Plan Sponsors Buy Into UnitedHealthcare’s Surest Concept

UnitedHealth Group’s Surest brand has become a hot product in recent months, with sales of the alternative benefit design accounting for one third of the health care giant’s new commercial business, according to some accounts. UnitedHealthcare, the firm’s managed care arm, pitches commercial clients on Surest by promising lower costs and higher quality — without sacrificing a broad network.  

Alternatives to conventional PPO plans are more appealing than ever for commercial insurance plan sponsors, who have struggled with sharp medical cost and premium increases in recent years. But restrictive narrow network plans are often unpopular with plan members, and payer stakeholders have begun to shy away from models that shift costs to members.