By TRACEY DRURY
tdrury@bizjournals.com | 716-541-1609

UnitedHealthcare is hiring again, this time with plans to bring an additional 75 workers onto the payroll at its Tonawanda center.

The new-hires will bring to 200 the total number hired in 2011 at the site, most in the areas of customer service, claims processing and case management.

The facility off Colvin Parkway opened in 2005 with 300 employees. Now totaling more than 500, workers there support the company's employer and individual health plan business throughout the state and nationwide.

The company, part of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH), serves more than 38 million members nationwide, including 3.6 million New York residents through both commercial employer plans and government plans, such as Medicare and Medicaid. The majority of members are located outside Western New York.

In a statement, company officials said growth in the workforce is expected to continue.

"We are excited about our continued growth in the community and appreciate our business partners' and employees' help in filling these critical positions," said Karen Bogdan, site director. "We look forward to welcoming more employees into the UnitedHealthcare family in the coming months."