Texas: UnitedHealthcare Connected MMP transition

Change for Harris County

On Jan. 1, 2026, UnitedHealthcare Connected Medicare-Medicaid Plan (MMP) members in Harris County will move to an integrated Dual Eligible Special Needs Plan (D-SNP) that includes:

• UnitedHealthcare HIDE SNP for Medicare-covered services 
• UnitedHealthcare STAR+PLUS for Medicaid-covered services

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) requires all MMP plans end on Dec. 31, 2025. Transitioning MMP members to D-SNP will ensure they maintain coverage.

Why D-SNP?

The D-SNP offers coordinated care services for people who qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid. These members are automatically enrolled in the UnitedHealthcare STAR+PLUS Medicaid plan. This means they get both types of benefits through UnitedHealthcare to help make care easier to manage.

What you need to know

• No action needed from MMP members. Former UnitedHealthcare MMP members in Harris County will move to the new integrated D-SNP unless they choose another D-SNP carrier.
• No action needed for active authorizations approved before Jan. 1, 2026. UnitedHealthcare will move the authorization to the patient’s new policy on Jan. 1, 2026. This change does not affect our other D-SNP plans or other counties
• To maximize your ability to see UnitedHealthcare integrated D-SNP members, you must be:
  • Enrolled in both Medicare and Medicaid
  • In the UnitedHealthcare® Medicare Advantage and UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Texas networks
• If you’re a Medicare provider not in STAR+PLUS:
  • You’ll still be paid based on your Medicare contract
  • To receive payment for Medicaid-only services or cost-sharing, you must be enrolled with Texas Health and Human Services Commission’s Medicaid program
• If you’re already in both UnitedHealthcare networks, you do not need a new contract

How to enroll

• UnitedHealthcare – Join our Network
• Medicare – Provider Enrollment, Chain and Ownership System (PECOS) Enrollment Portal
• Texas Medicaid – Texas Medicaid & Healthcare Partnership (TMHP)

How to submit claims

We’ll coordinate Medicare and Medicaid benefits once you submit the claim to UnitedHealthcare.

Submit claims electronically for faster processing:

• Sign in to the UnitedHealthcare Provider Portal with your One Healthcare ID. Go to Claims & Payments > Submit a Claim.
  • If you don’t have a One Healthcare ID, register now

For paper submissions, mail the completed claim form to the address on the back of the member’s ID card.

How to submit and manage prior authorizations

• Sign in to the UnitedHealthcare Provider Portal with your One Healthcare ID
• From the left-hand tabs in the portal, select Prior Authorizations & Notifications

For training, view our Prior Authorization and Notification interactive guide.

What the change means for UnitedHealthcare D-SNP members

• They will keep all Medicare and Medicaid benefits without interruption
• They will get 1 new member ID card covering both Medicare and STAR+PLUS services

Additional resources

• Medicare Administrative Guide
• Medicaid Texas Care Provider Manual
• UnitedHealthcare Provider Portal resources