United Health Insurance premium increases

Have you looked into switching to a different supplement provider?

@lisaak 

Yes, health care inflation is high and it does affect the cost of health insurance.  But I am not so sure that it is the reason why your Medigap premiums are escalating.  Medigap coverage really is not health insurance.  Medigap insurers make NO decisions about your health care - the premise of Medigap is simple - IF Medicare pays, your supplemental plan pays in accordance to the plan you selected.

Medigap is financial protection insurance that is used ONLY with Original Medicare in order to protect you from any sort of a financially catastrophic medical event since OG Medicare does not have any limit on out of pocket cost.  

The (2) things that affect Medigap premiums are (1) RISK (2) USAGE

1.  Risk because in some states, they are expanding the risk loss ratio in Medigap plans because states are passing laws to allow those less than 65 who have Medicare because of a disability access to all or a wide range of Medigap plans and sometimes with no adjustment to the premiums charges.  So it UPs the risk loss ratio.

Same thing is true when the states pass laws to allow for switching plans without underwriting.  So people with high health care needs are switching plans to those that charge them less in premiums but yet they maybe using more care and cost.  It UPs the risk loss ratio - thus premiums have to be adjusted to cover this.

2.  Usage - it is no secret that Medicare beneficiaries, especially those with rich Medigap benefits, use their Medicare.  In fact, I just read an article the other day about how some seniors are waiting until they get on Medicare to check out some problem.  Of course, they pick a rich Medigap plan so that they have little out of pocket cost.

Then just by the sheer numbers of baby boomers, all getting older, are having more medical needs.  

OH, and BTW, it is states’ that approve any rate increases on Medigap plans. 

So depending on your state, you might be able to change your plan to one that is less expensive in premiums - and coverage would be the same if sticking with the same medigap plan.

Have you thought about switching to a High Deductible Plan G - premiums are very reasonable - usually less than $100 a month and even more usual, less than $60 a month.  There is a deductible to pay before your Plan G kicks in - in 2026, that deductible is $ 2950 but it includes the Part B deductible ($ 283 in 2026 and for which most people have to pay anyway), anything out of pocket that you pay and Medicare covers like the Part A deductible, any 20% co insurance, anything out of pocket that Medicare covers counts towards the deductible.  A lot of people never even reach this amount in a year but their HD-G plan premiums are very low.

I would not look to AARP to tackle health care cost - maybe they should direct their efforts to preventing cuts to Medicare come about 2032 when the HI (Part A) Trust Fund is scheduled to be in default - meaning paying out more in claims than the program has within its means.

Government already subsidizes much of health care cost in Medicare, Medicaid, ACA plans that have tax credits for those making less than 400% of the federal poverty level, Veteran Health Care and associated programs like CHAMPVA.