How is UnitedHealth Using AI & Sustainability in Healthcare?

To date, UnitedHealthcare works with more than 1.7 million physicians and care professionals, as well as more than 7,000 hospitals and care facilities to aid in providing quality care where it's needed.

Founded in 1980, UnitedHealthcare offers a broad range of services to millions of individuals while also adventuring into sustainable practices.

“We work with health care professionals and other key partners to expand access to high-quality health care so people get the care they need at an affordable price,” writes the company.

Healthcare options for all

UnitedHealth Group is a health care and well-being company on a mission to help people live healthier lives and make the health system work better for everyone. 

The organisation works closely with health care professionals, partners and communities to expand access to high-quality, affordable care while supporting the physician-patient relationship. 

UnitedHealth aims to empower people with the information, guidance and tools they need to make informed health decisions, from preventive care and screenings to chronic condition management. 

Guided by values of integrity, inclusion, compassion, relationships, innovation and performance, the company invests in programs that improve health equity, support mobile and community-based medical services and address social determinants of health, such as housing insecurity and access to maternal care. 

Through a range of offerings, including individual, family, Medicare, Medicaid, Dual Special Needs (D-SNP), ACA Marketplace and CHIP plans, UnitedHealth helps ensure that people of all ages and circumstances receive the care and coverage they need to thrive.

“During a major life event, no one should have to wonder whether they’re eligible for a benefit or spend time digging through paperwork,” said Steve Wilson, CEO, Speciality Benefits, at UnitedHealthcare.

Creating sustainable healthcare 

Sustainability is central to its mission of helping people live healthier lives and building a health system that works better for everyone, says UnitedHealth Group.

Guided by four core priorities, building a modern, high-performing health system, fostering a healthy environment, supporting its people and culture and maintaining responsible business practices, its initiatives deliver long-term value for both society and its shareholders.

All sustainability, net zero and sustainable supply chain leaders should attend:

• Sustainability LIVE: The Net Zero Summit - QEII Centre, London, March 4-5
• Sustainability LIVE: The US Summit - Navy Pier, Chicago, April 21-22

Co-located with Procurement & Supply Chain LIVE, these events brings together CSOs, ESG leaders and senior decision-makers at a moment when sustainability, supply chains and commercial performance are increasingly interconnected.

Tickets can be booked online today for The Net Zero Summit and The US Summit. Group discounts available.

Since 2021, UnitedHealth has closed 575 million gaps in care, served 4.7 million patients through value-based care models and supported more than 2,400 current and future clinicians through scholarship programs.

The company recognises the connection between a healthy environment and human health, committing to net zero across its value chain by 2050 and aiming investing US$15m in a clean energy solutions fund and save approximately 392,000 gallons of water through operational efficiency measures.

Its employees are actively engaged in creating impact, supporting 24,600 charities through United for Giving, completing 14.1 million learning courses through a personalised career platform and moving approximately 38,000 employees into new internal positions to grow talent and strengthen culture.

Responsible business practices underpin all of these efforts, with updated AI governance, board members with 90% expertise in technology and business processes and the addition of a leading cybersecurity incident response firm to safeguard operations.

By combining these efforts, UnitedHealth Group aims to advance a sustainable, equitable and resilient healthcare system that benefits communities, employees and the planet.

Using AI responsibly 

According to UnitedHealth Group, AI is transforming healthcare by improving access, supporting clinicians and delivering timely, personalised interventions for patients. 

AI tools help patients find the right providers, understand costs, receive real-time benefits and pharmacy answers and get proactive guidance, such as alerts for missed prescriptions. 

Clinicians benefit from AI-powered disease prediction, streamlined clinical documentation and concise patient summaries for in-home visits through HouseCalls, allowing them to focus on care rather than paperwork. 

Programs like Advocate Assist provide call center representatives with complete patient histories and plan guidelines, enabling faster and more informed support. 

AI is also helping members access financial resources through Benefit Assist, which automatically identifies eligibility for supplemental health payments, such as for serious diagnoses, hospitalisations, accidents, or maternity leave, delivering nearly four times more cash benefits compared to other plans. 

“This proprietary technology is a tremendous example of how AI can help make health care easier to use,” says Jennifer Zmuda, UnitedHealthcare Chief Information Officer. 

“It turns manual steps into simple, timely actions that help put real dollars in people’s hands.”

By reducing paperwork and simplifying access to these payments, Benefit Assist helps families focus on recovery and daily needs during challenging life events. 

All of these tools are developed responsibly through the United AI Studio and overseen by the multidisciplinary AI Review Board, ensuring fairness, accuracy, safety and privacy. 

By combining advanced AI capabilities with human expertise, UnitedHealth is making healthcare smarter, more efficient and more patient-centred, improving outcomes while reducing the administrative burdens that often complicate care.