Health

For Medicare Supplemental plans, regardless of the insurer - your premiums can increase due to several different factors - some are policy specific (#1 & #2), others are based on market, usage and legal requirements (#3).  1. The (YOUR) Explanation of Coverage - this will explain any declining discount schedules and set amounts of increases, if applicable based on the policy.  This is the contract with the insurer.2. How your Medigap plan is rated - Community RatedAttained AgeIssue Age3. The (Your) State Dept of Insurance cause in most states, the state received the info for the premium increase from the insurance companies like amount of claims (amount paid out), amount of premiums paid in, and amount that is kept in reserve per the law and their forward looking requirements that may already be in the pipeline.   Do these increases all have to happen at the same time?  NO (#1 & #2 ) goes by your specific data - your Medigap insuranc

June is Brain Awareness Month, a great time to focus on building lifelong, healthy habits. Explore the Brain Health 101 challenge from AARP® Staying Sharp®, built on the six pillars of brain health. It includes useful tools, including a sleep calculator, exercise videos and brainteasers. Take this challenge and spend time learning about strategies for achieving better sleep, relaxation and energy to help live your best life.   Visit AARP Staying Sharp for more information on brain health.

I am a senior, AARP member, a pharmacist, and still working in a hospital oncology department. I have been specifically working in oncology for around the last fifteen years. Unfortunately, as we get older, our chances of having a cancer diagnosis increase.Elderly Medicare patients that have worked their entire lives and paid into the Medicare system are now being denied treatments that are part of standard, specific to their disease state protocol, better tolerated by their age group, and life extending just because they are now requesting that certain genetic markers be present before approval. Most of these are immunotherapy treatments, one being Keytruda. FDA has approved these medications for several types of cancer because they have been shown to work, and the tumors are seen as highly susceptible to immune attack. These medications have been added as a part of the treatment protocols for these cancer types.The cancer treatment medications are part of specific protocols

To my fellow Senior Citizens, to those who have loved ones on Medicaid (parents in nursing homes), to those whose children receive CHIP, and to all Americans who expect healthcare once they reach 65, It appears the Republican budget bill awaiting a vote soon in the House of Representatives has the potential to cut a half TRILLION dollars from MEDICARE in addition to gutting Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program and the Affordable Care Act. I am attaching information below. You can Google for yourself. You may be interested in the links to the Congressional Budget Office analysis.https://democrats-budget.house.gov/news/press-releases/cbo-confirms-gop-budget-bill-triggers-medicare-cuts

Quality sleep, regular exercise and engaging your brain are habits that help support good brain health. Explore more healthy habits and fun ways to support your brain today. Visit AARP® Staying Sharp® for more brain health tips.  

If you go to a pharmacy and they hand you a prescription then tell you it cost $160, you have the choice of handing it back.  NOT WITH OPTUM RX.  Website said no co-pay.  Prescription recieved then credit card bill arrives with $160 charge.  Called Optum RX.  They will not accept any return nor issue any refund.  Called Regions Bank to dispute charge.  They refused to accept dispute but charge penalties and interest while reviewing my case and reported a late payment to credit bureaus.  The whole experience has been BAD!!!

The message keeps getting clearer: What’s good for the heart is good for the brain. Read this article for a deep dive into findings shared in a report by the Global Council on Brain Health, including recommendations for adults age 50 and older that may help preserve brain health. Ready to get started? Visit AARP® Staying Sharp® for more information on supporting brain health as you age.

As we get older, it’s normal to forget things here and there, and it doesn’t mean dramatic memory loss is inevitable. Learn about common memory lapses, explore quizzes and more in the AARP Staying Sharp Is My Memory Normal? challenge. Find more health tips at AARP® Staying Sharp® today, a member benefit.

Think brain health declines are inevitable? Think again. Research is breaking down common misconceptions about aging and cognitive function. Get the facts and take control of your brain health. Visit AARP® Staying Sharp® for more information on brain health.

Do you know your State law involving switching or picking up a Medigap plan AFTER your initial enrollment period. IF NOT - you need to review them to see what effect they have on you and your specific situation.

With the new public information concerning UHC practices, will AARP reconsider its partnership? Seniors depending on your recommendations now know that they may be faced with devastating decisions made by this provider

I recently switched my homeowners and car insurance to the Hartford through Aarp and have saved about $2700 per year with better coverage.  I had my sister Mary look into it and she's saving about $5400 per year. I seriously can't believe I didn't take advantage of this opportunity much  earlier.  

Just spent over an hour with customer care and NY Life AARP... i login and it says there is no account associated with my contract number. i go through 2 people and the last one is working with someone higher. after spending 45 minutes only focusing on ME, i told him, we have tried 2 browsers and 2 computers, it is not on my end, it is on YOUR END. Oh, i just got a letter to change my beneficiary info, has my contract number right on the letter. anyone else having problem with the server on their end not finding your info?  He said he can see it, but i used to make webpages, sure, i can see anything and everything, but others cannot, the problem in on my side, server side. thanks for any positive help. He did put in a special ticket on it and said they will call me. i will be looking at other insurance or maybe a funeral account. at 65 my premiums are getting up there and that money would add up pretty quick. 

Why are you guys still in bed with UHC? When the killer of their CEO becomes a folk hero, shouldn't you folks get the hint that maybe the partnership with UHC might be a bit toxic? Are you folks that tone-deaf?Not a good look for you, that's for sure. I'm looking for Medicare and dental supplement plans, but your partnership with a company that uses AI to deny claims, that has the highest denial rate in the industry, gives me pause. Will you be partnering with other providers than UHC soon? I'd like to know.

 I was looking at the premium history for my AARP/UHC Plan G, which I've had for 3 years. I was surprised to see a 5% increase on my plan anniversary, because 3% was always in my head as the adjustment due to age that I agreed to when I signed up for the plan. I put a pencil to it. The 3% is the amount the discount declines, which actually results in a 5% increase in premium the first time it's applied. Here's the math. For simplicity, let's assume the "community rated" premium is $100 a month; this is the number the discount is applied to. Let's also assume that $100 premium stays the same over time, which of course isn't the case because premiums are allowed to increase due to increasing costs of providing the plan's benefits (caused by plan utilization, inflation, etc.). But for these purposes, keeping it at $100 will help illustrate what happens. I signed up for my plan when I was 65, at which time I was getting a 39% discount, resulting in a premium of $61

How often do you walk, stretch or play a sport? Staying active keeps your body and mind engaged. Try these easy exercises — even while watching TV! Find more health tips today at AARP® Staying Sharp®.

  My spouse is having trouble with retirement and we were trying to find out if there is any place that might be able to help.

  I do believe that there are UHC Medigap policies that are outside of the ones that are endorsed by AARP - wonder what the difference is in coverage and premiums.  Of course the [whatever] plan coverage would be the exact same since that part if under Federal law but are there other differences?  Wonder about the premiums.  Just thinking out loud - I may try to find out - Anybody interested in the results?

i  i turn 65 in two months. i am fully employed and plan on working another year and not taking social security until then. I am currently covered by my wife's employer insurance which is really good and reliable. anyway, we don't plan on leaving this situation for another year. everyone says i should enroll in part a but I am concerned that if i do our insurance will question why i am not using it. I don't want to call attention to this and would rather not opt for medicare at all at this time (because I expect the benefits to be greatly reduced OR the employer would question my participation and drop me and/or us). any pointers? thanks e.s.l. 

Whether it’s an unexpected bill, health challenge or life-changing event, stress affects us all. Discover how gratitude can be a powerful tool for handling life’s highs and lows. Explore our Find Your Calm guide today. Find more health tips at AARP® Staying Sharp® today.

My wife and I are on an ACA plan. In June I move to Medicare. Will my wife be able to move to a new ACA provider (preferrable) or choose a different plan with the current provider? My health is worse than my wife and the plan we chose was based on my issues. I know the plan cost will change with just my wife but we would like my wife to go to a cheaper plan. I want to be as informed as possible before I start making calls.

Just got notice from UHC on new rates starting in June '25 and Oct '25,TWICE this year again, like previous years. June increase is $18, for next 4 months. Oct increase is another $7.60, till May 2026. The arguments/concerns posted by TimS766530 Contributor  in 10-2024 still remain RELEVANT.I'll be exploring other options for Medigap, as I hardly ever use the UHC policy I have now. Why enrich the C-suite at UHC?

Hello Folks,I have a situation that is very atypical, as far as I can tell. I am a US citizen since I was born, even though I was born overseas – due to having a US citizen father who worked abroad for most of his life. My mother is not a US citizen, both my father and mother lived overseas for most of their life (father still lives overseas to this day).My father and mother divorced many years ago. Many years after the divorce, my mother started to receive Social Sec (small payment every month) and Medicare Benefits while living overseas due to have been married to my father. My mother is in her 80s now; and few years ago, I sponsored my mother to come to the US (i-551 or green card).Currently, my mother receives a small Soc. Sec payment every month and is enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B. However, I have to pay every month for her medicare supplemental plan (Part F). Normally, if you sponsors someone (a parent) to come to the US, you would be considered liable (as a sponsor) fo

Medigap Insurance coverage (Medicare Supplemental Insurance) is optional extra coverage that pays some or all of your Traditional Medicare out of pocket cost. Many, maybe most or all, insurers are adjusting their Medigap premiums in 2025 - This isn’t unique to UHC.   If you can shop around, do so - but that means that either you live in a state that has expanded their guaranteed issue rights or you can pass underwriting.  Underwriting rules are based on the insurer - strict or more lenient - an independent  Medicare Insurance broker would be knowledgeable about this for the insurers they represent.   In many states, the respective dept of insurance has good info for the beneficiary consumer on Medigap plans.  Like this one from the State of Nevada.Nevada DOI.gov - 2025 MEDICARE SUPPLEMENT INSURANCE PREMIUM COMPARISON GUIDE  General knowledge of all of the different Medigap plans is a MUST before making the decision about which to p

1st question:  Do you think that the whole program of Medicare is a good value to you - meaning pretty complete for the price you pay? As the header question said:  What, if any, improvements would you want to make to the Medicare program ? Like adding dental, vision and hearing or anything else.Better drug coverage? Like having a maximum out of pocket - annual or lifetime - with added coverage after reaching this point.  What would that figure be? Like lower Part B premiums or deductible or none at all?Like lower Part A deductible per incident or none at all? Would you include changes to your home to make it easier for you to live there?  Like ramps, widening doors, etc  Would you include some activities of daily living care?  For how long? Whatever you think the program might need to be an improvement for you. Now, next question - How Much Would You Be Willing To Pay for The things you listed?