Health

Found out today that Lifetime Fitness has dropped AARP UHC Medicare's Advantage Plans from their clubs for 2025. They say they are now all “Premium” clubs and will not recognize Renew Active 

The latest AARP Bulletin discusses doing the heimlich on someone to dislodge whatever they are choking on. I tried doing this on my taller-than-me husband one evening when he was choked by a piece of steak but I couldn’t get my arms around him because he was so big around. He has lost 60 pounds since that evening six years ago but that event really scared me. Any good advice on how to help someone who is choked and too big for heimlich?

Engage your senses and experience the calming benefits of the outdoors with a simple walk. Bring a regional field guide to learn more about the nature around you. Remember — fresh air, even in colder weather, can be invigorating. Visit AARP® Staying Sharp® for more information on brain health.

On the medicare.gov website, I see star ratings for insurance plans but I see no opportunity to review a plan. Among other things, Wellcare Ins. Co. apparently cancelled my OTCH account with CVS thereby robbing me of my debit card balance for over the counter drug store products.

 I am 61 years old.  I retired in 2023 and receive a pension.  As part of that pension I am allowed to, and do, pay for the same health insurance that I was getting as an employee.  The difference is I must pay post tax instead of pretax.  Anyway, I have an HSA with substantial funds in it from when I was younger and had a low cost high deductible plan.  My current plan is not low cost high deductible. My question is, since I pay these premiums post tax, am I allowed to reimburse myself from my HSA?

This from Fast Company...If AARP wants to make a dent in the cost of prescription drugs, here where it can start: Pharmaceutical Benefits Managers Pharmaceutical Benefit Managers    

I've been following the complaints about the above-average denials for aftercare, especially the elderly (the Senate issued a scathing report on this). I'm considering AARP Gap Insurance, but now I don't know.

Beware of AARP United Healthcare. We were given a favorable quote over the phone so we signed up. When the actual first bill showed up, the premium had increased significantly. We were simply lied to and they swept it under the rug as a “rate increase” just 9 days after our coverage began. Had we known, we would have had an opportunity to shop around. Poor business practices.

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"Martin Yan - Healthy Body, Healty Mind" 

No where can I find where this is specifically addressed so hopefully I can at least get some thoughts here.I subscribe to a Medicare Supplement plan not a Medicare Advantage plan.I am entering my annual renewal phase and would consider changing to United Healthcare (but sticking with a supplement plan) specifically because United Healthcare touts additional benefits on their plan website that interest me. However, they do not specifically clarify under which plans these additional benefits are available.  Even my insurance agent has been unable to get a direct clarification.So, here goes: Does United Healthcare include Renew Active benefits with Medicare Supplement plans or only with Medicare Advantage Plans.  

I live in California and am covered by Medi-Cal. Is there anyone that has experienced any coverage problems?

I was told by Club Pilates, StretchLab and The Exercise Coach this morning that AARP/UHC has removed them as a gym for Renew Active for 2025.  As one who has benefited incredibly from these three providers, I am unbelievably disappointed in this decision. My health has gotten better and now they’re taking that away. I feel like it has been a bait and switch.  It blows my mind that they are taking away a benefit that is saving UHC money, in medication,  doctors office visits and hospitalizations.  Where is AARP to protect us and our health and interests?  And please don’t try to tell me that community gyms offer the same services as those three providers listed above. It is simply not the case. All of the providers have said that the information from UHC has been sparse. I spent a hour yesterday on hold just to talk to a representative. Who had no idea what I was talking about. Then I spent more time on a chat and that representative. Also had no idea what I was

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Hey all.I had a question. I'm on an old AARP Medicare Supplement Plan (C) through UHC that I signed up for in 2007. I'm thinking about changing to the current Plan G - also under UHC. The biggest difference seems to be that I will owe the Medicare Plan B deductible AND I will lose my wellness benefits. Does UHC in 2024 require underwriting when changing plans? I did have breast cancer in 2021 and I have kidney disease. I'm skittish about changing because I want to LOWER my premium, not raise or or lose the insurance all together.Any advice? Thanks

Mom (89) has had this plan for awhile - has gone through a broken hip/rehab and a couple of other falls with her coverage. She has not paid a premium as of yet. Dad (93), on the other hand, has kept original Medicare plus a Plan G supplement through Mutual of Omaha. They both see the same PCP. As his main financial 'advisor' I am ashamed to admit that I was unaware of this disparity between their coverages. But I am now fully aware because they are facing a choice: Reduce their budget or move to a different assisted living facility. His projected monthly premium for his Medicare + supplement is now $692. Moving him to the same plan as Mom will save them $8,304/year and prevent them from having to move.Since we are in the Open Enrollment period for a few days, are there any other plans I should compare to the AARP/UHC plan?

  As anyone with an AARP/UHC Medicare Supplemental plan ("Supplement Plan") originally purchased in one state then moved to another state and been able to either keep their original plan or at least not have to pay more than they would if had started in their new state?   I am moving from one state to another and have had a Supplement Plan for over 2 years.  After being told repeatedly by UHC Customer Service that I would since I had an existing Supplement Plan in a higher cost state and was moving to a lower cost state I could seamlessly move from one to the other and then get the lower premium plan.  That has turned out to be entirely wrong.  I have had to call Customer Service over 12 times to finally get to a knowledgable person.  I have been extremely disappointed with Customer Service.  Anyone else experience something like this?  Thank you 

I have been with united healthcare for many many years..never had a problem until now.  I am moving to a different state in 2025 so to be proactive, I called to let them know.  was told my new rate would be 133 from the 120 i am paying now.  I get a bill saying that as of oct my new rate is 185.  so I now owe 246.50.  I called and was told because as of oct I had moved.  no no no. as of jan 1 2025 is when I move.  and why was my new rate 185 when is was told 133.  opps. someone gave me wrong info and also made a mistake on my move.  when I called and had to talk to 4 different departments was finally told they could not correct the error and that they would put in a request that would take approximately 45 days.  what!! and even then they might not approve it.  it was their error and they might not give me my money back?? and the rate increase..well because I have been with them so long, I lose my loyaltydiscount.  the longer

Weather can make outdoor exercise challenging, but you can still get your recommended 30 minutes of daily activity. From dancing to yoga, explore a variety of indoor exercises you can do without any equipment. Get started with this article on indoor exercises. Visit AARP® Staying Sharp® for more information on brain health.

I usually like to couple canned and frozen to save time along with my fresh foods, but that's not always possible.  When rushed, I'm not making the best choices and over the years this has resulted in unnecessary weight gain.   Do you have any tips on some easy, comfort food that are also healthy for me? 

When I signed up for AARP UHC Plan G a few years ago, they didn’t have an option for declining the wellness benefits. It seem like they do now and it can save some money. I have been told you need to go through underwriting for this. Given that it is the same Plan G, why can’t you just decline the extra benefits (which I don’t use)?

 I hope everybody knows what a Medigap plan is. (Medicare Supplemental Plan) - It is NOT Medical insurance, it is financial protection insurance.  A Medigap plan makes NO health decisions, it’s ONLY function is to cover some or most all of your out of pocket cost on Traditional Medicare depending upon the Medigap plan that a beneficiary has chosen.   Why is a Medigap plan advisable when a beneficiary has chosen Traditional Medicare as to the way they want to get their benefits.  Simply because Traditional Medicare has NO limit as to a beneficiary’s out of pocket cost.  So unless one has a Medigap plan or some other coverage that acts as a supplement to Traditional Medicare, the beneficiary could be on the hook for a good amount of out of pocket cost. Other plans for which a beneficiary is eligible could also act in covering some or all of these Traditional Medicare out of pocket cost.  Like Medicaid, some retiree coverage, CHAMPVA for dependents

 My wife and I signed up for AARP United Health Care Medicare Supplement plan G in 2020. During the first year our premiums were from January thru December. However, starting from 2021 our premiums increase twice a year from January thru May and June thru December. We live in Michigan and my month of the birth is June. My question is, do the premiums increase twice a year. Folks with the same plan thru AARP UHC tell me that they are billed once a year. So, I am thinking is this a mistake on UHC's part. I have tried to call them several times to no avail. I am hoping if someone on this forum may be able to help. TIA. .  

Learn how to prioritize your well-being while supporting others who depend on you. Take a moment and explore ways to build healthy habits using the six pillars of brain health. Visit AARP® Staying Sharp®  for more information on brain health.

I have been enrolled in an AARP-UHC Supplemental Plan in NJ for almost a year now. I have never used and don't anticipate using any of the AARP membership benefits. What happens if I don't renew my AARP membership - will it affect my AARP-UHC Supplement Plan?