Effective January 1, 2023, your medical and behavioral health network is moving to UnitedHealthcare (UHC)/UMR.
After months of searching for the best possible medical and behavioral health coverage for participants and their families, the Board of Trustees of St. Louis-Kansas City Carpenters Health Plan have chosen to join UnitedHealthCare’s UHC Choice Plus nationwide PPO network.
You should have received an announcement letter from our office early in November. Additional details regarding new programs and access provided by UMR are included below and are available at umr.com.
I’ve heard of UHC, but what is UMR?
UMR is a wholly owned subsidiary of UnitedHealthcare, a part of the UnitedHealth Group. UMR supports self-funded plans like Carpenters Health Plan for the many services needed to ensure proper access to the care you need while ensuring claims are paid correctly. While UMR will provide the administrative support, UHC Choice Plus is the PPO network name your providers will recognize.
What if I have questions regarding claims incurred with Cigna prior to 1/1/23?
Carpenters’ Participant Services is available to serve you 8am – 4:30pm, Monday – Friday, by calling our local or toll-free number, selecting option Cigna Customer Service will continue to be available for a period of time by calling 1.800.244.6224 or by accessing myCigna.com.
Who should I contact with questions about my UMR coverage?
Carpenters’ Participant Services is available to serve you during our regular business hours. After January 1, UMR customer service will be available before and after hours for support Monday – Friday, 7am – 8am, and 4:30pm – 7pm. Simply call Carpenters’ Participant Services and follow the prompts for assistance with medical claims and benefits outside normal business hours.
Is there a website or an app I can securely log in to see my health benefits and available programs through UHC available to me?
After January 1, umr.com will be your one-stop shop for all things health benefits. Please refer to page 11 of the December 2022 Builder for instructions on how to register after January 1.
Are our health benefits changing?
Your deductibles, copays and coinsurance will be the same as it was in 2022, but you will need to let your providers know you are now using the new UHC Choice Plus network. Be sure to give your providers your new card once it arrives.
How will this change affect my relationship with my medical or behavioral health providers?
UnitedHealthcare’s Choice Plus network is a nationwide network with over 658,000 physicians and 5,700+ hospitals. Nearly all providers who were in-network with Cigna will be in-network with UHC. In fact, there are many UHC providers who were not a part of Cigna.
How do I check to see if my doctor is in-network with UHC?
Go to myUHC.com, search on “Find a Doctor” and select the Choice Plus network. You do not have to sign in and register to use the “Find A Doctor” feature.
When will I receive my new medical card?
Carpenters Health Plan will mail you new ID cards in December. If you have coverage under the Plan on January 1, 2023, you will begin coverage with UMR/UnitedHealthcare effective January 1, 2023.
When do I begin using my new card?
Please use your new 2023 ID card for any care on and after January 1, 2023.
Does this change to UMR/UHC affect the wellness center?
No. All services through Carpenters Wellness Center will remain the same.
Be sure to save the UMR contact information for future reference!
Phone: Call Carpenters’ Participant Services, 877.232.3863, option 1
Website: umr.com
