UnitedHealthcare: Digital medical ID cards for paperless subscribers

Digital medical ID cards are coming soon for paperless subscribers

UnitedHealthcare is continuing to introduce digital health plan ID cards to plan subscribers who have elected “paperless” within their personal digital account settings. Effective July 31, digital medical ID card and paperless preference options will launch for UnitedHealthcare plan subscribers on the UnitedHealthcare Strategic Platform (USP). UnitedHealthcare began introducing digital medical ID cards to plan subscribers on the UNET platform who had elected the paperless option in their account preference settings on the UnitedHealthcare® app and myuhc.com® in November 2023.

Beginning July 31, subscribers who previously elected to go paperless for required communications will be opted-in to receiving digital medical ID cards as part of their paperless election. Upon plan renewal, subscribers will receive an email, letting them know they have a new digital medical ID card available within the UnitedHealthcare app or myuhc.com, as well as how to access it and change their medical ID card paperless preference. The email will also include information on how to add their medical ID card to their Apple or Google wallet.

A digital medical ID card provides easy access to health plan information. Subscribers simply show it at a doctor’s office, clinic, pharmacy or wherever benefit information needs to be presented.

Digital medical ID card member communications for USP launch

• Beginning July 31, new paperless elections and/or change in family or plan status will result in a transactional email containing information about their new or updated digital medical ID card
• Subscribers will receive digital messaging, including new screen pop-ups, in-app notifications and a direct link to change medical ID card preferences contained within the email
• Note: If the member’s email address is returned undeliverable, a notification letter will be mailed, which will include a physical medical ID card and instructions on how to update information on myuhc.com

Exclusions

• This change does not impact subscribers who are new to a customer’s policy. New subscribers will receive a physical medical ID card. Future plan years will follow the subscriber’s paperless preference.
• UnitedHealthcare Global, Medica, Surest and UMR are all excluded
• *State exclusions include Colorado and Minnesota (they currently restrict digital only); however, Colorado and Minnesota are exempt from state exclusion for self-funded (ASO) ERISA plans
• State exclusions are based on contract situs state, and only applicable for fully insured and ASO non-ERISA plans