PRESS RELEASE

UnitedHealth Group, AARP Extend Relationship Focused on Improving Older Americans' Health and Well-Being

July 17, 2017
  • Early renewal extends relationship on AARP-branded Medicare plans through 2025, potentially 2030
  • Optum contributions to better health care experience to continue

UnitedHealth Group today announced it renewed and extended its exclusive relationship with AARP focused on improving the health and well-being of Americans 50 and older, including the most popular Medicare products among older Americans.

Given the successes achieved on behalf of people 50-plus, the organizations have renewed their relationship early, extending prior commitments through 2020 to now run through at least 2025, with mutual options to further extend the relationship until the end of 2030. Over 20 years, the organizations have worked together to advance health care for older Americans, including continually enhancing Medicare plans, and creating better consumer experiences and robust research programs to improve health outcomes.

"People age 50 and older are well served by the longstanding relationship between UnitedHealth Group and AARP, from gaining affordable access to health care and prescription drugs to benefiting from research that improves health care outcomes," said Larry Renfro, Vice Chairman of UnitedHealth Group and CEO of Optum. "We are grateful for the chance to collaborate with AARP for years to come on improving health care for older Americans so they can live healthier and more fulfilling lives."

Through the extended relationship, UnitedHealthcare will continue to offer AARP-branded Medicare-related and indemnity insurance products, including Medicare Advantage, Medicare Part D and Medicare supplement plans. UnitedHealthcare is the nation's largest business dedicated to meeting the health care needs of seniors and other Medicare beneficiaries, with more than 12 million people enrolled in its Medicare plans. Optum will continue contributing to a better overall health care experience for people in AARP-branded plans through health care navigational and decision-support services, convenient access to prescription medications, and health and well-being programs.

"AARP and UnitedHealth Group share a common goal to help people enjoy healthier lives as they age," said Jo Ann Jenkins, Chief Executive Officer, AARP. "We are pleased to renew our long-time relationship and its commitment to providing access to quality health care."

Beyond Medicare insurance products that carry the AARP name, UnitedHealth Group collaborates with AARP and its affiliates and subsidiaries through:

  • AARP Prescription Discounts provided by OptumRx, a program that has saved 1 million AARP members and their dependents nearly $175 Million on their prescription medications since 2013;
  • Health Care Transformation, a joint initiative between UnitedHealth Group and AARP Services, Inc., AARP's for-profit subsidiary, that has published dozens of studies to share knowledge and improve health care outcomes, experience and affordability of care for Medicare Supplement plan participants;
  • A multiyear, multimillion-dollar program through OptumLabs to fund innovative research that informs and improves health care for people 50-plus; and,
  • Food access and healthy-eating programs through the AARP Foundation that have provided more than 37 million meals to food-insecure seniors nationwide, and encouraged more than 80,000 people in Mississippi and Tennessee to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables by offering incentives in the form of coupons associated with the SNAP program.

About UnitedHealth Group

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) is a diversified health and well-being company dedicated to helping people live healthier lives and helping make the health system work better for everyone. UnitedHealth Group offers a broad spectrum of products and services through two distinct platforms: UnitedHealthcare, which provides health care coverage and benefits services; and Optum, which provides information and technology-enabled health services. For more information, visit UnitedHealth Group at www.unitedhealthgroup.com or follow @UnitedHealthGrp on Twitter.

About AARP

AARP is the nation's largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering Americans 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With nearly 38 million members and offices in every state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, AARP works to strengthen communities and advocate for what matters most to families with a focus on health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment. AARP also works for individuals in the marketplace by sparking new solutions and allowing carefully chosen, high-quality products and services to carry the AARP name. As a trusted source for news and information, AARP produces the world's largest circulation publications, AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. To learn more, visit www.aarp.org or follow @AARP and @AARPadvocates on social media.