Health

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

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  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. 

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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?

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FROM THE ARTICLE: How Enrollees Feel About Their Medicare Advantage Plans. By Teresa A. Keenan, AARP Research & Laura Mehegan, AARP Research.Published April 08, 2025. An AARP Research study of Medicare Advantage beneficiaries 66 and older shows high satisfaction rates among those who identify themselves as being in very good or excellent health — although those who self-identify as being in poor or fair health express less satisfaction with their plan. USE LINK BELOW TO READ THE ARTICLE: https://www.aarp.org/pri/topics/health/coverage-access/medicare-advantage-enrollee-views/

Hello all, seems AARP are not the advocates they claim to be. With a perfect driving record and over ten years of loyalty to the auto insurance program, my new documents were just delivered. A 33% increase in my policy premiums? Every one with the Hartford Auto program better read their new policy documents carefully. Let me guess what the AARP response will be. Auto premiums are set by the insurance companies and we have no control over that. What's the point of supporting AARP then?

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My physician has prescribed Wegovy for increasing adverse heart related conditions which continue to deteriorate. I have AARP Preferred Part D drug plan and was denied despite showing my Calcium Score being 191 along with elevated heart rate, angina, dyslipedemia and many other heart related symptoms in addition to a BMI of 34, sleep apnea and elevated risk of stroke. With this drug proven to improve my chances of improving my health and prevent a stroke or heart attack, why to I get denied coverage? Do I have to experience an adverse heart event to be approved?

12.7 % in Arizona averaged husband and wife.  Wasn't expecting such a high increase.  We do not have the Plus plan or whatever that is discounted in the early years.  That plan basically phases out the discount for add ons that we chose not to take.  So this is just straight G coverage only.   For those that have been in the plan longer, (this is our first rate increase), what were you seeing over the years.  Anyone know where there this is a historical table?  

 I recently learned that United Healthcare had the highest rate of denials for claims of the major players in the industry. Do you know this at AARP and if so, why would you endorse them? Price for healthcare should not be the only consideration which I would think you have checked but now I wonder if you check denial rates or other factors involved in purchasing this insurance. My membership is up for renewal and I'm very reluctant to renew considering this? Could you please respond?   Tom Bolonchuk

It's been 2 months now and there are 3 known claims that are not showing up and 1 claim that is showing up but it's still in process more than 60 days later. I called UHC medicare advantage and they said they haven't gotten the claims. I called both providers to verify they filled within a week and shows pending insurance. UHC representative called my providers to ask them to resubmitt the the claims. That was 2 weeks ago and still not showing as claims. Can someone please explain why this may be happening? 

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A mere 19% after 12.7% last year.  This is not what I expected based on what I knew when I signed up.  Posting this here as reference as a follow up to my post on the 2024 increase.  

I recieved a letter in mid june 2020 stating that UHC had sent me a check for $522.68 for overcharges on my drugs purchased through OPTUMRX and my local pharmacy that has never been cashed. They included a form to have OPTUMRX and UHC re-cut a check for the $522.68 and it was sent on july 1,2020. They said that once it was recieved, it would be processed and re-issued in 7 - 10 business days and I should recieve it in 30 days thus I should have recieved by mid-august. It is now mid-september and still no check, just a runaround when I inquire when check was sent and when i should recieve. I have now contacted the Attorney General in the State of Nebraska's medicare fraud division to file a formal complaint. I had UHC- AARP medicare complete HMO and was getting all my statements to my current address thru December 2019 when I moved my coverage to Humana medicare HMO. As of today, September 15, 2020, I have not recieved the refund check for the overcharges on the OPTUMRX perscriptions.

 I thought AARP was supposed to watch out for seniors but am starting to think it is a scam. I had to join AARP to take out the UHC Plan G+ in Sept 2024 and was paying $147.29 and rec’d a letter today saying my premium is going up to $166.66 starting in Sept 2025. Who is advocating for us? I am already penalized for being a widow who lives alone with no other person in my home having UHC.  Does UHC always jack up the premiums after your first year to this extent? I will be 68 in June with no chronic health issues.

FROM THE ARTICLE: What happens when my Medicare premiums are higher than my Social Security check?You may find your benefit payments zeroed out — and that you owe money for Part B. By Linda Dono, AARP. Reviewed by Stephen Richardson. Published April 10, 2025. More than 100,000 people who have close to the 10-year minimum amount of work necessary to receive Social Security benefits can find themselves with a Medicare Part B premium bigger than their monthly Social Security payment.The result? They won’t get a check. USE THE LINK BELOW TO READ THE ARTICLE: https://www.aarp.org/social-security/faq/high-medicare-premiums-smaller-check.html