Supporting Hurricane Helene recovery in North Carolina

At UnitedHealthcare, we are committed to ensuring our employees, members, providers and the communities we have the privilege to serve have access to the resources and support they need during the recovery phase following Hurricane Helene.

Outreach to members

• UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of North Carolina continues a robust outbound call campaign to connect with each member to “check in” and to assist in obtaining resources to support their immediate needs. To date we have attempted outreach on approximately 3500 vulnerable and high-risk members in the impacted counties.
• UHC launched a text campaign to members, UnitedHealthcare NC is here for you. Call 1-800-349-1855 to chat with a UHC representative. Reply HELP for help, STOP to cancel.
• At this critical time, UHC is here to help support our members, providers and the communities we serve and have a free emotional support helpline at 1-866-447-3573.

Charitable donations

• The United Health Foundation, the philanthropic foundation of UnitedHealth Group, donated $1 million to help residents in their ongoing recovery following Hurricane Helene. The funds were distributed to the American Red Cross, currently providing on-the-ground support across the region, including operating emergency shelters, distributing meals and supplies and helping locate missing individuals.
• UHC donated $22k to the Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry to purchase diapers, pull-ups, wipes, feminine products and adult diapers.
• UHC provided $18k to Ripe for Revival to support meal distributions in identified locations throughout the 25 counties impacted. The funding provided 8 pallets of 252 cases which will supply about 14,112 individual meals.
• UHC team members have been volunteering with various organizations including: Second Harvest Food Bank, Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina, Red Cross and Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry, assembling food boxes and providing clinical services.
• UHC provided $2k to the Dementia Alliance of North Carolina for personal care products.
• UHC is launching a canned food drive, winter clothing and hygiene kit collection campaigns and planning staff volunteer opportunities through end of year.

Hardship payments

• UHC activated a provider hardship payment process. This policy addresses hardship claim payment, otherwise known as advance or “hardship” payments, which are made to providers where and when a documented financial hardship has been demonstrated by the provider. The hardship payment process is intended to assist providers in circumstances in which payment handling between UHC and the contracted providers create a financial hardship.

Operational flexibilities

• UHC is offering benefit flexibility, including early prescription refills; leniency and fee waivers on premium payments; extensions on claims filings; in-network coverage for out-of-network services; suspension of pre-certifications and referrals; and waiving authorization for transfers to skilled nursing facilities.

We know the recovery in western North Carolina will continue for many weeks, months and years.  We remain steadfast in working together and supporting each other, and our top priority is ensuring our staff, members and providers are receiving the resources they need to not only get through this immediate crisis but thrive in the future.