Healthy First Steps

Build a healthier future for you and your baby — and earn great rewards — through Healthy First Steps. This program helps keep you and your baby healthy during your pregnancy and your baby's first 15 months of life.

Healthy First Steps includes:

• Email appointment reminders.
• Fun program to keep track of appointments.
• Reward cards for clothing and more.

Once you sign up, you can choose a $20 gift card or a stylish diaper bag. The choice is yours.

*This is an added benefit offered by UnitedHealthcare Community Plan.

Care Management

A serious health problem requires extra care and support. We use Health Homes to coordinate services for our members.

Health Home Care Managers are in your corner. They will:

• Explain medical terms in plain language.
• Coordinate your doctor appointments.
• Provide your care team with your medical records.
• Your care manager will stay close by throughout the medical journey. He or she will:
• Think beyond immediate medical needs.
• Help manage ongoing medical issues like diabetes, asthma and high blood pressure
• Make sure you have support at home.

Cell Phones

When your health is not at its best, it is important to know that help is just a phone call away. We make cell phones available to some members who have a high-risk health issue or high-risk pregnancy and do not have reliable access to a telephone. The program makes sure members have access to UnitedHealthcare, 911, the doctor's office and NurseLine.*

* This is an added benefit offered by UnitedHealthcare Community Plan.

Choice of Doctor

You get a primary care physician (PCP), who is your main doctor. If you don't have a doctor or if your doctor is not in our network, we can help you find a new one close to you.

Your PCP is your main doctor for:

• Preventive care.
• Treatment if you are sick or injured.
• Referrals to specialists for certain conditions.

Choice of Birth Center

Where you have your baby is an important choice. That's why you can pick from partner hospitals across Louisiana.

We also encourage you to tour the hospital's birthing center. This way you will be familiar with it. And you'll be more relaxed when you have your baby.

Chiropractic Services

Our plan includes visits for chiropractic care.

• Members of all ages can get up to six (6) visits per year.
• Members under may get additional visits with prior authorization.

Dental Care

Checkups and emergency care are covered.

Exams and cleanings every six months help keep teeth and gums strong and healthy. These services are offered through MCNA Dental (Managed Care of North America).

Diabetic Support

If you have diabetes, we'll make life a little easier for you. You'll get medicine, supplies and education to help you reach and stay your best.

Our diabetes program also includes self-care training and classes focused on:

• Planning healthy meals.
• Managing stress.
• Living a healthy lifestyle.

Members over 21 who complete HbA1c labs and LDL-C screenings within 90 days of joining the plan may be eligible for a $50 voucher toward a catalog of over the counter health products. This is an added benefit offered by UnitedHealthcare Community Plan.

Disease Management

If you have a chronic health condition like asthma or diabetes, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan has a program to help you live with your condition and improve the quality of your life. These programs are voluntary and available at no cost to you.

Equipment and Supplies

The health and safety of our members at home are important.

Our plan covers medical equipment ordered by a member's doctor or care manager. This can include supplies like:

• Diabetic supplies.
• Hospital beds.
• Wheelchairs or walkers.

Foot Care

We provide the exams needed to help keep your feet in great shape. And for those with diabetes, good foot care can help prevent much more serious problems.

Our podiatry coverage includes:

• Routine foot exams.
• Tips about foot care and choosing the right shoes.
• Information about nerve damage warning signs.

Health Education

Take free classes to help improve your health or to address a condition. Our plan includes classes on diabetes, nutrition and more.

Hearing Care

Trouble hearing can affect your everyday life in many ways. Our plan includes services and support to help protect your hearing.

Our plan covers:

• Exams and tests.
• Hearing aids and batteries.

Healthy First Steps®

You may receive help and advice from your mom, aunts, sisters and girlfriends. Yet every pregnancy is different. This program will support you through your pregnancy.

We help you:

• Find a doctor for you and your baby.
• Learn resources for nutrition, fitness and safety.
• Get supplies, including breast pumps for nursing moms.

Home Health Care

Sometimes our members are living with a long-term health condition or disability. Others are coming out of the hospital after surgery or a serious illness.

These members can receive extra support from our plan. With approval, our plan covers:

• An in-home medical visit.
• Medical equipment like hospital beds, walkers or wheelchairs. 
• In-home medical visit
• Help with day-to-day tasks like cleaning, cooking or dressing.
• Disposable medical supplies.

Hospitalization

This plan pays for all expenses related to a hospital stay, so you can rest and heal.

Our plan covers:

• Nursing care.
• Room and board.
• Supplies and equipment.
• Treatment and therapies.
• Diagnostic tests and exams.

And after you leave the hospital, you are not alone. We make sure you get follow-up care to continue healing at home.

Interpreters

Both doctor and patient need to understand one another. Not speaking English well makes this difficult. We can arrange for a medical interpreter to be at medical appointments.

We also have people at member services who speak more than one language. Chances are, we have someone who speaks your language.

Lab and X-ray Services

Knowing what's wrong and finding it early can make all the difference. Our plan covers most:

• Labs and testing.
• X-rays, scans and other imaging.

We make sure our members get the information needed to help improve their health.

Language Help

You can receive information in your preferred language. Just ask. We also have people at our customer service centers who speak more than one language. Chances are, we have someone who speaks your language.

Medicines

Our plan covers prescription drugs and refills with a small copayment. Your copay is:

• $ for generic drugs.
• $ for brand name drugs.

Over-the-counter medicines with a written order from your doctor are available for a copayment of $0.50 for each medicine.

And we make getting your medicine easy. You can fill your prescriptions at:

• Local pharmacies.
• Services that deliver right to your door.

Member Services

Sometimes you might need a little help understanding your health care options. With us, you have someone you can call 24/7. We'll answer your questions simply and completely.

We can also help you find:

• Home health providers.
• Dentists and vision providers.
• Adult Health Services.

Mental Health/Substance Use Disorder

Addiction can happen to anyone, any family, at any time according to the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS).

UnitedHealthcare is here to assist you in all your healthcare needs. We have trained professionals who are experienced in understanding Substance Use Disorder and able to help you get treatment or give you information that will help you make decisions about your healthcare. You or your provider can call Optum Behavioral Health anytime for help at 1-800-493-4647.

Covered services include:

• All inpatient mental health and substance use disorder services (including alcohol and substance use disorder).
• Most outpatient mental health services (contact plan for specifics).
• Medicaid recipients who receive SSI or who are certified blind or disabled get mental health and substance use disorder services from any Medicaid provider by using their Medicaid Benefit Card.
• Detoxification services are covered by UnitedHealthcare Community Plan as a benefit.

NurseLine℠

Medical questions and situations come at inconvenient times. For questions about health, call a For questions about health, you can call a trained nurse 24/7. 24/7.

Our NurseLine nurses will:

• Listen to the symptoms.
• Provide guidance on self-care.
• Advise the member about getting care at a doctor visit or an urgent care center.
• Help know when to go to the emergency room.

Nurse Visit

Sometimes you may need continued care after you leave the hospital or urgent care.

If your health is at risk after a serious illness, surgery or injury, a nurse will visit you at home to:

• Provide medical care for you.
• Answer your questions and concerns.

Personal Care

The basics can be hard to do if you have a disability or you've had a serious illness or injury.

If needed, we provide someone to help with:

• Dressing.
• Bathing.
• Feeding.

Long-term personal care is available for members 21 or older with disabilities.

Prenatal Visits

A pregnancy is a journey with the help of friends, family and a pregnancy doctor, or OB-GYN.

All of your recommended prenatal clinical visits and tests are covered.

At these visits, the clinic will:

• Explain what to expect at each stage of your pregnancy.
• Answer your questions.

Shots and Vaccines

Routine shots help protect you from illness.

So, our plan covers:

• * Adult coverage is an added benefit offered by UnitedHealthcare Community Plan.

Transportation

We provide rides to and from medical visits.

Our plan provides non-emergency medical transportation to and from health care appointments.

That includes trips to:

• Doctor and therapy visits.  
• Urgent care centers.
• Diagnostic testing. 

Unlimited Doctor Visits

There may be times when your health requires regular visits to a doctor or specialist). Our plan does not limit the number of times children or adults* can see their doctors. This includes sick visits, well visits and specialists. For children, EPSDT screenings are also covered. This way you get care when you need it. And the doctor can see how your health is progressing.

* Unlimited doctor visits for adults is an added benefit offered by UnitedHealthcare Community Plan.

Vision Care

See life more clearly with routine eye exams and glasses, if needed.

We also include:

• Prescription lenses.
• Medicaid approved frames.
• New eyeglasses every two years.

This benefit is offered by March Vision Care.

Well Visits

Unlimited well visits with your doctor are important for good health. These visits can catch health problems early, so they can be treated.

Preventive services cover:

• Checkups for adults and children.
• Well-baby care.
• Care for women expecting a baby.
• Routine shots and tests.
• Mammograms.

Weight Control

Our plan encourages a healthy approach to eating and living. To help our members be their best, we cover:* 

• Screening for obesity.
• Support for healthy diet and exercise choices.

Some members may also qualify for weight management classes, including Weight Watchers and JOIN for ME.**

* This is an added benefit offered by UnitedHealthcare Community Plan.

** Some limitations may apply.