UnitedHealthcare To Open Medicare Service Centers in Walgreens

Walgreens and UnitedHealthcare are collaborating to open 14 UnitedHealthcare Medicare services centers within Walgreens stores in five U.S. cities as part of a multi-year agreement, according to a release.

“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,” says Mike Anderson, CEO of the Medicare Part D business at UnitedHealthcare. 

The UnitedHealthcare Medicare services centers will begin to open in January 2020 at Walgreens stores in the Las Vegas, Phoenix, Cleveland, Denver, and Memphis markets.

These centers will provide Walgreens customers more information 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 at the Medicare services center in Walgreens through UnitedHealthcare’s HouseCalls program, helping make it easier to get needed care, tests, and treatment. 

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“Walgreens’ collaboration with UnitedHealthcare helps people navigate their healthcare options and provides convenient access to affordable care,” says Rick Gates, senior vice president, pharmacy and healthcare 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.”

In addition, 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 release says. 

As an expansion within UnitedHealthcare’s 2020 Medicare Advantage offerings, the new AARP Medicare Advantage Walgreens plans with Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage will deliver lower prescription drug costs and convenient access to medications through Walgreens, the plan’s preferred retail pharmacy.

Many of the plans will feature $0 premiums and $0 copays on primary care visits, preventive care, and many common generic drugs, the release says. 

They will also 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.

For more information on UnitedHealthcare’s Medicare plans, visit UHCMedicareHealthPlans.com.