UMR is not an insurance company in the usual sense. It is a third-party administrator (TPA), owned by UnitedHealth Group, that runs self-funded health plans for employers. Your employer’s plan pays the claims and carries the risk; UMR processes claims, answers member questions and provides access to provider networks. UMR calls itself the largest TPA in the country, administering more than 3,800 plans for more than 6 million members (source).
If your card says UMR, the rules of your coverage come from your employer’s plan document, not from a standard insurance policy. That affects which state laws apply and where you go if a claim is denied.
Updated November 2026. This profile draws on company materials, regulatory filings, federal data and Health Plan News analysis. It is independent of UMR; for questions about your coverage, call the number on your member ID card.
UMR at a Glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| What it is | Third-party administrator for self-funded employer health plans |
| Parent | UnitedHealth Group (UnitedHealthcare) |
| Headquarters | Wausau, Wisconsin |
| Members | More than 6 million |
| Plans administered | More than 3,800 |
| Networks | About 90% of members use the UnitedHealthcare network |
| Who pays claims | Your employer’s self-funded plan |
| Website | umr.com and the UMR app |
How UMR Differs From an Insurer
With a fully insured plan, the insurer collects premiums and pays claims from its own funds. With a UMR plan, your employer funds the claims, often with stop-loss insurance for very large bills, and pays UMR a fee to administer them. Self-funded plans are governed mainly by the federal ERISA law, so many state insurance mandates do not apply. Our guide to self-funded and level-funded plans explains the difference.
Networks and Claims
About 90% of UMR members use the UnitedHealthcare network, and the rest use local or regional networks chosen by their employer (source). UMR says it usually processes a claim within 30 days and sends an explanation of benefits (EOB) showing what the plan paid and what you owe.
How To Appeal a UMR Denial
Start with the denial notice and your plan’s Summary Plan Description, which sets the appeal deadline, usually 180 days. UMR’s post-service appeal form can be faxed to 877-291-3248 or mailed to UMR Claim Appeals, P.O. Box 30546, Salt Lake City, UT 84130-0546, with medical records supporting your claim (source). If the internal appeal fails, ERISA plans must offer an external review for most medical necessity denials. Complaints about self-funded plans go to the U.S. Department of Labor, not your state insurance department.
UMR by the Numbers
- Labor Department settlement: UMR agreed to pay $20.25 million to settle a 2023 Department of Labor lawsuit alleging it improperly denied emergency room and urine drug screening claims for employer plans (source).
- Parent company: UMR is part of UnitedHealthcare; see our UnitedHealthcare profile for the parent’s membership and claim denial data.
Recent UMR News
- Provider lawsuit: A Texas ENT practice sued UMR in March 2026, alleging it misstated negotiated discounts on an employer plan’s patient bills. (source)
How To Contact UMR
| Purpose | Contact |
|---|---|
| Member services | Number on your member ID card |
| Coverage start questions | 1-800-826-9781 |
| Appeals fax | 877-291-3248 |
| Website | umr.com; 24/7 chat in the UMR app |
For other carriers, see our profiles of the largest health insurance companies and follow our Health Insurance Companies hub.
Sources
Becker’s Payer Issues; Becker’s Payer Issues; Miller & Chevalier (consent order); Bloomberg Law; UHC employer UMR page; UMR – Who we are; UMR – Who we are / UHC employer page; UMR Post-Service Appeal Request Form; UMR brochure; UHCprovider.com news; UMR member FAQs; UMR overview brochure; American Medical Association, Competition in Health Insurance (2025 update); CMS Transparency in Coverage public use file (2024, via KFF).