Social responsibility
Together we can help our communities thrive
We're helping to create a healthier world. One insight, one connection, one person at a time.
Everyone deserves the opportunity to live their healthiest life
At Optum, social responsibility means advancing health equity for all. We work with local communities to remove barriers and provide equal access to quality care. Every interaction with each person we serve is an opportunity to act with compassion and deliver equitable, culturally competent care and support.
We focus on advancing equity in three areas:
- For you and your community
- Across health care
- Empowering the Optum team
Driving toward equitable health — for all
Creating a world where every person has equal access to affordable, quality health care — when and where they want it — is the goal. We are partnering to expand access and close gaps in care, one individual and community at a time.
The United States has the highest maternal mortality rate of all developed countries, with patients of color facing the greatest risk of death and complication. Optum is working to reverse the maternal health crisis by:
- Leveraging our assets, expertise and big data insights to improve care
- Founding pregnancy.org, a non-profit that provides information to pregnant people
- Launching pilot programs in Optum Care® clinics aimed at decreasing maternal morbidity
- Providing $1.4 million in maternal health grants — and pro bono services — to numerous community organizations
For example, Optum has partnered with the Ladies of Hope Ministries (LOHM) to launch a doula training program for women who have been released from prison, helping create a more diverse health care workforce. Doulas provide prenatal and birth support and postpartum care to women in prison as well as non-incarcerated women.
Volunteering at Optum goes beyond simply showing up to serve. Team members partner with local communities to drive impact by:
- Supporting schools across the country with STEM programs like AI (artificial intelligence) racing clubs or the MERIT Health Leadership Academy in Baltimore, Maryland, where Optum team members provided more than 250 volunteer hours to address diversity in health care. MERIT empowers students from under-represented backgrounds to become health professionals and change agents who advance equity.
- Working with more than 100 Employee Community Councils and Connected Cities to advance equity, diversity and inclusion.
In 2021, pro bono volunteers gave 75k hours of skills-based volunteering and $17 million in estimated financial impact to our partner organizations. In total, Optum pro bono efforts impacted over 870K lives.
Meet our Health Ambassador
Doing good for your health comes in many forms
Press release
Optum and John Muir Health collaborate to support critical community services
Optum employees are providing $1 million in pro bono services to improve people’s health and wellness in the Bay Area, in partnership with John Muir Health.
Article
Advancing health equity through better maternal health outcomes
An Optum team member shares her doula experience and how companies can advance health equity.
Press release
LGBTQ+ education program for providers
Optum Health Education, in partnership with OutCare Health, has launched a publicly available education program for providers to help ensure a more equitable and supportive health care environment for LGBTQ+ people.