and complete details of the coverage, call or write the company.

This policy does not meet the definition of minimum essential coverage and therefore should not be used as a substitute for major health insurance.

Benefit Assist support for Supplemental Health is available at no additional cost to groups with a health plan and supplemental health plan from UnitedHealthcare. Benefit payments associated with the Supplemental Health Plan Benefit Assist program are subject to eligibility requirements and benefits outlined in your UnitedHealthcare policy. For more details, contact your broker or UnitedHealthcare sales representative.

Benefit Assist® for Maternity Leave is available at no additional cost to customers with a UnitedHealthcare fully insured medical plan and UnitedHealthcare fully insured short-term disability plan. Benefit payments associated with the Benefit Assist for Maternity Leave program are subject to eligibility requirements and benefits outlined in your UnitedHealthcare short-term disability policy. Benefit Assist for Maternity Leave is not available for New York sitused customers. For more details, contact your broker or UnitedHealthcare sales representative.

Insurance coverage provided by or through UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company or its affiliates. Administrative services provided by United HealthCare Services, Inc. or their affiliates.