Understanding the ShareWELL UA Reduction Program
At ShareWELL, we believe that every member should have the opportunity to actively participate in lowering healthcare costs, not only for themselves but for the entire sharing community. Our Reduction of the Unshared Amount Program rewards members who take proactive steps to keep expenses fair and transparent.
This program recognizes that healthcare costs can vary widely across providers and that members often have more influence over them than they realize. When members take extra steps to plan ahead or work directly with ShareWELL teams, we may authorize a reduction of the UA.
How Members Can Reduce Their UA
Members may qualify for a UA reduction when they take one or more of the following actions:
- Arranging and prepaying for a scheduled surgery or procedure that results in meaningful cost savings.
- Choosing to work with or switch to a fair cost provider identified by ShareWELL.
- Traveling to receive care from a provider that offers high-quality services at significantly lower prices.
- Partnering with our negotiation team to complete a Financial Assistance Program application with a hospital or healthcare facility.
- Working with a ShareWELL legal representative to negotiate or lower existing medical bills.
The Most Effective Way to Lower Your UA
The most impactful step a member can take is to work with the ShareWELL Negotiation Team. Our team is highly experienced in working directly with hospitals to help members qualify for self-pay or direct-pay discounts.
Many hospitals offer substantial price reductions for patients who pay directly, but the application process can be confusing or overlooked. The ShareWELL Negotiation Team helps simplify that process. They can assist you in gathering the necessary financial information, completing the forms, and submitting everything correctly to maximize available discounts.
Hospitals often refer to this process as a Financial Assistance Program, but we view it as a self-pay optimization tool. It is a resource designed to help you obtain the most favorable pricing available to direct-pay patients.
A Real Example of UA Reduction in Action
Recently, a ShareWELL member was hospitalized for 48 hours after an unexpected medical emergency. The initial hospital bill totaled 350,000 dollars, and the facility was unwilling to provide a fair rate during the first stages of negotiation. Working closely with the ShareWELL Negotiation Team, the member agreed to submit a Financial Assistance Program application through the hospital.
After review, the hospital approved the application and reduced the bill to 33,000 dollars. This reduction reflected a fair and reasonable rate for the care received. The member’s Unshared Amount responsibility was then calculated from this new, fair cost rather than the original billed charge.
This outcome is not unusual. Most hospitals in the United States, particularly nonprofit facilities, maintain formal Financial Assistance Programs as part of their financial operations. These programs are not designed only for hardship cases; they are an established part of how hospitals account for self-pay discounts and required community benefit write-offs. The IRS requires nonprofit hospitals to demonstrate community benefit activities to maintain their tax-exempt status, and financial assistance adjustments are among the primary ways they meet that obligation. In 2021 alone, nonprofit hospitals reported more than 20 billion dollars in financial assistance and discounted care as part of these community benefit programs, according to data from the American Hospital Association.
These write-offs help hospitals manage revenue expectations, comply with federal reporting standards, and maintain positive community benefit ratios. By working with the ShareWELL Negotiation Team, members simply use the same system hospitals already depend on to document these adjustments. The result is a fair, transparent billing process that benefits both the hospital and the member.
By understanding how these systems work and working with ShareWELL’s Negotiation Team, members can ensure they receive the full benefit of the self-pay discounts that hospitals are required and supported in offering.
Why It Matters
By engaging with the Negotiation Team early, ideally before or soon after care, members often see significant reductions in their overall medical expenses. These savings can directly lower your UA responsibility while also keeping total costs down for the entire ShareWELL community.
Taking advantage of this resource ensures that you are not paying more than the fair and transparent cost for care. It also strengthens the sustainability of our sharing community by promoting responsible, cost-conscious healthcare choices.
Getting Started
If you have an upcoming medical procedure, a recent hospital bill, or questions about potential savings, contact the ShareWELL Negotiation Team. They will guide you through the process, help identify eligible discounts, and support you in completing any necessary applications.
Together, we can make healthcare more affordable, transparent, and equitable for everyone who shares in the ShareWELL community.