If you’ve paid any attention to Medicare Insurance over the years, you’ve surely seen advertising for AARP Medicare Supplement Insurance by United Healthcare. Read on to find out what all the hoopla is about.
In this article we’ll discuss:
- Who Is United Healthcare
- Requirements of all Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans
- Extra Benefits Provided By United Healthcare Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans
- How Much Do AARP Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans Cost?
- Which Medicare Supplement Plans Does United Healthcare Offer?
- How To Enroll In AARP Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan By United Healthcare
Who Is United Healthcare?
United Healthcare is a wholly-owned subsidiary of United Health Group, the largest healthcare company in the world. It operates as a for-profit corporation headquartered in Minnesota. United Healthcare is rated “A” by A.M. Best and “AA-” by S&P for financial stability.
United Healthcare is also well known for their non-Medicare Health Insurance Plans, including employer-provided group health insurance. United Health Group, the parent organization, also owns Optum, a technology-focused pharmacy manager.
United Healthcare issues Medicare Supplement Insurance policies which are endorsed by AARP, a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering people to choose how to live as they age. They are the only Supplement Plans (also known as Medigap Policies) endorsed by AARP.
Requirements of all Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans
To enroll in any Medicare Supplement Plan certain requirements must be met including:
- You must be enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B
- You must continue to pay your Part B premium
- You cannot be enrolled in Medicare Advantage
- You must obtain prescription drug coverage from a standalone Part D Drug Plan
- Most States require you to be age 65 or older
Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans are standardized across 47 States. All the features of the various standardized Plans are identical across these States. Every insurer, however, has the right to offer additional benefits with their Medigap Plans, though this is not required.
Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Massachusetts have implemented their own Medicare Supplement Plans. Regardless of which State you reside in, or which Medicare Supplement Plan you enroll in, you will have the ability to see any doctor who accepts Medicare patients.
Extra Benefits Provided By United Healthcare Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans
AARP Medicare Supplement Plans from United Healtcare come with extra benefits included. These benefits can vary by state, but generally include:
- Gym Benefits (Silver Sneakers in some states, gym discount programs in others)
- Vision discounts on both exams, through EyeMed, and frames,through Lenscrafters
- Nurse Healthline (speak directly with a Registered Nurse 24 hours a day, everyday)
AARP offers a lot of other services like AARP’s Life Insurance through New York Life, but there are no discounts for buying all your coverage through AARP.
How Much Do AARP Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans Cost?
Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans are sold by private insurance companies. These companies set their own premiums (subject to regulatory approval). United Healthcare’s premiums may be based on any or all of the following:
- Issue Age
- Renewal Age
- Tobacco use
- Expected versus anticipated claims paid (actuarial experience)
Medicare Supplement Insurance companies have the right to adjust premiums periodically, and frequently do. Generally, premiums are less expensive the younger you are, and increase as you get older, although other factors also affect premiums.
If you’re looking for the best pricing on medicare supplement insurance plans, we recommend choosing one of the brokers below who will compare AARP & United Health Care’s plans to the rest of the market:
AARP Medicare Supplement Insurance by United Healthcare – Discounts
United Healthcare offers a number of discounts to their standard premiums:
- Enrollment Discounts (Save up to 36% depending on issue age and premium class)
- Electronic Funds Transfer (ETF) Discount – save $2 per month when you authorize automatic payment via ETF
- Rate Guarantee – your premium rate is guaranteed for 12 months after your enrollment
- Annual Premium Discount – If you pay your premium annually, you’ll receive a discount of $24 off your annual premium. (Cannot be combined with ETF discount)
Which Medicare Supplement Plans Does United Healthcare Offer?
United Healthcare offers all the standardized Medicare Supplement Plans specified by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the fifty States: Plans A, B, C, D, F, High Deductible F, G, K. L, M, and N, although they don’t offer them in every State.
Plans F, G, and N are the most popular with Medicare Beneficiaries.
AARP Medicare Supplement Plan F
Plan F is the most comprehensive of the available Plans and provides the following benefits:
- 100% coverage of Part A and B deductible
- 100% coverage of excess charges
- 100% of Medicare Part B co-insurance (under Original Medicare, Beneficiaries are responsible for 20% of Part B expenses, with no annual out of pocket maximum (OOPM)).
- Nursing home coverage
- Foreign travel emergency coverage, up to Plan limits
Plan F is a great choice for those who desire total comprehensiveness of coverage. In exchange for higher premiums, Beneficiaries can have piece of mind that 100% of Medicare-approved expenses will be covered by the Plan.
AARP Medicare Supplement Plan G
Plan G offers nearly identical benefits as Plan F, except that Plan G does not cover the Part B deductible. Beneficiaries are responsible for the first $185 (2019 amount, subject to yearly adjustment by CMS) of Part B services.
For 2020 and beyond, Plan G will offer the most comprehensive coverage available in a Medicare Supplement Insurance policy. For 2019, this is an excellent Plan for those who want comprehensive coverage for a lower monthly premium than Plan F.
AARP Medicare Supplement Plan N
Plan N shares many of the features of Plans F and G, but closes the Part B Coverage Gap using small co-pays:
- Up to $20 co-pay for office visits
- Up to $50 co-pay for emergency visits
- Does NOT cover Part B excess-charges (fees from physicians who don’t accept “Medicare assignment,” and limited to 15% above Medicare-set prices). You can find out whether your doctor accepts Medicare Assignment before you incur any charges.
Plan N is an excellent choice for Beneficiaries who are willing to pay some out of pocket expenses in exchange for lower monthly premiums.
Like all Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan insurers, United Healthcare’s Plans are Guaranteed Renewable each year, which means that as long as you pay your premiums, you cannot be cancelled.
A Note On AARP Medicare Supplement Plans C, F, and G
Medicare Beneficiaries who become eligible for Medicare after January 1, 2020 will no longer be able to enroll in Plans C, F, or High Deductible F. Beneficiaries who already have Plans C, F, or High Deductible F will always be able to keep them if they desire.
Beneficiaries who are already eligible before January 1, 2020 will always be able to enroll in these Plans, even if they have not previously been enrolled in these Plans. Their right to do so in the future is preserved, although underwriting may apply if no Guaranteed Issue Right exits.
Additionally, beginning in 2020 a High Deductible Plan G (HDG) will be available. HDG functions just like regular Plan G except that a deductible of $2,180 must be met before the Plan will pay benefits. Because of the deductible, the premium will be less than regular Plan G.
Can I Switch From One Supplement Insurance Plan To Another?
Most people have a Guaranteed Issue Right to purchase a Medicare Supplement Insurance policy when they initially enter Medicare. You cannot be declined during this period and generally pay the lowest rate.
If you want to purchase a Medigap Plan, or switch to a different one, after your Guaranteed Issue period has expired you may be subject to medical underwriting, and may be declined, unless you qualify for an exception.
How To Enroll In AARP Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan By United Healthcare
Once you have decided which standardized Plan is best for you, it’s easy to enroll. An Independent Agent can help you enroll in several ways:
- Online, through the secure United Healthcare website
- Over the phone, using the same secure website
- Paper application, whether face to face, or through the mail
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