CareSource vs. UnitedHealthcare (UHC)

CareSource and UnitedHealthcare (UHC) each serve Medicare and Medicaid recipients in select parts of the country, and they each do it in their own way.

CareSource and UHC each offer a type of Medicare plan called a Medicare Advantage (Medicare Part C) plan, and they each also offer a special type of Medicare plan that’s specifically for people who have both Medicare and Medicaid, called a Dual Eligible Special Needs Plan (D-SNP).

Below is a look at CareSource vs. UHC to help you compare these two insurance carriers. 

CareSource was founded in 1989 with a focus on providing high-quality coverage to Medicaid recipients. Today, the company serves both Medicaid and Medicare consumers alike, with over two million members in eight states.

CareSource operates as a non-profit organization.

UnitedHealthcare was established in 1977 and went public in 1984. Through years of mergers and acquisitions, UHC has today become among the largest health insurance organizations in the U.S. As of December 2023, roughly 10.4 million members across the country were enrolled in a private Medicare insurance plan from UnitedHealthcare (Medicare Advantage, Medicare Part D or a Medicare Supplement plan).

CareSource vs. UHC: What Types of Plans Do They Offer?

CareSource offers several different types of insurance plans in certain states. Depending on where you live, CareSource may or may not offer any types of plans near you.

CareSource offers a type of Medicare Advantage (Medicare Part C) plan for people who are eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid. This type of plan is called a Dual-Eligible Special Needs Plan (D-SNP), and CareSource offers these plans in Georgia and Ohio in 2025.

CareSource vs. UHC: Plan Reviews and Star Ratings

Each year, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) rates the quality of each carrier’s Medicare plans. You can compare Star Ratings online for plans where you live.

CareSource maintains A+ ratings with the Better Business Bureau. UHC maintains an A rating with Fitch Ratings, an A2 rating with Moody’s and an A ratings with AM Best.

Is a CareSource or UnitedHealthcare Medicare Plan Right for You?

UHC is a large company that serves customers all over the U.S. with a wide variety of high-quality plans. CareSource has a more limited service area in which its plans are offered, meaning that residents of only a few states are able to apply for a CareSource plan.

But deciding which carrier to do business with is often less about which company is considered the best and more about which carrier more directly addresses your needs. CareSource may be a good option for you if you live where CareSource Medicare plans are available, particularly if you qualify for Medicaid benefits. UHC may be for you if you live outside the CareSource service area or if you’re looking for a wider variety of plan selection.

Helpadvisor.com is owned and operated by Tranzact, the parent company of TZ Insurance Solutions LLC, which is the owner/operator of Medicareadvantage.com and other websites mentioned on HelpAdvisor and which has a financial relationship with some of the carriers listed on HelpAdvisor. This may influence which products we write about, but HelpAdvisor maintains editorial independence, and our opinions and evaluations are our own.