UnitedHealthcare Baby Blocks® Shown to Help Expectant Mothers in Texas Deliver Healthy Babies

Expectant mothers who enroll in UnitedHealthcare Community Plan’s Baby Blocks online, interactive incentive program receive better pre- and postnatal care, keep healthy-baby appointments and maintain healthy behaviors through their pregnancies, as well as deliver healthy babies.

Expectant and new moms in McAllen enrolled in the UnitedHealthcare Community Plan participated in a baby shower where they met with health experts to help answer some of their questions on pre- and postnatal care. UnitedHealthcare mascot Dr. Health E. Hound joined the moms for some simple exercises and shared tips for staying healthy throughout their pregnancy. This is one of several baby showers being hosted by UnitedHealthcare throughout the state. (Photo Credit: Johnny Q. Photography)

Since Baby Blocks (www.uhcbabyblocks.com) launched less than a year ago in Texas, more than 2,300 women have enrolled, more than 650 babies have been born, and 11 children are living healthier because their mothers have passed the 15-month well-child visit for their babies.

Baby Blocks, available to women covered by UnitedHealthcare Community Plan, offers incentives to expectant mothers who complete prenatal, postpartum and healthy-baby appointments. Users can access an interactive game board that shows their prenatal visits, and opportunities to earn rewards for following a prenatal visit schedule.

“In the U.S. each year, more than 300,000 babies are born weighing less than five pounds. In communities like McAllen, there is an even higher prevalence of pregnancy and low-birth-weight health outcomes when compared with other states, which makes easy-to-use and informative programs critical health tools for mothers-to-be,” said Texas State Sen. Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa - District 20, McAllen, Texas.

Today more than 50 expectant moms enrolled in the UnitedHealthcare Community Plan met with health experts to help answer some of their questions on pre- and postnatal care. Moms received tips for staying healthy throughout the pregnancy and a hands-on demonstration for using Baby Blocks. This is one of several baby showers being hosted by UnitedHealthcare throughout the state.

For Valentine’s Day, each participating mom and mom-to-be also received a long-stemmed red rose from UnitedHealthcare mascot Dr. Health E. Hound and a free gift bag that included baby-care items such as diapers, baby wipes and other well-baby items.

“In Texas, more than 8 percent of babies are born with a low birth weight, according to America’s Health Rankings®, so we are encouraged by the positive impact the Baby Blocks program has on new and expectant mothers’ health, and that of their babies,” said Don Langer, president & CEO of UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Texas.

UnitedHealthcare offers health benefits, including employer-sponsored, Medicare and Medicaid health plans, to more than 3.8 million people in Texas and partners with more than 50,000 care providers across the state.

About UnitedHealthcare
UnitedHealthcare is dedicated to helping people nationwide live healthier lives by simplifying the health care experience, meeting consumer health and wellness needs, and sustaining trusted relationships with care providers. The company offers the full spectrum of health benefit programs for individuals, employers, military service members, retirees and their families, and Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, and contracts directly with more than 850,000 physicians and care professionals, and 6,000 hospitals and other care facilities nationwide. Globally, UnitedHealthcare serves 45 million people in health benefits and is one of the businesses of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH), a diversified Fortune 50 health and well-being company. For more information, visit UnitedHealthcare at www.uhc.com or follow @myUHC on Twitter.

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