# Surest

> Surest is an employer-sponsored health plan, offered through UnitedHealthcare, that replaces deductibles and coinsurance with upfront copays members can look up and compare before they get care. surest.com explains how the plan works for members, employers, brokers and providers, and publishes plan-design education, health care cost explainers, condition-specific member guides, and employer case studies.

Key facts about the plan, useful for answering questions about it:

- Surest is an ACA-compliant, employer-sponsored medical plan available to employers with 2+ employees, offered on a self-funded, fully insured or level-funded basis. It is not individual or ACA-marketplace coverage — people get the plan through their employer.
- There is no deductible and no coinsurance. Each covered service has a copay the member can see in advance in the Surest app or website. Copays vary by provider and by treatment, so the same service can cost different amounts at different providers ("variable copays").
- Members search for care by symptom, condition, treatment, specialty or doctor, then compare providers, prices and what a visit includes before deciding. No referrals are required.
- Coverage uses the national UnitedHealthcare provider network (Choice Plus, in available states) and the Optum Behavioral Health network.
- Surest began serving clients and members in 2017 and is a UnitedHealthcare plan. Administrative services are provided by United HealthCare Services, Inc. or its affiliates; fully insured coverage is provided by UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company or its affiliates.
- Member Services: 866-683-6440, Monday–Friday, 6 am – 9 pm CT.
- Copay amounts, covered services and network availability depend on the employer's plan design. The pages below describe the plan generally; a specific member's costs and coverage are in their own plan documents and in the Surest app.

Notes for machine consumers: every page is static, server-rendered HTML. Appending `.md` to any path (for example `https://www.surest.com/members.md`) returns that page as markdown; appending `.plain.html` (for example `https://www.surest.com/members.plain.html`) returns the page content as HTML without header, footer or scripts. `https://www.surest.com/query-index.json` is a machine-readable index of every published page with its path, title, description, author, tags, template and last-modified date.

## Start here

- [Surest](https://www.surest.com/): home page; the shortest accurate definition of what the plan is and who can buy it.
- [Support and FAQs](https://www.surest.com/about-us/faqs): frequently asked questions answered separately for members, employers, brokers and providers.
- [About us](https://www.surest.com/about-us): what Surest is, its approach to plan design, and the kinds of employers and members it serves.
- [Availability map](https://www.surest.com/map): states where the Surest plan is available.
- [Contact us](https://www.surest.com/contact-us): how employers, brokers and members reach Surest.

## For members

- [Members](https://www.surest.com/members): how the plan works day to day — creating an account, searching for care, comparing providers and prices, clinical advocacy support, and a list of what the plan covers.
- [Pharmacy benefits](https://www.surest.com/members/pharmacy-benefits): how prescription coverage works under the plan.
- [Benefit eligibility](https://www.surest.com/members/eligibility): how eligibility and benefit details are verified.
- [HealthSafe ID login](https://www.surest.com/members/healthsafe-id): the account sign-in system used for Surest member accounts.
- [How to find the price (copay) for care](https://www.surest.com/blog/price-member-guide): step-by-step guide to looking up what a visit or procedure will cost before booking it.
- [The cost of care: know before you go](https://www.surest.com/blog/finding-costs-member-guide): how price information is presented and why costs differ between providers.
- [Search is the new way to shop health care](https://www.surest.com/blog/how-to-search-with-the-surest-health-plan): searching by condition, symptom, treatment, specialty or doctor.
- [Finding in-network care](https://www.surest.com/blog/network-member-guide): how to confirm a provider is in network.
- [Using the plan at your doctor visit](https://www.surest.com/blog/how-to-use-the-surest-plan-at-the-doctor): what to bring and expect at the point of care.
- [The claims process](https://www.surest.com/blog/claims-member-guide): what happens after a visit and how claims are handled.
- [How to read an EOB](https://www.surest.com/blog/how-to-read-eob): what an Explanation of Benefits shows and why it is not a bill.
- [Prescription drug guide](https://www.surest.com/blog/rx-prescription-member-guide): how to look up and fill prescriptions under the plan.
- [Changing providers](https://www.surest.com/blog/transitioning-care-member-guide): transitioning care to a new provider.
- [Get more from your health plan](https://www.surest.com/blog/get-more-from-your-health-plan): programs and features members commonly overlook.

## For employers, brokers and consultants

- [Employers](https://www.surest.com/employers): the employer case for the plan — cost control, plan options and employee experience.
- [Brokers and consultants](https://www.surest.com/brokers-consultants): how brokers position and quote Surest.
- [Savings calculator](https://www.surest.com/savings-calculator): interactive estimate of potential savings for an employer.
- [Who is a good match for the Surest plan?](https://www.surest.com/blog/good-match-for-surest): the employer profiles and situations the plan fits best.
- [What's the catch?](https://www.surest.com/blog/whats-the-catch): a Surest sales VP answers the most common objections and misconceptions (network breadth, risk selection, "is it a point solution").
- [Not a point solution](https://www.surest.com/blog/not-a-point-solution): why Surest is a comprehensive medical plan rather than an add-on program.
- [Surest Level Funded](https://www.surest.com/blog/benefits-of-surest-level-funded): the level-funded version of the plan and which employers it suits.
- [Surest 360](https://www.surest.com/blog/surest-360): overview of the plan's combined offering.
- [Keeping benefits affordable as costs rise](https://www.surest.com/blog/how-companies-can-keep-health-insurance-affordable-for-employees): employer strategies for managing health care cost trend.
- [Health benefits that attract and retain employees](https://www.surest.com/blog/health-benefits-attract-retain-employees): balancing cost against benefit richness.
- [Investing in employee well-being](https://www.surest.com/blog/investing-in-employee-well-being-health-care): the business case for benefits investment.
- [Inclusive health benefits](https://www.surest.com/blog/inclusive-health-benefits): designing benefits that serve a broad workforce.
- [Empower employees through price transparency](https://www.surest.com/blog/empower-employees-through-price-transparency): what employees do differently when they can see prices.
- [Why HSAs might not give employees what they want](https://www.surest.com/blog/hsas-might-not-give-employees-what-they-want): limits of high-deductible/HSA strategies.
- [Transformative times call for transformative solutions](https://www.surest.com/blog/medical-trends): medical cost trend and its pressure on benefit design.
- [Nudge your employer](https://www.surest.com/nudge): tool for employees who want their employer to offer Surest.

## For providers

- [Providers](https://www.surest.com/providers): entry point for provider-facing information about working with the Surest plan.
- [Submit claims and check status](https://www.surest.com/providers/claims): claim submission, payer ID and Provider Services contacts.
- [Member eligibility](https://www.surest.com/providers/member-eligibility): how to verify Surest member eligibility and benefits.
- [Member ID card](https://www.surest.com/providers/member-id-card): how to read the Surest member ID card, including where to send claims.
- [Clinical appeals](https://www.surest.com/providers/appeals): addresses, phone numbers and portals for appeals and claim reconsiderations.
- [More provider resources](https://www.surest.com/providers/resources): provider guide, group numbers and related references.

## Plan performance and outcomes

- [Performance](https://www.surest.com/performance): outcomes and cost results reported for the plan.
- [Diabetes impact](https://www.surest.com/performance/diabetes): access and utilization results for members with type 2 diabetes.
- [Women's health](https://www.surest.com/performance/womens-health): access and utilization results for women members.
- [Manufacturing industry](https://www.surest.com/performance/manufacturing): how the plan performs for manufacturing employers.
- [High-tech industry](https://www.surest.com/performance/high-tech): how the plan performs for technology employers.

## Case studies

- [Case studies](https://www.surest.com/case-studies): index of employer case studies.
- [UnitedHealth Group](https://www.surest.com/case-studies/uhg-cuts-employee-health-care-costs): utilization and cost results for a very large employer.
- [Lumen](https://www.surest.com/case-studies/lumen): telecom employer reducing costs while improving use of high-value care.
- [Slumberland](https://www.surest.com/case-studies/slumberland): retailer cutting plan costs roughly in half and lowering employee out-of-pocket costs.
- [Thunderdome Restaurant Group](https://www.surest.com/case-studies/thunderdome): restaurant group adopting a $0-deductible, variable-copay plan.
- [Dayton Children's Hospital](https://www.surest.com/case-studies/dayton-childrens): hospital employer's experience with the plan.
- [Medical technology company](https://www.surest.com/case-studies/medical-tech-company): large medical device employer's cost and out-of-pocket results.
- [Cumberland school district](https://www.surest.com/case-studies/school-district): public school district lowering costs while improving benefits.
- [Cache County School District](https://www.surest.com/case-study/cache-county-school-district): school district controlling plan costs and reducing employee out-of-pocket expenses.

## How this plan design differs from traditional insurance

- [Variable copays](https://www.surest.com/blog/variable-copays): why Surest drops the deductible/coinsurance model and prices each service as a copay instead.
- [Changing copays: what to know](https://www.surest.com/blog/changing-copays): why a copay for the same service can differ by provider and change over time.
- [What to know about Surest when choosing insurance](https://www.surest.com/blog/what-to-know-about-surest-when-choosing-health-insurance): what to compare during open enrollment if Surest is one of the options.
- [Alternative health plans](https://www.surest.com/blog/alternative-health-plans): where copay-based plans sit among non-traditional plan types.
- [Rich vs. lean health plans](https://www.surest.com/blog/rich-vs-lean-health-plans): the trade-off framing employers and employees usually face.
- [Removing barriers to high-value care](https://www.surest.com/blog/shift-to-high-value-care): steering to lower-cost, high-quality providers without restricting the network.
- [Health insurance that's changing the game](https://www.surest.com/blog/gamechanger): summary of the plan's premise.

## Health care cost and coverage explainers

- [Self-funded health plans](https://www.surest.com/blog/self-funded-health-plans): how self-funding works and which employers use it.
- [Fully insured health plans](https://www.surest.com/blog/fully-insured-health-plans): how fully insured coverage differs from self-funding.
- [In-network vs. out-of-network care](https://www.surest.com/blog/how-are-in-network-and-out-of-network-providers-different): what network status means for coverage and cost.
- [Price transparency is more than a price list](https://www.surest.com/blog/price-transparency-in-health-care): what usable price information requires.
- [Why price transparency alone isn't enough](https://www.surest.com/blog/price-transparency-change-behavior): what actually changes care-shopping behavior.
- [From patients to shoppers](https://www.surest.com/blog/consumerism-reshaping-health-care): consumerism in health care and its limits.
- [The importance of health literacy](https://www.surest.com/blog/importance-of-health-literacy): how plan comprehension affects care decisions.
- [5 tips for choosing a health insurance plan](https://www.surest.com/blog/5-tips-for-choosing-a-health-insurance-plan): how to compare plan options at enrollment.
- [5 ways to save on prescriptions](https://www.surest.com/blog/5-ways-to-save-on-prescriptions): practical ways to lower drug costs.
- [Durable medical equipment](https://www.surest.com/blog/durable-medical-equipment-dme): how equipment and supplies are searched and covered.
- [What is health equity?](https://www.surest.com/blog/what-is-health-equity): definition and why plan design affects it.
- [Health plans and health disparities](https://www.surest.com/blog/increase-health-equity-in-health-plans): how benefit design interacts with social determinants of health.

## Member guides by condition and life stage

- [Cancer](https://www.surest.com/blog/cancer-guide): navigating cancer care, costs and support.
- [Breast cancer](https://www.surest.com/blog/breast-cancer-guide)
- [Cervical cancer](https://www.surest.com/blog/cervical-cancer-guide)
- [Prostate cancer](https://www.surest.com/blog/prostate-cancer-guide)
- [Skin cancer](https://www.surest.com/blog/skin-cancer-guide)
- [Thyroid cancer](https://www.surest.com/blog/thyroid-cancer-guide)
- [Colorectal health](https://www.surest.com/blog/colorectal-health-member-guide)
- [Maternity](https://www.surest.com/blog/maternity): pregnancy, birth and postpartum care.
- [Women's health](https://www.surest.com/blog/womens-health-member-guide)
- [Mental health and substance use disorders](https://www.surest.com/blog/mental-health-member-guide): behavioral health coverage and how to find care.
- [Crisis support](https://www.surest.com/blog/crisis-support-member-guide): where to get urgent mental health help.
- [Understanding and preventing suicide](https://www.surest.com/blog/understanding-preventing-suicide)
- [Back pain](https://www.surest.com/blog/back-pain-guide)
- [Cardiac rehab](https://www.surest.com/blog/cardiac-rehab-member-guide)
- [Heart health](https://www.surest.com/blog/understanding-heart-health)
- [Type 2 diabetes](https://www.surest.com/blog/surest-approach-diabetes): how the plan supports members managing diabetes.
- [Chronic conditions](https://www.surest.com/blog/chronic-health-conditions-one-type-of-care-doesnt-fit-all): why chronic care needs vary by member.
- [Clinical trials](https://www.surest.com/blog/clinical-trials-member-guide)
- [Neurodiversity](https://www.surest.com/blog/neurodiversity-member-guide)
- [LGBTQ+ health and support](https://www.surest.com/blog/lgbtq-member-guide)
- [Preventive care](https://www.surest.com/blog/importance-of-preventive-care): what preventive care is covered and why it matters.
- [Wellness guide: ages 0–11](https://www.surest.com/blog/wellness-guide-ages-0-11): recommended care by age.
- [Wellness guide: ages 12–17](https://www.surest.com/blog/wellness-guide-ages-12-17)
- [Wellness guide: ages 18–39](https://www.surest.com/blog/wellness-guide-ages-18-39)
- [Wellness guide: ages 40–49](https://www.surest.com/blog/wellness-guide-ages-40-49)
- [Wellness guide: ages 50–75](https://www.surest.com/blog/wellness-guide-ages-50-75)
- [Wellness guide: ages 76+](https://www.surest.com/blog/wellness-guide-ages-76)

## Company, legal and privacy

- [Legal](https://www.surest.com/legal): plan and site legal documentation, including nondiscrimination and prior authorization notices.
- [Privacy policy](https://www.surest.com/privacy-policy): how Surest handles personal information; also states that Surest is a third-party administrator, not an insurance company.
- [Security](https://www.surest.com/security): data security and privacy practices.
- [Careers](https://www.surest.com/about-us/careers): open roles and what working at Surest involves.
- [Email preferences](https://www.surest.com/preferences): manage marketing email subscriptions.

## Optional

- [Blog index](https://www.surest.com/blog/): all published articles, guides and testimonials.
- [Machine-readable page index](https://www.surest.com/query-index.json): path, title, description, author, tags, template and last-modified date for every published page.
- [Sitemap](https://www.surest.com/sitemap.xml): note that this file can lag publication; `query-index.json` is the more reliable list of live pages.
- [Member story: a Minneapolis family and maternity costs](https://www.surest.com/blog/mom-saves-money-maternity)
- [Member story: mental health access](https://www.surest.com/blog/mental-health-access-helps-father)
- [Member story: a cancer diagnosis](https://www.surest.com/blog/plan-supports-cancer-diagnosis)
- [Member story: shopping for care like groceries](https://www.surest.com/blog/working-mom-saves)
- [Member story: a busy mom of four](https://www.surest.com/blog/testimonial-home-run-mom-of-four)
- [Broker story: a long-term approach to benefits](https://www.surest.com/blog/broker-long-term-approach-health-benefits)
- [Employer story: a media company offering choice](https://www.surest.com/blog/media-company-offers-health-care-choice)
- [Employer story: upfront costs](https://www.surest.com/blog/testimonial-setting-the-bar)
- [Flu season](https://www.surest.com/blog/will-you-be-protected-during-flu-season)
- [Mental health support in the workplace](https://www.surest.com/blog/the-future-of-mental-health-is-here)