AARP UHC Medicare Supplement Renew Active Benefit

As long as you're enrolled in Original Medicare, Part A and Part B, you can apply for a Medicare Supplement insurance plan anytime.  Now if you have extra Medigap protection coverage as to the need for underwriting or when you have more freedoms and rights to change Medigap plans, your state rules may give you extra protections over the Federal rules.

Buying or switching Medigap coverage doesn’t have a Federally legislated rule outside of the initial enrollment period.

Check your state law (usually under the Dept of Insurance or Finance) as to any special rights you have to switch your Medigap policy otherwise you may have to go thru underwriting to change plans - may or may not be a big deal depending on your current health or any pre-existing conditions.

Actual Medigap coverage is based on Federal law - each of the plans are described as to how they work with Traditional Medicare - Parts A & B.  A Medigap policy is not health insurance, it is financial protection insurance that works with Traditional Medicare and covers some or most all of your out of pocket cost that Traditional Medicare does no cover - nor is there an annual or lifetime limit to these out of pocket cost under Traditional Medicare.  A Medigap policy will prevent a Traditional Medicare beneficiary from experiencing a financial catastrophic medical event up to the limits of the Medigap policy which they have chosen to protect them.

Auxilliary benefits may be offered by the insurer of the plan but they are not contractual and the disclosure in each policy that contains them should be read very carefully.  These auxiliary benefits could include some dental, vision or hearing benefits or health and wellness like gym memberships and usage.  The AARP/UHC Medicare Supplemental Plan contains the following language:

 I'm new to Medicare and had been enjoying the benefits at Stretch Lab and The Bar Method and was looked forward to trying Club Pilates. when I went to schedule my next stretch today I saw that the Stretch Lab benefit is no longer available, nor is Club Pilates.  I'm VERY disappointed and also upset that we were never informed of these changes! 

Access to these gyms was the primary reason I joined United Healthcare and have now I've opted to go go elsewhere.  My understanding is that too many AARP members accessed this benefit and rather than expanding this extremely popular program, UHC decided to unilaterally and shortsightedly, eliminate the benefit for reasons that were never explained. Though one can imagine that it was likely part of some sort of a cost slashing effort undertaken to increase the profitability of an already HIGHLY successful organization. 

As far as I can tell, AARP's response to the elimination of this wonderful benefit for it's membership has been, at best, ambivalent. And please don't respond to me with a "we're listening" comment, it's not enough.

As an aside: This benefit is available through certain Silver&Fit programs when accessed through health insurance carriers other than UHC.  HOWEVER, if you access the Silver&Fit program through AARP's portal the list of participating gyms does not include the premium gyms that were available through the UHC's Renew Active program.  I'm sure AARP can easily have these gyms included and allow it's membership to gain, at the very least, discounted access. Very frustrating!

I am also extremely disappointed that United Healthcare declined to renew contracts with the premium gyms they have dropped, my biggest criticism is that they were not replaced by comparable products.  I am trying out the SolidCore option and find that it is not geared for seniors, and possibly could be dangerous.  This program requires a high level of flexibility, balance and the ability to move quickly between moves, with no rest periods or water breaks. The Pilates option was so much better for a senior body, and geared to all levels of fitness.  AARP should require a senior focus group to try out these workouts before they get added to the list.  I do appreciate having the option of some premier gyms, but in my area they cater to boxing which doesn’t interest me.  It would be so much better to have premium options that include different forms of exercise and classes.  I would think that putting times when these gyms are not busy anyway could be an option to include more programs.

is lifetime fitness still included with UHC supplemental plans