UnitedHealth’s (UNH) subsidiary Optum Rx is rolling out a new pricing model for pharmacy benefits. The company is dropping its old drug price-based model and switching to a flat monthly fee for each member. This fee does not depend on the drug’s list price or how many prescriptions a person fills. UNH stock was up over 2% on Tuesday.
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Under the model, customers can see every Optum Rx fee, including those linked to its group purchasing group. The company also plans to move all group purchasing payments to flat service fees by the end of 2027.
CEO Dr. Patrick Conway said the goal is to create a simpler, more predictable system that lowers costs and improves transparency for employers and health plans.
New Consumer Tools
Optum Rx is also adding new digital tools to help patients compare medication prices and options:
- Shop MyScript alerts eligible members after a prescription is written and shows real‑time prices and pharmacy options before they fill it.
- Price Wise gives a full cost breakdown, including drug prices and service fees, through partner pharmacies.
Is UNH Stock a Buy, Hold, or Sell?
Turning to Wall Street, analysts have a Moderate Buy consensus rating on UNH stock based on 18 Buys, four Holds, and one Sell assigned in the past three months. Further, the average UnitedHealth price target of $386.86 per share implies 1.81% downside risk.
