A letter from UnitedHealthcare CEOs about community aid in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut
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Date: Wednesday, April 22, 2020 4:01 PM
Subject: COVID-19 - A letter from UnitedHealthcare CEOs about community aid in NY, NJ and
CT
A letter from UnitedHealthcare CEOs about
community aid in New York, New Jersey and
Connecticut
To our valued general agents and brokers:
We recently shared with you through communications steps we’re taking during
the COVID-19 issue to help clients and their employees during this
unprecedented time, as well as ways that we’re striving to support your business
needs. Today, we want to tell you about more commitments we’re making in
communities where you do business and where UnitedHealthcare and Oxford
members live.
UnitedHealth Group has made a $60 million commitment across the country to
help support those most directly impacted by COVID-19 nationwide, including
health care workers, hard-hit states, seniors and people in need of food and
shelter. And, some of our resources are going directly to organizations that are
helping the most vulnerable in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.
To learn more about what this means for our mutual clients and their employees
in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut—some of the areas most impacted by
COVID-19—please see the following information:New York
New Jersey
Connecticut
Our mission is to help individuals lead healthier lives, and during COVID-19 it’s
even more important to help ensure that we are living up to our mission and
helping those who are most impacted by the virus. Our recent efforts to distribute
our resources around the country, including in New York, New Jersey and
Connecticut—and to donate funds and meals directly to people during COVID-19
—are evidence of this commitment. To get the most up-to-date information about
the ways we're responding to COVID-19, please visit uhc.com*.
We wish you, our clients and their employees, and all individuals, good health,
particularly at this time.
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of New York, Oxford Health Insurance, Inc. or their affiliates. Health Plan coverage provided by or through a
UnitedHealthcare company. Oxford HMO products are underwritten by Oxford Health Plans (NJ), Inc. and Oxford Health
Plans (CT), Inc. Administrative services provided by United HealthCare Services, Inc., UnitedHealthcare Service LLC,
Oxford Health Plans LLC, or their affiliates.
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20-135102United Health Foundation Launches Partnerships to Support Communities Hard Hit by the COVID-19 Pandemic 4/10/2020 The United Health Foundation has pledged $10 million to nonprofits in hard hit states to support people impacted by COVID-19. The donation is part of UnitedHealth Group’s $60 million initial commitment to fight COVID-19 and support heavily impacted populations, including health care workers, seniors and people experiencing food insecurity and homelessness. The Partnerships
Feeding Florida, whose member food banks support more than 2,200 local charitable agencies and provide food to the 2.8
million Floridians facing hunger, including over 850,000 children.
The United Health Foundation’s $500,000 pledge will support:
Partnering with farmers and restaurants across the state to harvest, prepare and distribute healthy food to
those most in need.
Partnering with the Florida Department of Elder Affairs to distribute food to seniors.
Helping under-resourced food banks across the state replenish their supplies.
Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida, a residential shelter in Orlando that helps families and individuals return to
stable, permanent homes as quickly as possible.
The United Health Foundation’s $500,000 pledge will support:
Creating isolation units within the facility to house those with COVID-19 symptoms.
Retrofitting shelter space to allow for greater social distancing.
Building an overflow shelter to temporarily expand capacity using tents and rented space.
Hiring additional staff to replace senior volunteers who can no longer come on site.
Expanding food service costs.
Providing services for the unsheltered homeless, including expanded shower and laundry services and
additional sanitation supplies.
Downtown Emergency Service Center in Seattle, Washington, which provides housing, emergency shelter, crisis intervention
and health care to approximately 8,000 homeless and formerly homeless people across the Seattle area.
The United Health Foundation’s $1 million pledge will support:
Purchasing personal protective equipment, hiring relief workers, and extended benefits for ill employees.
Promoting greater social distancing among shelter clients by helping move them to motels, as well as
purchasing food, supplies and cleaning materials to limit COVID-19 transmission across its five shelters.Food Bank For New York City, the city’s largest hunger-relief organization, which provides emergency food to vulnerable
New Yorkers who may be quarantined, along with those impacted by the economic downturn.
The United Health Foundation’s $500,000 pledge will support:
Purchasing wholesale healthy food options for items that are not currently in stock.
Distributing food to schools, health facilities and hospitals, and pop-up food stations at NY City Housing
Authority locations in each of the five boroughs.
Care For the Homeless, New York City, which delivers health care, social services and shelters to homeless individuals and
families, through 25 health center sites and two shelters.
The United Health Foundation’s $500,000 pledge will support:
Purchasing personal protective equipment and supplies for health care workers and supporting workers
who have fallen ill or are otherwise unable to work.
Delivering primary and behavioral health services to patients, regardless of ability to pay, and supporting
the transition to telemedicine for non-urgent health care.
Food Bank of South Jersey, which established the Emergency Food Fund to enable the organization to respond promptly to
emergency food requests while maintaining existing operations during the COVID-19 crisis.
The United Health Foundation’s $1 million pledge will support:
Hiring additional staff to prepare and deliver food boxes to senior housing facilities and underserved
communities.
Providing two weeks’ worth of food supplies to seniors, and emergency food bags and boxes to families.
Providing additional resources and support to local food banks in southern New Jersey.
California Community Foundation, which launched the COVID-19 LA County Response Fund to address the immediate and
emerging needs of Los Angeles County’s most vulnerable residents.
The United Health Foundation’s $1 million pledge will support:
Twelve clinics and nearby hospitals serving uninsured and underinsured individuals, triaging those who
are sick, exposed, need testing or need to be isolated and quarantined.
Housing providers and shelter operators who are responding to needs for outreach, social distancing,
isolation and increased demand for emergency services.
Michigan’s COVID-19 Response and Recovery Initiative, launched by Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, to support critical
services for Michiganders impacted by the pandemic. Funds will be distributed through the State Emergency Operations Center
based on critical needs.
The United Health Foundation’s $250,000 pledge will support:
The Food Bank Council of Michigan, the state’s unified food bank network, for the purchase of wholesale
food that will be used in emergency food boxes and distributed to those in need.
Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans, which leads the fight against hunger and builds food security in South
Louisiana by providing food access, advocacy, education and disaster response.
The United Health Foundation’s $250,000 pledge will support:
The cost of purchased food, including meals and grocery boxes for children, seniors and families; food
packing supplies and transportation/delivery costs.
Covenant House New Orleans, a shelter for individuals aged 22 and younger that provides supportive counseling and the tools
needed to help youth become independent, productive members of the community.The United Health Foundation’s $250,000 pledge will support:
Hiring additional staff, such as social workers, therapists, intake staff, staff to source apartments for
residents ready to move out, and staff focused on family reunification.
Food costs.
Costs for housing additional residents.
Street outreach to get more young people off the street and into Covenant House.
“Several areas of the United States will require extra support in the coming days to help residents experiencing homelessness
and food insecurity as a result of the COVID-19 emergency,” said Tracy Malone, president, the United Health Foundation. “By
collaborating with these leading community partners, we are ensuring critical aid is deployed quickly and effectively to those in
urgent need.”
UnitedHealth Group Workers Also Help
In addition to financial support, UnitedHealth Group workers are supporting their local communities in a variety of ways:
Preparing food: Cafeteria workers and cooks in UnitedHealth Group offices in Minneapolis, Minn., Greensboro, N.C., Las
Vegas, and Hartford, Conn., are staying fully employed and cooking 60,000 meals per week – nearly 30 tons of food donated by
the company – for those with food insecurity in their respective communities.
Individual support: The United Health Foundation will provide an unlimited dollar-for-dollar match for employee donations
made to a select number of organizations supporting COVID-19 response across the U.S., Canada, Ireland, Australia,
Philippines, Singapore and India through May 31. These organizations include National Health Care for the Homeless Council,
Feeding America and Meals on Wheels.
Offering expertise: In Wisconsin, a UnitedHealth Group housing navigator helped find temporary housing and food for 45
individuals living in a local homeless shelter that closed due to COVID-19 infection.
Supporting state efforts: Two UnitedHealth Group physicians, Drs. Jeffrey Brenner and Kathy Stilo, were loaned to the New
Jersey Department of Health for 90 days to help prepare for an influx of COVID-19 patients. They oversee the myConnections
Housing Plus Health program, nationally renowned for its ability to coordinate logistics, resources, meals, transportation and
wraparound services. This work, and other support performed by Optum team members, led New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy to
thank UnitedHealth Group for its efforts.United Health Foundation Pledges $1 Million to Support Vulnerable New Jersey Residents Amid COVID-19 Emergency Partnership with the Food Bank of South Jersey is part of initial $50 million commitment from UnitedHealth Group to fight COVID-19 and support impacted communities 4/9/2020 MINNETONKA, Minn. — The United Health Foundation has committed $1 million to provide urgent assistance to New Jersey residents experiencing food insecurity as they face unprecedented hardships during the COVID-19 pandemic. The partnership with the Food Bank of South Jersey is part of UnitedHealth Group’s (NYSE: UNH) previously announced initial $50 million commitment to fight COVID-19 and support those most directly impacted, including health care workers, hard-hit communities, seniors and people experiencing homelessness and food insecurity. “The COVID-19 public health emergency has compounded the many challenges faced by New Jersey’s most vulnerable residents, such as those experiencing hunger or food insecurity,” said Charles Wayland, chief executive officer, UnitedHealthcare Community & State, New Jersey. “Our partnership with the Food Bank of South Jersey will provide critical aid to those who need it most.” The $1 million grant to the Food Bank of South Jersey will provide support for additional staff to prepare emergency food bags and boxes to deliver in underserved communities, provide two weeks’ worth of food supplies for seniors and deliver them to senior housing facilities, and supply additional resources and support to local food banks in southern New Jersey. “Our mission is to provide an immediate solution to the urgent problem of hunger by providing food to people in need, teaching them to eat nutritiously and helping them find sustainable ways to improve their lives. We have recently experienced a 200% increase in need across our 185 agencies in four counties,” said Fred C. Wasiak, president and chief executive officer, Food Bank of South Jersey. “Our partnership with the United Health Foundation will enable us to expand our reach and better meet the needs of our communities during this crisis.” UnitedHealth Group, including UnitedHealthcare, Optum and the United Health Foundation, has a long history of addressing food insecurity — a key determinant of health among vulnerable populations in New Jersey and across the country. The United Health Foundation recently announced $5 million in national partnerships with the National Health Care for the Homeless Council, the Feeding America network of member food banks, and Meals on Wheels America as part of its commitment to fight COVID-19 and support impacted communities. About Food Bank of South Jersey Marking its 35th year in 2020, the Food Bank of South Jersey (FBSJ) is the leader in providing safe and nutritional food to people in need throughout South Jersey. FBSJ distributes food, provides nutrition education and cooking courses, and helps food-insecure families and seniors find sustainable ways to improve their lives. Throughout 2019, FBSJ distributed over 15 million pounds of food, more than 230,000 summer meals and over 17,500 senior food boxes, as well as serving 95 health and wellness programs to more than 11,700 residents. Providing community impact through local support, FBSJ ensures that local donations stay local. FBSJ is a member of Feeding America, our nation’s largest hunger-relief organization. To learn more, visit www.foodbanksj.org. 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.
United Health Foundation Pledges $1 Million to Support Vulnerable New York Residents
Amid COVID-19 Emergency
Partnerships with Food Bank For New York City and Care For the Homeless are part of initial $50 million commitment from
UnitedHealth Group to fight COVID-19 and support impacted communities
4/9/2020
MINNETONKA, Minn. — The United Health Foundation has committed $1 million to provide urgent assistance to New York
residents experiencing homelessness and food insecurity as they face unprecedented hardships during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The partnerships with the Food Bank For New York City and Care For the Homeless are part of UnitedHealth Group’s (NYSE:
UNH) previously announced initial $50 million commitment to fight COVID-19 and support those most directly impacted,
including health care workers, hard-hit communities, seniors and people experiencing homelessness and food insecurity.
“The COVID-19 public health emergency has compounded the many challenges faced by New York’s most vulnerable residents,
such as those experiencing homelessness, hunger or food insecurity,” said Michael McGuire, CEO, UnitedHealthcare Employer
& Individual, New York. “Our partnerships with the Food Bank For New York City and Care For the Homeless will provide
critical aid to the communities that need it most.”
The partnerships in New York include:
$500,000 to Food Bank For New York City to support the bulk purchase of healthy food items and
distribution efforts at schools, health facilities and NY City Housing Authority locations.
$500,000 to Care For the Homeless to address health workforce shortages resulting from staff having
fallen ill or who are otherwise unable to work. These funds will also help meet the increased need for
emergency supplies used to protect patients and staff.
“The Food Bank For New York City is committed to ensuring New Yorkers in need have access to meals during times of crisis,”
said Leslie Gordon, president and CEO, Food Bank For New York City. “As the economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic
continues, more New Yorkers are facing food insecurity – many for the first time. Our partnership with the United Health
Foundation will enable us to provide food and other essentials to vulnerable New Yorkers across the five boroughs who are
relying on us.”
“The COVID-19 emergency has imposed new challenges on our efforts to maintain our ability to support New York residents
experiencing homelessness, including the need to protect and retain our health workers,” said George Nashak, president and
CEO, Care For the Homeless. “This support from the United Health Foundation will allow us to remain available to our
vulnerable patients and keep delivering essential services during this critical time.”
UnitedHealth Group, including UnitedHealthcare, Optum and the United Health Foundation, has a long history of addressing
homelessness and food insecurity — key determinants of health among vulnerable populations in New York and across the
country. The United Health Foundation recently announced $5 million in national partnerships with the National Health Care for
the Homeless Council, the Feeding America network of member food banks, and Meals on Wheels America as part of its
commitment to fight COVID-19 and support impacted communities.
About Food Bank For New York City
For 36 years, Food Bank For New York City has been the city’s major hunger-relief organization working to end hunger
throughout the five boroughs. Nearly one in five New Yorkers relies on Food Bank for food and other resources. Food Bank
takes a strategic, multifaceted approach that provides meals and builds capacity in the neediest communities, while raising
awareness and engagement among all New Yorkers. Through its network of more than 1,000 charities and schools citywide,
Food Bank provides food for more than 61 million free meals per year for New Yorkers in need. To learn more, please
visit foodbanknyc.org.About Care For the Homeless Care For the Homeless (CFH) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and is committed to providing individuals experiencing homelessness with high quality medical, mental, and behavioral health care services. In addition, CFH actively advocates for policies to prevent and end homelessness. CFH also currently operates Susan’s Place and the 52nd Street Women’s Center, transitional shelters for mentally ill and medically frail women as well as multiple health care delivery sites across four New York City boroughs. For more information, visit www.careforthehomeless.org. 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.
UnitedHealthcare, Optum Turn Cafeteria Into Meal-Prep Base for Hartford Residents in Need Partnership between UnitedHealth Group, Compass Group and city of Hartford is helping fill a surging need 4/8/2020 HARTFORD, Conn. — Hundreds of first responders, essential employees, senior citizens and individuals experiencing homelessness in the city of Hartford will soon have access to free, healthy meals, as UnitedHealthcare of New England and Optum — UnitedHealth Group’s companies with operations in Connecticut — reallocate their campus cafeteria staff to provide up to 11,200 meals each week, at least for the next seven weeks. Leaders of UnitedHealth Group, the parent company of UnitedHealthcare and Optum, devised the plan to help Compass Group food service workers get back to work in recently closed office cafeterias in several U.S. cities including Minneapolis, Las Vegas, and Greensboro, N.C. The company’s campus cafeteria in downtown Hartford will be among the locations offering hot and cold meals for those in need. “Working together in important and unique ways is how our state and our communities are going to get through this crisis,” said Governor Ned Lamont. “Connecticut is fortunate to have these kinds of private partners stepping up and getting creative to contribute in these kinds of ways to help those in need.” The effort comes as nonprofits report massive increases in the number of individuals needing help to access food. UnitedHealth Group has partnered with the city of Hartford to help address this important need to distribute meals and ensure residents are fed. “We're incredibly grateful for UnitedHealth Group’s partnership with the Hartford community, keeping employees working while providing fresh, healthy meals to hundreds who need and deserve our support right now," said Mayor Luke Bronin. “The meals prepared by the UnitedHealth Group team will help keep isolated seniors and our homeless community healthy, and they'll also go to first responders who are putting public service first and staying away from home." Beginning Wednesday, April 8, breakfast and lunch will be prepared and delivered for hundreds of individuals across the city every day. The meals will be distributed to first responders and essential employees; individuals experiencing homelessness who have been temporarily moved to hotels; and senior citizens who normally received meals at Hartford’s senior centers. “As this unprecedented public health crisis continues to evolve, it will become increasingly difficult for many Hartford residents to access healthy meals,” said Stephen Farrell, CEO, UnitedHealthcare of New England. “We are proud to contribute to addressing this challenge by reallocating our resources and space to help meet an important need in the community.” Meals are being prepared by nine Compass Group employees who normally cook for, and serve, some of UnitedHealth Group’s more than 6,000 employees in Connecticut, many of whom are now working from home. The healthy menu options change daily as directed by Compass Group’s chef and will include meals such as chicken parmesan, seasoned rice and steamed carrots, and boxed lunches that include an assortment of sandwiches, fresh fruit, chips and water. UnitedHealth Group is covering the more than $500,000 in food costs and wages for the Compass Group employees in Hartford. This outreach builds on UnitedHealth Group’s recently announced $50 million initial commitment to support communities affected by COVID-19. 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.
About UnitedHealthcare UnitedHealthcare is dedicated to helping people live healthier lives and making the health system work better for everyone by simplifying the health care experience, meeting consumer health and wellness needs, and sustaining trusted relationships with care providers. In the United States, UnitedHealthcare offers the full spectrum of health benefit programs for individuals, employers, and Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, and contracts directly with over 1.3 million physicians and care professionals, and more than 6,000 hospitals and other care facilities nationwide. The company also provides health benefits and delivers care to people through owned and operated health care facilities in South America. UnitedHealthcare is one of the businesses of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH), a diversified health care company. For more information, visit UnitedHealthcare at www.uhc.com or follow @UHC on Twitter. About Optum Optum is a leading information and technology-enabled health services business dedicated to helping make the health system work better for everyone. With more than 165,000 people worldwide, Optum delivers intelligent, integrated solutions that help to modernize the health system and improve overall population health. Optum is part of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH). For more information, visit www.optum.com. About Eurest USA Eurest is a $1.75 billion food and vending organization serving the business and industry market with over 2,000 locations and more than 18,000 associates throughout the United States. Eurest serves more than 850,000 guests daily and is a sector of North Carolina-based Compass Group North America. Compass Group North America is the leading foodservice management and support services company with $18.6 billion USD in revenue in 2018. Compass Group North America is owned by Compass Group PLC based in the United Kingdom, operating in 45 countries with 600,000 associates worldwide. For more information, visit eurest-usa.com.
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