UnitedHealthcare has partnered with Garner Health to provide an innovative approach to accessing care for members enrolled in the Apple Advantage Plan. Garner Health uses data science to help Apple team members and their families find top-performing doctors to get better health outcomes and reduce the cost barrier to excellent healthcare.
You can access Garner during your Open Enrollment period between October 24 through
November 11, 2022, to see if your doctor ranks as a top performer.
UnitedHealthcare has partnered with Garner Health to provide an innovative approach to accessing care for members enrolled in the Apple Advantage Plan. Garner Health uses data science to help Apple team members and their families find top-performing doctors to get better health outcomes and reduce the cost barrier to excellent healthcare.
You can access Garner during your Open Enrollment period between October 24 through
November 11, 2022, to see if your doctor ranks as a top performer.
Now you can see the best doctors for your needs without worrying about the cost.
Find the best doctors.
The Apple Advantage Plan includes access to the Garner Health app or website, an innovative doctor search tool that helps you find top-performing doctors near you. These doctors are identified in the app or website as Tier 1 providers.
Garner uses new data science technology to independently analyze millions of patients’ health records and determine which doctors across the UHC network:
Have a strong history of accurately diagnosing health issues and successfully treating patients
Practice medicine based on the latest research
Have excellent patient reviews
Have availability to see you
Garner has no financial relationship with doctors. The information provided is 100% objective and transparent, and makes finding an excellent doctor faster and easier. You decide which doctor is right for you.
By using Garner, you can have more confidence in your choice of doctors.
Pay less for seeking the very best care.
When you use the Apple Advantage Plan and select a Tier 1 provider, you pay no copay ($0). Tier 1 providers have shown to deliver better overall care, which leads to healthier results, lower complication rates, and fewer hospital stays, which creates savings for everyone. It’s a win-win.
Enjoy the assurance and convenience of a personal health-
care Concierge.
In addition to your UHC Advocates, the Apple Advantage Plan gives you access to a personal Garner Concierge. The Garner Concierge team is available to help you find the best available in-network doctors in your area. The Garner Concierge is available through the Garner Health mobile app or website or by calling (866) 761-6720 Mon. – Fri. from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET.
Try Garner
To gain access to Garner Health in 2023, you must enroll in the Apple Advantage Plan during your Open Enrollment period between October 24 through November 11, 2022.
To try Garner Health’s app or website during your Open Enrollment period, please sign up for Garner Health at getgarner.com/signup. Using the app or website, enter your first name, last name, date of birth, phone number, and email. If you are not comfortable sharing your personal information with Garner during Open Enrollment, you can enter dummy data of your choice, except for email. You must provide your email address to use the tool, and it’s required each time you log in during Open Enrollment. At the close of Open Enrollment on 11/11/22, Garner will delete any account information used to try Garner.
Starting on 1/1/23, if you elect the Advantage Plan and want to use Garner you’ll need to create a new Garner account using your real information.
FAQs
About Garner
Who is Garner?
Garner is a new healthcare partner that collects and analyzes hundreds of quality metrics to determine which doctors in the UHC network are achieving the best outcomes for their patients. Garner provides 1-to-1 Concierge support and access to the Garner Health app for all Apple team members enrolled in the Apple Advantage Plan.
What is the difference between UHC and Garner?
UHC is Apple’s medical claims administrator for the Apple Advantage Plan. UHC offers health plan advocates who can answer questions about your coverage, resolve a claim, or work with a nurse to provide information about available clinical programs. Garner is the data engine and care navigation support behind this new plan, partnering with UHC to identify top-performing (Tier 1) doctors in the UHC network.
How secure is my personal information?
Garner is a covered entity under The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 ("HIPAA"). Additionally, Garner is SOC2 Type II certified. SOC2 requires companies to establish and follow strict information security policies and procedures, encompassing the security, availability, and confidentiality of customer data.
Does Garner report anything to my employer?
No, everything is confidential. Garner will never share your personal health information with anyone - including your employer - without your consent.
Access to Garner
What do I need to enter to use Garner during Open Enrollment?
During Open Enrollment (10/24/22-11/11/22), you can create a trial Garner account. Your trial will provide you access to the Garner Heath website and app.
Enter Apple as the Organization name to view Apple specific information. Garner collects your first name, last name, birth date, phone number, and email to power its doctor search and Concierge experience. If you are not comfortable sharing your personal information with Garner during Open Enrollment, you can enter dummy data of your choice for your first name, last name, DOB, phone number, and email. The email address must be unique, and you’ll enter it each time you log in to Garner during your trial period which extends through Open Enrollment.
Please note that entering dummy data will impact aspects of your Garner experience. For example, you may not receive new message notifications from the Concierge or be greeted by name when using the Garner Health app or Concierge services.
At the close of Open Enrollment on 11/11/22, any account information entered will be deleted. Starting on 1/1/23, if you elect the Advantage Plan, you’ll need to create a new Garner account using your accurate personal information.
Can my dependents access Garner resources?
Yes, dependents 18 years and older can register and access the Garner Health app or website.
If I enroll in a different Apple medical plan, can I access Garner next year?
No. You can only access Garner if you enroll in the Apple Advantage plan for 2023. Both UHC and Aetna offer a search feature with designated quality providers. However, the functionality and data behind those measures are less comprehensive.
About Garner’s designated Tier 1 doctors
What sets Tier 1 doctors apart from other providers?
Garner uses over 500 metrics to identify which doctors provide best-in-class care in their area of expertise. Garner bases overall scores on the quality and value of a provider’s procedures, outcomes, and reviews. Additional metrics include adherence to best practices, accuracy of diagnoses, quality of treatment, patient experience, and more.
How does Garner determine a provider’s quality of care?
Garner considers the following:
1. Adherence to best practice
• Do the doctor’s patients have more/less missed routine cancer screenings than their peers?
• Do they have a higher rate of prescribing opioids?
• Do they have a higher frequency of prescribing low value treatments or highly invasive surgeries?
2. Patient health outcomes
• Do the doctor’s patients have more/less frequent hospitalizations for routine conditions or avoidable conditions than their peers?
• Does this doctor have a higher readmission or missed diagnosis rate?
• Does this doctor have more success preventing a treatable condition from escalating or worsening?
3. Patient experience
Garner normalizes patient outcome data, so if a doctor tends to have more high-risk patients, or patients starting their treatment at a more advanced stage, Garner considers this and adjusts that doctor’s rating
How does Garner’s data-based approach differ from other carriers?
Garner evaluates doctors at the individual physician level. They aggregate and examine all claims by a particular doctor, including the treatment and recommendations made by a doctor, incorporating metrics around preventive care, unnecessary care, prescribing patterns, site-of-service and patient outcomes. Most other published quality ratings base their scores on the hospital system-level or physician group-level data using clinical quality and cost efficiency criteria. Individual doctor information is generally unavailable, and a high-quality rating could reflect their affiliated medical group achieving certain cost and quality measures. Garner's unique approach allows them to provide specific data on why a particular doctor is considered high quality.
How often are doctor credentials updated on Garner?
The data and insights available through Garner are updated regularly as patient reviews and provider performance data change. Tier 1 provider data, though, is updated on an annual basis, so doctors will not move between tiers throughout the year. For example, if a doctor is categorized as Tier 1 on January 1, they will remain a Tier 1 provider through December 31.
Finding a Tier 1 doctor
Does it matter where I search for Tier 1 doctors – on Garner or through UHC?
You can search in either tool, and the Tier 1 designation for medical providers will be the same whether you use Garner or UHC. If you want detailed quality metrics explaining why a doctor is top tier, that information is available in the Garner Health app, on the website and through the Garner Concierge. For specific searches, you may be directed to one or the other. For example, searching for a Tier 1 behavioral health provider can only be done through Garner. For fertility, you’ll be directed to talk with a UHC Health Advocate to help you find a Center of Excellence and connect you with Apple’s Fertility Solutions nurse to help you get the best outcomes and maximize your benefits with Apple.
Are all doctors in the Garner Health app Tier 1 providers?
No, both Tier 1 and UHC in-network doctors will be listed in Garner Health app.
How will I know which Tier 1 doctors are accepting new patients?
If you search for a doctor by name, you will be provided with a recommended list of Tier 1 doctors and can see which doctors are accepting new patients. If you search for a doctor by specialty, you will only see doctors accepting new patients. If you have questions about provider availability or would like to double-check if a provider is accepting new patients, reach out to a Garner Concierge.
What if my current doctor isn’t a Tier 1 doctor?
You can still enroll in the Apple Advantage Plan if your doctor isn’t a Tier 1 provider. However, if you continue to see your doctor, you will be responsible for paying the higher in-network copay amount. If you want to take full advantage of the plan and are willing to change doctors, you can use the Garner Health app to find a Tier 1 doctor and your copay will be $0.
Will there always be a Tier 1 doctor available for me?
Yes. Garner’s quality metrics are relative, meaning they will assess and rank the best available doctors in your area.
What if I can’t find the doctor I’m looking for when searching by name?
If you can't find the doctor you're looking for in the Garner Health app, reach out to a Garner Concierge for assistance. Your Garner Concierge will be able to confirm if the doctor is a Tier 1 provider, and they can assist with understanding if that doctor is currently accepting new patients.
Can my doctor apply to be in the Tier 1 network?
No. Garner provides objective doctor quality rankings by analyzing data on over 45 billion claims using more than 500 metrics. Doctors cannot apply as Garner's rankings are based on a track record of accurately diagnosing health issues, successfully treating patients, and receiving excellent patient reviews.
Specialist doctors
What do I do if I need to see a specialist rather than my primary care physician?
You can use the Garner Health app or Concierge to find a Tier 1 specialist in your area. If you have a complex condition, we encourage you to contact the Garner Concierge. The Concierge can provide expertise in researching the doctors best suited to serve your needs.
What if I can't find a specialist for my condition through Garner?
n some rare instances, you may not find unique specialty providers through Garner. Contact the Garner Concierge for assistance in finding a comparable provider or work with a UHC Health Advocate to help you find an in-network provider.
Who to go to for help
When should I contact UHC Health Advocates vs. Garner Concierge?
Health Advocates will continue to be your single source for questions. They are well versed in the Apple Advantage Plan, whether you need help finding a Tier 1 doctor, clarification on what services are covered, help to resolve a claim, assistance with a complex medical issue, and more. There may be some cases where a Health Advocate will refer you to Garner Concierge — like if you need help finding a specific type of specialist, help using the Garner Health app, or questions around provider rankings.
What should I do if I’m having trouble using the Garner Health app?
Contact a Garner Concierge for assistance. Your Concierge is available through the Garner Health app or website, or by calling (866) 761-6720 Mon. - Fri. from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET.
If you have questions that have not been answered, contact the Garner Concierge at (866) 761-6720.
If you have questions that have not been answered, contact the Garner Concierge at
(866) 761-6720.
Terms and Conditions. Privacy Policy. ©2022 by Garner Health Technology, Inc.
Garner has no financial relationship with doctors. Recommendations are based solely on independent analysis, not commissions or fees. The information provided is 100% objective and transparent, and makes finding an excellent doctor faster and easier.
All of our programs function through employer-sponsored health plans. Garner Health is not an insurance company.
Garner Health is a Medicare Qualified Entity.
