Medicare & Insurance

Medicare Open Enrollment runs October 15 through December 7, 2026.  Let's talk about it! If you're enrolled in Medicare, now is a good time to review your coverage and make sure it still meets your health care needs and budget for 2027.Even if you're happy with your current plan, it's worth taking another look. Costs, prescription drug coverage, provider networks, and benefits can change from year to year.Making Medicare decisions for ourselves is hard enough, and many of us who are caregiving are also helping loved one make their Medicare decisions (or making them for them if they are unable and we have the appropriate powers of attorney). It’s a lot of pressure! The good news is that AARP has GREAT resources to help you understand your options and make informed decisions. Not sure how to get started - check out these resources:Everything You Need to Know About Medicare Open Enrollment – Understand what you can change, important deadlines and what to consider when comparing plans. AAR

Can you explain what is happening to Xarelto coverage in 2027 Medicare? It seems that in my zip code =12589, Ulster County, only CVS is providing coverage for 20 mg.

Just got my statement with the news about our WA state Public Employees Benefit Board UHC Complete Medicare Supplement Insurance premium increase for 2027 - for coverage of my spouse and myself monthly premium is going from $434.81 to $679.30.  I saw AZ was going up 30% what is the situation in other states and why is it so different from one to another?

As a long-time member, I am deeply concerned about AARP continuing to lend its trusted name and endorsement to UnitedHealthcare (UHC) Medicare Advantage plans.Over the recent enrollment cycles, many of us have watched these plans become significantly more expensive while simultaneously reducing vital coverages. When a plan carries the AARP logo, members expect a higher standard of advocacy, affordability, and care. Instead, we are facing higher out-of-pocket costs and shrinking provider networks.AARP’s brand should stand for member protection, not corporate licensing profit at the expense of seniors on fixed incomes. I have already contacted customer service directly to register my complaint, but I want to know how many other community members are experiencing these same premium hikes and coverage cuts.It is time for AARP to hold UnitedHealthcare accountable to the seniors who trust this organization.

need help with payment for Medicare deductible health plansBeen disabled since 2002until 2023 my secondary was Medicaid. currently my secondary is ChampVA my only income is my SSID. Im currently 50 years-old I have received SNAP benefits (food stamps since 02/2026) and although I receive help I am currently paying $600 a month From my own income (Social Security) for healthcare alone and whenever I call my Medicare Health company they do not care and have refused to send my unpaid bill from them  to my secondary insuranceand I paid $259 monthly for Medicare deductible although I get food stamps

need help with payment for Medicare deductible health plansBeen disabled since 2002until 2023 my secondary was Medicaid. currently my secondary is ChampVA my only income is my SSID. Im currently 50 years-old I have received SNAP benefits (food stamps since 02/2026) and although I receive help I am currently paying $600 a month From my own income (Social Security) for healthcare alone and whenever I call my Medicare Health company they do not care and have refused to send my unpaid bill from them  to my secondary insuranceand I paid $259 monthly for Medicare deductible although I get food stamps 

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has enacted a new policy governing international mail shipments, with key requirements scheduled to take effect on October 22, 2026. We have just learned that, under the planned implementation by CBP and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), virtually all prescription-medication parcels will be prohibited from entering the United States beginning on that date.What’s ChangingEntry will be prohibited if the medication being imported is commercially available in the United States — even when it costs significantly more — or if the supplying company specifically markets to Americans.These restrictions will apply to pharmaceutical parcels sent by pharmacies anywhere outside the United States. Taken together, they are expected to effectively close the personal-importation pathway that millions of Americans have relied upon for more than 25 years to obtain safe and affordable medications.

I hope no one is being misled by the $90 payment that has appeared in some of our bank accounts. While receiving extra money is always welcome, we must look beyond a one-time payment and consider the bigger picture.Many of us are living on fixed incomes and depend on Social Security and Medicare to maintain our financial security and quality of life. A one-time payment of $90 does not make up for the potential loss of Social Security benefits, rising Medicare premiums, increasing copayments, and the growing cost of everyday necessities.We must pay attention to the policies this administration supports and how they could affect the programs millions of Americans have worked their entire lives to earn. Social Security is not a handout, and Medicare is not a privilege. These are programs that hardworking Americans have paid into and depend on for their retirement, health, and dignity.We cannot afford to be distracted by a small, one-time payment while facing the possibility of much greate

They won't pay claims when their written policy says it is covered!  AARP needs to get away from UHC and find another Medicare advantage provider!!  When you try to talk to someone they bounce you around - the last call it was 10 different “advocates”!!

I look forward to EVERY October 15th when I get to SEE what my "current" Plan D provider will be CHARGING me for the NEXT YEAR.(1) Do you "check" the famous Medicare Site to COMPARE plans?(2) Or use another option like a Broker maybe?(3) I use to travel to my local office of aging to sit with them and do this.But moving forward, will be doing the comparison myself on the Medicare Site. I have ALWAYS had an "online" account since turning 65.Lol, wish me luck!!! 🤞Take Care,Nicole (Medicare Forum)

I recently retired and signed  up for a Medicare Advantage plan in 2026.  I take Xarelto 20 mg and through government negotiated pricing it was affordable.  However, it appears Xarelto has been removed from 2027 Medicare negotiated pricing for 2027.  From what I gathered this was done because Xarelto 2.5 mg went generic and the government negotiated pricing terms/conditions removed drugs from the negotiated pricing if they went generic, regardless of the dosage.  Thus, if on any dosage other than 2.5 mg you will pay substantially more for your Xarelto in 2027. I’ve heard many people get generic Xarelto (Rivaroxaban) from Canada, but it appears US government will be tightening down on this is this making it difficult to do this going forward.Thus, I’m curious what other options might be available to get Xarelto at a reasonable price if on Medicare? Thanks!

I live in Boise, Idaho, and currently have the “AARP Medicare Advantage from UHC ID-0001 (PPO)” plan from United Healthcare (UHC). I recently received an email from UHC with a link to the Annual Notice of Change 2027 document. As I started looking down and comparing the 2026 and 2027 plans, I noticed under “Fitness program” it shows “Covered” for 2026 and “Not covered” for 2027. Coincidentally, the local YMCA was holding a health fair for seniors this week and United Healthcare had a table there. I asked the woman at the table, who turned out to be the Market Growth Manager for our area, whether it was true that Renew Active would not be offered for my plan in 2027. She confirmed that it was true. She said that Renew Active WOULD be offered under the HMO version of my plan, but WOULD NOT be offered for the PPO version.This makes no sense to me and just seems wrong! I use Renew Active to pay my YMCA membership and it is an important benefit to me. I assume UHC started this program with

Do they have an online messaging system that gives patients rapid access to test results?  Can appointments be made online?  (I dislike having phone conversations.) Do their PCPs like to pass the buck to specialists?  Do they offer covid and other shots at their facility or pass the buck to CVS and Walgreens?  Do they prescribe opioids or pass the buck to pain clinics?

I got an email notification of a reply to a thread about Xarelto and went to the link to view it, and it wasn’t there. I thought maybe the poster changed his mind and deleted that post, because it looked like they were quoting AI that wasn’t accurate. (It said it’s “carefully engineered as a single, extended-release tablet” and that’s not the case.)But now I can’t find the thread at all, including MY posts in it.  I certainly didn’t delete any of my posts.Does this happen?  Entire threads just go POOF without any evidence they were ever there?   

I live in Clark County WA and have had AARP Medicare Advantage from UHC WA-12 for 2 years.  Still haven’t received my ANOC for 2027.  When I try to access online, I’m told to check back after 10/7/26.  When I search for a plan under my zip code for 2027, mine doesn’t exist.  Is this treated as a cancelation where I am now free to go to a Medicare G/N/G High Deductible without underwriting?

If you go to this url you will see a map. Enlarge it and click on your state. You can then click on your county and see who is offering advantage plans in 2027, which plans have been discontinued and how many independent drug plans (D’s) there are in your county and what the premiums will be. They are not as bad as some had anticipated and all the early reports stated they would be - it still remains to see what they have done with the formularies and tiers within them which could upend expenses.You can also see which plans are offering commissions to agents and which ones aren’t. If you use an agent this may affect what they will or will not tell you about.https://windermerefinancial.com/medicare-plan-map

UHC seems to have removed Worldwide Emergency and Urgent Care from all of their Advantage plans.  Thet also seem to have DROPPED many PPO plans.  I'm not sure this is good for the AARP name.   

My doctor prescribed a new medication for me and I asked him to send it to Walmart Pharmacy to try it. ExpressScripts STOLE the prescription and tried to charge me $97. Walmart had received the prescription but was trying to contact my doctor because the dosage instructions were incorrect. Meanwhile, ExpressScripts went ahead and filled the prescription with the incorrect instructions and wouldn’t let me cancel the order even before it had shipped.I will never use a mail-order pharmacy again. They do not care about your health and do not check the prescriptions before filling them. Use your local pharmacy!

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!!!

Since the day I learned that my Medigap Plan G premiums were going up 35% in 2027, I’ve been obsessing about Plan G vs. HD-G and running “the numbers” for best case vs. worse cases scenarios. Somethings been nagging me: While I love obsessing about insurance and wouldn’t mind the paperwork associated with the HD-G, my dear wife has absolutely no interest or patience in tracking provider visits, charges, Medicaid allowable charges, deductibles, etc.  Meanwhile I am eligible for a zero-premium large group Medicare Advantage plan from my former employer, the State of North Carolina. And if I added my wife (with a premium of $68) and predeceased her, she could continue at the spousal rate forever - worry free. What a gift that would be. (Ever heard “Don’t let better be the enemy of good?” Reports I’ve gotten from former colleagues suggest that our group plan may be better than individual M.A. plans available to the general public. I would love to hear about your experience.

Theoretically it’s correct about the CBP/FDA semantics not specifically stating that all medications from foreign countries will be banned by the United States Post Office. However, this is likely being orchestrated by big pharma lobbyists and imo they are going to ban all medications from being bought from Canadian and other Countries by Americans. It’s all about big pharma, corrupt politicians, crooked revolving door administration of the FDA and CBP. They will block the sending of all medications and can, will get away with once again screwing the health care needs of the American people. Only a miracle, successful litigation or a last minute lobbying campaign against this upcoming law will stop them. I sadly think big pharma cannot be stopped

I learned today that the US government is prohibiting prescription drugs from Canadian pharmacies from entering the US, effective on October 22. The medication I wanted to fill is not covered by my medicare drug plan and my out of pocket cost is $600/mo in US pharmacies. The same name-brand drug costs $100/mo from Canada. Has anyone else run into this?

Although not an agent I am on some medicare insurance agent forums because the information they post is useful. First of all, the subsidies that the government gave medicare D plans is not going to exist in 2027 (law expired). It is about $16/mo per person. This means that likely premiums will go up or the companies will make other adjustments to their formularies, tiers of drugs, copays, premiums, etc.  to bring in more money to make up for that income cut (and remember inflation affects this too).Information is starting to come out about what is happening with Medicare D (both as a stand alone D and some discussion as part of advantage plans) for 2027. While information can be state specific and sometimes county specific for actual D premiums, etc. the general picture of what is happening next year will likely hold across all D plans.First of all the maximum out of pocket is going up to $2400. The maximum deductible is going up to $700. This doesn’t mean all plans will charge the max

I did a search online and on here and was not able to find my answer.AARP offers a couple of VSP plans for vision insurance. Does anyone know if these plans are accepted by Costco's optical department and can be directly billed to the insurance company?

I am filing a complaint regarding a major discrepancy between the premium quoted by UnitedHealthcare and the premium ultimately approved for my Medigap Plan A policy.I am under age 65 and was losing health insurance because coverage through my working spouse was ending after my spouse was laid off. A UnitedHealthcare agent quoted me 460.38 dollars per month for Medigap Plan A. The agent explained that the normal under 65 rate was 1980.75 dollars per month, but my loss of employer coverage qualified me for the lower rate.Because of the large difference, I asked the agent to verify the quote. The agent checked it twice, using both the current and old systems, and confirmed the 460.38 dollar rate. I was then instructed to complete the application and fax proof of my loss of coverage. I followed those instructions and submitted the required documentation.UnitedHealthcare subsequently approved the policy at 1980.75 dollars per month instead of the verified 460.38 dollar rate.When I contacte