UnitedHealthcare Group Health Plans in Illinois

UnitedHealthcare (UHC) is the nation’s largest health insurer by revenue and maintains a strong employer group presence throughout Illinois. UHC’s product portfolio spans from traditional HMO and PPO options for small employers to sophisticated level funded arrangements and their innovative Surest product for larger groups. Illinois Health Agents works directly with UHC to quote and enroll groups of all sizes across the state.

UnitedHealthcare Group Plan Options

Product	Type	Key Characteristics
UHC Choice	HMO	PCP-gated, in-network only, lower premiums, Chicago metro focus
UHC Choice Plus	PPO	In- and out-of-network, no referrals, nationwide coverage via UnitedHealth network
Options PPO	PPO	Open access PPO with broad national network, strong for multistate employers
Navigate	Level Funded / Narrow PPO	Curated network with level funded structure, cost-efficiency focus
Surest	No-deductible flat copay	Upfront cost transparency, no deductibles or coinsurance, employer-sponsored only
Benefit Advisor	Level Funded	UHC-administered level funding for groups 25–300, annual claims reporting

Surest: Rethinking How Employees Pay for Care

Surest (formerly Bind Benefits) is a UnitedHealthcare subsidiary that offers a fundamentally different approach to plan design. There are no deductibles and no coinsurance — employees pay a flat copay for every covered service, and they can see exactly what their out-of-pocket cost will be before they schedule an appointment. Surest’s member app lets employees search for a procedure or service and instantly see the exact dollar amount they will owe at any in-network provider. This radical cost transparency reduces “surprise billing” anxiety and encourages employees to engage with preventive care. Surest is only available as an employer-sponsored group plan and cannot be purchased on the individual market.

UHC Level Funded: Navigate and Benefit Advisor

UHC’s Navigate product pairs a curated, narrower provider network with a level funded funding arrangement, delivering lower premiums than broad-network fully insured options for groups that are willing to direct employees to high-efficiency providers. UHC Benefit Advisor is a more traditional level funded product that gives employers access to UHC’s standard Choice Plus network while capturing the cost-management and data transparency benefits of a level funded structure. Both products include annual claims experience reports and stop-loss protection.

Wellness: Motion and Rally Health

UHC offers two member wellness platforms that can improve employee health outcomes and reduce long-term claims costs:

• Motion: A physical activity rewards program. Employees earn rewards for meeting daily step, active, and workout goals tracked via wearables or smartphone. Employers can customize reward structures.
• Rally Health: A digital health engagement platform that offers health surveys, coaching programs, challenges, and rewards for completing preventive screenings and wellness activities.

Both platforms are typically included at no additional cost with employer group plans and can meaningfully improve benefit utilization and employee satisfaction.

Small Group vs. Large Group Differences

For Illinois small groups (2–50 employees), UHC fully insured products are subject to ACA community rating rules and Illinois state mandates. Underwriting is based on group demographics, not individual health history. For large groups (51+ employees), UHC uses experience rating — your group’s actual claims history influences renewal pricing. Large groups also have access to UHC’s broader product suite including self-funded arrangements with ASO (Administrative Services Only) agreements, independent stop-loss procurement, and custom PBM arrangements. Contact Illinois Health Agents to receive a market comparison for your specific group size and zip code.