UnitedHealth Group Launches The HERO Program™ to Remove Financial Barriers for Living Donor Transplants
October 07 2020 - 10:00AM
Business Wire
Program is first in nation to cover lost wages
for any living donor supporting an employee
UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) has launched a first-of-its-kind
program designed to support employees, and boost the critically low
number of live-organ transplants. The HERO Program™ (Helping
Employees Receive Organs) addresses critical barriers to living
donation by providing up to $12,000 in financial support, both in
lost wages and travel and lodging, to individuals outside
UnitedHealth Group who donate a kidney, liver or bone marrow to a
company employee or family member enrolled in an eligible
employer-sponsored medical plan.*
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According to the American Society of Transplantation (AST), 96%
of living donors experience financial hardship due to lost wages
and travel and time away from work. To remove this barrier, The
HERO Program pays the eligible living donor up to $6,000 for lost
wages associated with the donation event and recovery period.
The HERO Program also pays up to $6,000 of travel and lodging
expenses for the living donor and a companion, starting with the
donor’s initial evaluation to determine suitability for the
transplant surgery. The benefit continues through follow-up care
for up to two years after donor surgery. Donors who qualify for
both types of support can receive up to $12,000, and they do not
need to be enrolled in a UnitedHealthcare plan.
Inspiration for creating The HERO Program came from two
employees from Optum, part of UnitedHealth Group, who wanted to
empower more living donors to step forward and provide a
life-saving gift to employees.
“My brother gave me the gift of a kidney donation and did so
despite the financial implications. At UnitedHealth Group, we know
it doesn’t always work out that way, that the financial barriers
are significant, and that living-donor transplants have better
clinical outcomes,” said Andrea Deanovic Schmidt, OptumHealth
Transplant Resource Services product director and The HERO Program
co-creator. “We believe if we can continue to remove financial
barriers, we will save lives.”
The HERO Program has already helped two living donors shoulder
the financial burden associated with transplantation since its
launch in June.
“We believe the decision to serve as a living organ donor should
be financially neutral,” said Dr. Jon Friedman, Fellow of the
American Society of Transplantation, OptumHealth Medical Benefit
Management chief medical officer and co-creator of the program.
“This vision is shared by the AST and we are thrilled to launch The
Hero Program in parallel with the AST Living Donor Circle of
Excellence. Together, we hope companies will follow our lead and
are eager to connect with any company to help them implement this
program. This program will save lives and offers a significant
value to the employer.”
UnitedHealth Group is planning to share the financial and legal
models it used to launch this program with any employer that is
interested in extending this life-saving benefit to their employees
and potential future living organ donors. Interested companies can
contact UnitedHealth Group or the AST to learn more.
About the American Society of Transplantation
The AST is dedicated to advancing the field of transplantation
and improving patient care by promoting research, education,
advocacy, organ donation, and service to the community.
UnitedHealth Group is the founding member of the AST Living
Donor Circle of Excellence. The newly established program aims to
recognize companies that implement policies that provide financial
support to employees who choose to be a living organ donor and/or
others from outside of the company who donate to an employee in
need of an organ transplant, thus eliminating financial barriers
associated with living organ donation. Learn more about the AST
Living Donor Circle of Excellence.
About UnitedHealth Group
UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) is a diversified health care
company dedicated to helping people live healthier lives and
helping to make the health system work better for everyone.
UnitedHealth Group offers a broad spectrum of products and services
through two distinct platforms: UnitedHealthcare, which provides
health care coverage and benefits services; and Optum, which
provides information and technology-enabled health services. For
more information, visit UnitedHealth Group at
www.unitedhealthgroup.com or follow @UnitedHealthGrp on
Twitter.
*Employees enrolled in the following medical plans are eligible
for The HERO Program: HSA-eligible plan, Accountable Care Plan,
Doctors Plan, Hawaii PPO, Kelsey-Seybold Primary Care Plan, M
Health Fairview Primary Care Plan or WellMed, 1st Tier.
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Caroline Landree UnitedHealth Group 651-308-2481
caroline.landree@uhg.com
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