GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. - (Business Wire)
OptumHealth Inc. today announced that it has named Don Yee president of its Vision business, which offers the fastest growing managed vision care plan in the nation with more than 18 million participants and 27,000 providers. Yee has more than 20 years of experience in growing health-related businesses. In the last ten years he focused on improving how vision care is delivered to consumers.
In his new role, Yee will lead the overall growth and direction of the Vision business which includes its optical lab and retail businesses. OptumHealth Vision is a market leader in providing full coverage of contact lenses and reducing costs to the consumer – a true benefit considering consumers are facing increased out-of-pocket expenses. In fact, in 2006 (the most recent data available) consumers spent $26 billion in vision care, an increase from the previous year. 1
“Consumers are faced with difficult economic times, but they can still find the right vision care,” Yee said. “OptumHealth has been improving the health and wellbeing of people for many years and this is what I am passionate about. I’m glad to be on the OptumHealth leadership team, and look forward to what we can achieve on behalf of all our customers and members in the months to come. Outstanding eye care is important to every individual’s health and wellness and I am excited to be part of making it better for every single person through our programs and services.”
“From leading top health care companies and transforming multi-site optical labs to consulting with Fortune 500 companies over the past 20 years, Don is an experienced and well-known leader who is well-respected domestically and internationally in the vision industry,” said Diane Souza, president of OptumHealth Specialty Benefits. “We could not have asked for a better executive to lead this business. I look forward to the many contributions Don will make toward delivering innovative vision solutions to our customers, while implementing key growth strategies, building teams and continuing our momentum.”
Prior to joining OptumHealth Specialty Benefits, Yee was CEO of the VSP Family of Companies including VSP Optical Labs, Altair Eyewear, and Eyefinity. He also held other senior executive positions at VSP focused on strategic business development, marketing, client services and account management, provider services and industry relations. In addition, he was the founding president and CEO of Eyefinity, the eye care industry’s top Internet-based practice management services company. Yee holds a Master of Business Administration from Stanford University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of California at Berkeley.
About OptumHealth Specialty Benefits
OptumHealth Specialty Benefits offers a broad array of specialty benefits, including vision, dental, group and voluntary insurance, worksite individual insurance and non-insurance programs. It is a division within OptumHealth, the health and wellbeing business of UnitedHealth Group, Inc. (NYSE: UNH). More information about OptumHealth Specialty Benefits can be found at www.optumhealth.com.
1 5 Jobson, Consumer Perception of Managed Vision Care, 2007 – September 2006 Data Trended with December 2005, 2004 & 2003 Data
OptumHealth
Molly McMillen
Sr. Manager, External Communications
763-797-4559
