Ace Your UnitedHealth Group Interview: 320+ Sample Questions to Prepare

Interviews can be daunting, but with the right preparation, you can sail through them smoothly. If you’re applying for a position at UnitedHealth Group, one of the largest healthcare companies in the world, it’s essential to be well-prepared for the interview. In this comprehensive guide, we’ve compiled over 300 potential interview questions and answers to help you ace your UnitedHealth Group interview.

Understanding UnitedHealth Group

Before we dive into the interview questions, let’s briefly discuss UnitedHealth Group. Founded in 1977 and headquartered in Minnetonka, Minnesota, UnitedHealth Group is a diversified healthcare company that operates two distinct businesses:

1. UnitedHealthcare: This division offers a full range of health insurance benefits, including Medicare and Medicaid plans, employer-sponsored health plans, and individual health insurance.

2. Optum: This division provides healthcare services and technology solutions aimed at empowering people and healthcare providers with tools and guidance to achieve optimal health.

UnitedHealth Group serves more than 27.2 million Americans and an additional 8 million people worldwide.

UnitedHealth Group Interview Questions and Answers

UnitedHealth Group’s interview process is designed to assess your skills, knowledge, and fit for the role you’re applying for. The questions may vary depending on the position, but here’s a comprehensive list of potential questions you might encounter:

Behavioral Questions

Behavioral questions are designed to evaluate how you’ve handled specific situations in the past, as they can provide insights into how you might approach similar situations in the future.

1. We seek to hire individuals who embrace integrity, which is one of our company’s values. When have you demonstrated integrity on the job?

Integrity is critical in all of the work that UnitedHealth Group performs, particularly as it pertains to patient privacy and confidentiality. Honoring commitments and always taking the ethical high ground with integrity is one of the company’s core values, and you will be expected to live this value every day as an employee with the company.

In posing this question, your interviewer wants to be sure that you will always be honest and ethical in the work you will be doing. They want to hear you discuss a time when you had to show a high degree of integrity. Discuss the mental approach you took to ensure doing the right thing was easy for you.

Answer Example: “Early in my career, a colleague of mine faxed patient information to a doctor’s office, but the sent confirmation never came back. She then noticed she had faxed it to the wrong location. Of course, this is something that needs to be reported. After telling me about her error, she told me that she wasn’t going to report it. I talked through the initial fear of admitting the mistake to our supervisor and reminded her that ultimately this was against HIPAA guidelines. She finally agreed to tell our supervisor, the incident was reported to the patient, and protocols were followed. It was a simple mistake, but the consequences required us to do the right thing. I want you to be assured that medical ethics is something I take very seriously and would bring to the UnitedHealth Group team at all times.”

1. Have you ever had to go above and beyond the call of duty on the job in the past? What do you think are some ways team members at UnitedHealth Group do this?

UnitedHealth Group’s mission in seeking to enhance the overall health care system and improve the overall health and well-being of the people they serve often requires going the extra mile, far beyond a standard job description.

Try to think of a time when you took the initiative to think outside the box and go above what was required of you to provide a great result or satisfy a customer. As you answer, it’s important to explain why you decided to take this action. Then, make sure to speak to UHG’s core values of innovation and performance as you explain the ways that the role you are interviewing for could go the extra mile.

Answer Example: “Yes, I certainly have and am always willing and ready to do so as part of the UnitedHealth Group team to help satisfy a client. I know that they are the lifeblood of your success and can envision that your team works tirelessly to research claim inquiries and ensure that quick payment recovery occurs for clients. Looking back over the last five years of my career in my current role, I think of one particular client I was supporting who was having a lot of trouble reading and deciphering billing statements and insurance charges they were receiving. Knowing that this elderly individual was lost in the process, I read through her statements with her and noticed that there were likely some coding errors that could alter what was actually being covered by insurance. I encouraged her to call the provider’s office to clarify, and I was sure glad I did because a majority of her re-coded things ended up being covered. I was certainly happy to provide this extra service for her.”

1. How would you be able to handle the day-to-day stresses that come with working here?

In their work around the world with government entities, employers, and providers, UnitedHealth Group provides care for 152 million people. No matter what position you are being considered for there, the large volume of current work and future innovations will make for a demanding workload. Being able to successfully manage the expected stress from a high workload is a skill your interviewer will want to understand that you have, so they pose this question.

The best way to answer a question like this is to discuss positions you’ve held that came with a lot of stress and then elaborate on how you managed that stress. Try to focus on your ability to prioritize tasks and stay focused on one thing at a time. This is also a great time to mention the things that you feel might be stressful about the job you are interviewing for with UHG and the ways you focus your personal life on being stress-free at work.

Answer Example: “Over the past four years of my career coming out of college, I’ve received a crash course in how to handle a high-paced and high-stress work environment. For me personally, handling high-pressure work comes down to my ability to stay organized and focused on one task at a time. I utilize my calendar and a task list to keep me on track with deadlines and important meetings. If things become too overwhelming in my work, I stay in communication with my colleagues and my manager. A primary care clinic like this can be very busy at times from what I understand from the team here today, and I would come to UnitedHealth Group ready to successfully navigate those challenges and ensure all patients walk away with a smile on their face.”

1. Working at UnitedHealth Group, there are many emotions that staff can experience in a day. Have your emotions ever been in the way of your productivity on the job?

One of UnitedHealth Group’s core values is compassion, and they display this in the way they listen, value, and respect all voices. If your role there will be client-facing, you will be working closely with insured members or patients who could be in sickness or financial hardship. While working with them in empathy, their situation can directly impact your emotions.

It will be vital for your interviewer to know that you will never let your emotions get in the way of your work, so they pose this question. This is the time to talk about the parts of your previous jobs where letting your emotions get the best of you would have been easy, but you fought through it to work hard and provide great results. Ensure your interviewer that you are aware of what aspects of the job could become emotionally demanding and talk about how you will combat that with UnitedHealth Group.

Answer Example: “No, I have never let my emotions take over my work in the past, and want you to know that I would always remain focused on the task at hand as part of the UnitedHealth Group team. In my career in the family practice setting, I’ve worked with patients who were suffering from some debilitating conditions, and it was difficult to see areas of their lives impacted by the conditions. I know that my role was to always provide hope and promise through treatments and the patients I worked with relied upon my ability to do so. In this role, maintaining a compassionate and educational approach with patients in tough situations will always be my approach.”

1. How would you describe the personality that you would bring to our team?

The people of UnitedHealth Group are dedicated to their mission of helping drive affordability, accessibility, and quality of care for millions of people. The culture promotes career growth, exceptional performance, personal empowerment, and recognition of contributions. Because their openings can be competitive, the organization will ensure the person they hire will be able to handle all technical aspects of the job. The decision on who to hire can often come down to who is the best fit for the team and culture, so your interviewer wants to hear you describe your personality to gauge this fit.

As you paint an honest picture of your personality, make sure to tie it to your ability to live UHG’s core values and mission.

Answer Example: “If I’m fortunate enough to the join at UnitedHealth Group, you’ll quickly find that I’m an empathetic and caring person at heart. This drove my career into the healthcare business. I’m also very motivated and driven in my work, as noted through my advancement in my career to this point. This role just seems like such a great next step for and I’m confident that I would come aboard this team, get acclimated well and be the ultimate team play here for years to come.”

1. If hired here, how can we keep you motivated and engaged, even on the days when you feel your work goes unnoticed?

When working behind the scenes for members at UnitedHealth Group, it can sometimes feel like your work will go unnoticed by those who matter. This is especially true for the many remote and telework positions the company utilizes.

In asking this question, your interviewer would like to know how they could continue to motivate you, even on the hardest of days. This question is a great opportunity for your interviewer to get to know you and your work style a bit better, so be open and honest about how you like to be recognized and motivated on the job.

It’s important to know that UHG fosters and sustains a high-performing culture where team members feel empowered, so be sure to highlight how you will enjoy being a part of this environment.

Answer Example: “Motivation in my work comes from helping people when they need it the most and being part of a bigger team that is working towards larger goals. As I looked for new opportunities to consider, UnitedHealth Group jumped out to me because of your core values. The two that really jumped out to me are innovation and relationships and it’s pretty easy to see that this team works together cohesively and comes up with great ideas. Outside of these things, I love enjoying big wins together as a team and I’m a firm believer in recognizing individuals for their efforts that lead to great results.”

1. At UnitedHealth Group, we believe in continuous feedback from our members, customers, and network of providers. Tell me about a time you received constructive feedback on the job. What did you do after hearing this?

Each year, UnitedHealth Group puts out a National Account Client Survey to gain insight on how to improve their health plan experience. On top of this, the company is always open to feedback on their claims, billing, and other important processes that both providers and members experience. This seeking of continuous improvement also extends to the staff of the company, so it will be important for your interviewer to understand how you handle feedback in your work.

In asking this question, your interviewer ideally wants to hear that you can take criticism without getting your feelings hurt and turn that criticism into a positive outcome. Be open and honest about a time you received feedback and make sure to focus on the mindset you had following that and the improvement that you made because of it.

Answer Example: “Early in my career as an actuary, I was inadvertently not following a company procedure on proper documentation and filing of work that my department was doing and it wasn’t noticed by my manager until I had been on the job for almost six months. She sat me down and went through the procedure in full and I of course was very apologetic. As it turned out, my orientation didn’t fully cover this procedure and, since I was working away from our home office, it had gone unnoticed. Fortunately, I had saved all of my work in a secure place and was able to e-file it accordingly in very short order. Coming aboard here at UnitedHealth Group, I would focus my initial weeks on the job on proper documentation of work records to ensure this would never happen again.”

Direct Questions

Direct questions are straightforward and require a clear, concise answer.

1. In order to work here, you must be able to pass a criminal background check. Will you consent to a full background check upon hire?

According to their career site, both a drug test and background check are a part of the onboarding and pre-employment screening process at UnitedHealth Group. Additionally, if you will be involved in direct patient care, the state you are working in will require additional background check processes.

This is a common question the company likes to ask to ensure that their top candidate will be willing to consent to a full background check and be able to pass their guidelines. If you have any marks on your criminal background, now is the time to disclose those. If any blemishes are found, your honesty about them during your interview process could mean a greater chance that the company will still hire you.

Speak openly about your ability to pass UHG’s background check and your willingness to comply with all steps of the onboarding process.

Answer Example: “Yes, I would be so excited to accept an offer from UnitedHealth Group and comply with all pre-employment processes you require. In my current role, I’m required to submit to random drug screenings, and am happy to say that I am both alcohol and drug-free. Four years ago, I did receive a speeding violation and paid my fine right away. This does show up on criminal background checks and wanted you to be aware.”

1. What do you know about UnitedHealth Group and what have you learned so far in this interview?

UnitedHealth Group wants to be assured that the person they hire is a solid long-term fit that fits into their mission-focused team and high-performing culture that has helped their business thrive since 1977. To get at your sense of passion and commitment, your interviewer wants to hear you discuss what you know and have learned about the company and that you see it as a great long-term fit for yourself.

Showing that you’ve done your research on the organization will go a long way in proving your desire to learn more and thrive there. Also, be sure to highlight additional things you learned during your interview that further impress you about UHG and your future potential there.

Answer Example: “UnitedHealth Group’s rich and innovative history is certainly inspiring and I learned all about the history here from a current staff member that I know well. To read about and hear about your rise to the number five spot on the Fortune 500 list is certainly something that I would love to be a part of in the future. The interview process has certainly opened my eyes more to the wonderful workplace culture this team has and how collaboration with different work units makes bigger things happen daily. I have no doubt that a future with UnitedHealth Group would be personally and professionally fulfilling for me.”

Discovery Questions

Discovery questions are designed to help the interviewer better understand your motivations, goals, and how you might fit into the role and company culture.

1. Tell me about yourself.

At UnitedHealth Group, they foster a healthy and high-performing culture where all team members are empowered in their work. This dynamic atmosphere built on great relationships and a strong sense of compassion has built the company from the ground up starting in Minnesota back in 1974 to the $371 billion net revenue giant they are today.

Beyond the work that you will be doing there every day, it will be important for your interviewer to gauge how you will fit in with the team you will be joining and the overall atmosphere of the company to help further their business success into the future.

This is your chance to give a full picture of yourself, so consider your answer to be a window to you. You can certainly talk about your interests, passions, and hobbies, just ensure that you show your genuine interest in what you do and your ability to bring that same passion to work at UnitedHealth Group.

Answer Example: “I’m a person that thrives on being active and helping others, both qualities that were instilled in me by my parents and older siblings growing up. I’m very active in sports, I like to play softball and swim as much as I can. I also love to hike and camp in remote places with a group of friends. I also volunteer at the local humane society when I can, helping to bathe the animals and walk dogs. A future at UnitedHealth Group is so exciting to me because of the opportunity to work closely with your members and help make a difference in their lives.”

1. Why do you want to work for UnitedHealth Group?

While a majority of your interview will be focused on the skills you would bring to the job at UnitedHealth Group, an equally important piece for the team you will be joining is a long-term commitment to the organization and a drive to join its mission in the future.

Make sure to come to your interview prepared to talk about the things that most interest you about working there. Whether it’s the actual job you will be performing, their mission/values, or the bigger mission you will be serving, make sure your interviewer walks away from your time together knowing that you are committed to a future there. Whether you choose to focus on things like their core values of integrity, compassion, and innovation or the opportunity to join a company that manages over $250 billion in healthcare spending worldwide, make sure to exude passion as you answer.

1. If you were hired today, what would you want to accomplish first in your initial days on the job?

When it comes to hiring, onboarding, and training new staff, UnitedHealth Group is a very well-oiled machine given the sheer volume of positions they recruit yearly. Knowing that you’ll have a robust orientation period per their career site, your interviewer wants to hear about your own thoughts and aspirations on what you’d like to accomplish in