I’m Kayla. My company switched to Surest (under the UnitedHealthcare umbrella) last fall. No deductible, prices shown up front in the app—honestly, I was curious and a little nervous. Would it actually save us money? Would the app be annoying? I’ve used it for a full year for me, my husband, and our 9-year-old. Here’s how it went—real visits, real bills.
For anyone who wants to scroll through every single explanation-of-benefits and receipt, I’ve dropped the full spreadsheet in my extended real-life review of Surest Health Insurance on ASQH.
The quick take
- It works best if you check the app before you go. Prices change by clinic, even for the same stuff.
- No deductible felt freeing. We paid set prices right away, not a big surprise months later.
- The network is big, but not endless. Out-of-network? You’ll pay a lot or it won’t be covered.
- One or two bills were messy, but support fixed them faster than I expected.
You know what? I liked it more than I thought I would.
For a broader look at how different insurance structures can influence quality of care, the breakdowns on ASQH are worth a quick read. If you’ve ever caught yourself asking “what’s the catch?”, the official plan walkthrough on the Surest blog offers a straightforward primer.
How I used Surest this year
1) Annual physical (me)
The app showed $0 for a preventive visit with a local clinic. My doc did basic blood work. It was also $0—because it was coded “preventive.” I asked the nurse to mark it that way, just to be safe. Total: $0. That felt great.
2) Sprained ankle and an MRI (my husband)
He twisted his ankle playing pickup basketball. The app showed a wide range for an MRI:
- Hospital: $740
- Imaging center across town: $230
We picked the imaging center. The app warned that we needed prior approval. The clinic sent it in. It took about one day. Final bill: $230. No surprise fees. He was more annoyed about missing hoops.
3) Urgent care for our kid’s ear infection
We checked the app from the car. One urgent care nearby showed $35. Another one, same street, showed $60. We went with the $35. Ten minutes in and out. Paid in the app. Final: $35.
4) Therapy sessions (me)
I found a licensed therapist in the app. Several choices. I booked a virtual session for $25. I kept weekly sessions for two months. Eight visits total: $200. My old plan used to bill me weeks later. With Surest, I saw the price before I booked. That helped my budget a lot.
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5) Meds: generic vs brand (our household)
- Generic allergy pills for my husband: $8/month at a nearby pharmacy.
- Brand inhaler for my son’s asthma: $85/month. The app showed cheaper generics, but his doctor wanted this one for now. We stuck with it, but felt that price.
6) Physical therapy (me again)
I had shoulder pain from working at my laptop. The app showed PT visit prices from $30 to $90. I picked a $40 clinic with strong reviews. Four sessions: $160. My therapist gave me a home plan. It helped.
Real numbers I actually paid
- Preventive physical + labs: $0
- Urgent care: $35
- MRI at imaging center: $230
- Weekly therapy (8 sessions): $200
- Generic allergy med: $8/month
- Brand inhaler: $85/month
- Physical therapy (4 visits): $160
Could I have spent more? For sure. Picking the hospital for the MRI alone would’ve doubled or tripled it.
What I loved
- Prices up front: I saw what I’d pay. No guessing. No dread.
- No deductible: We didn’t have to hit a big number before coverage kicked in.
- App search felt… useful: It showed clinics near me, with clear prices and notes.
- Fast support: When a lab used a different billing code and I got a small extra charge ($18), I messaged support in the app. They checked it and issued a credit the next week.
What bugged me
- Out-of-network limits: Our favorite pediatric dermatologist wasn’t covered. We had to switch to someone 25 minutes away. The app warned us, but it still stung.
- Prior approval delays: That MRI paused us for a day. Not awful, but when you’re hurting, any delay is annoying.
- Coding matters a lot: If labs aren’t marked preventive, you’ll pay. I learned to speak up and ask.
- Hospital “facility fees”: The app warned about higher hospital prices, but it’s still jarring to see one clinic at $60 and the hospital at $180 for the same visit type.
A weird little hiccup
After my physical, the lab company changed. The draw was done in the clinic, but the lab billed separately. I saw an extra $18 that wasn’t in the app flow. I called. Support explained the vendor switch and fixed it. Not a huge deal, but it’s a reminder: keep your receipts.
Who this plan fits
- Great for planners and comparison shoppers. If you’ll check the app, you’ll save.
- Good for folks who see doctors in-network already.
- Not so great if your must-have doctor is out-of-network. You’ll be frustrated.
- If you love HSAs and high-deductible setups, you may miss that style. I didn’t, but some people do.
If you’re still weighing options, it can help to see how similar plans fare in real life. One writer shares an honest take after a year with Imperial Health Insurance, while another walks through the numbers in a candid review of Alliant Health Insurance. Comparing those to my Surest story gave me perspective on what matters most for our household.
Tips from my kitchen table
- Favorite your go-to clinics in the app. It’s faster when you’re stressed.
- Ask, “Will this be coded as preventive?” for annual labs and screenings.
- For big stuff (imaging, surgery), check the app first and ask about prior approval.
- Compare prices across locations. The hospital is almost always higher.
- Keep EOBs and bills until claims settle. If something looks off, message support right away.
- If you’ve ever price-compared anything online—from plumbers to pizza—think of how browsing an escort directory like ListCrawler’s Elk Grove listings can instantly display what’s available and what it costs; applying that same peek-before-you-book mindset to Surest’s app is exactly how you avoid surprise medical bills.
My bottom line
Surest made healthcare feel more clear and less scary for us this year. We paid what we expected. We shopped around a bit. We got the care we needed. Was it perfect? No. But it was close enough that we’re staying on it next year.
If you can use the app and your doctors are in-network, I’d give it a solid 4 out of 5. On busy weeks, seeing that price before I walk in—that’s the little thing that keeps me sane.