topic Re: United Health Insurance premium increases in Benefits & Discounts

United Health Insurance premium increases

lisaak — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 18:54:05 GMT

Our AARP United Health supplemental insurance premium has increased 44% since June of 2024. That is crazy. Are you doing anything to lobby congress about the cost of health insurance??????

Re: United Health Insurance premium increases

TRL1111 — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 00:00:29 GMT

Have you looked into switching to a different supplement provider?

Re: United Health Insurance premium increases

GailL1 — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 01:33:59 GMT

@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.

Re: United Health Insurance premium increases

JanetO299482 — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 16:54:13 GMT

I am wondering what exactly AARP is doing to help( it's original purpose) Retired People? Everything that has the letters AARP before it, is way more expensive. Car ,life and health insurance. This non profit is just another business making millions without having to pay taxes.

Health insurance companies are not anywhere near bankrupt, it is the profits they care about. Americans pay the most for health and we are the sickest.

Re: United Health Insurance premium increases

GailL1 — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 00:38:11 GMT

@JanetO299482

What do you think AARP can do? The cost of Medigap plans (premiums) are based on (1) USAGE (2) RISK (3) INFLATION.

Your state reviews the figures that the insurer presents to them on their plans and then they are the ones that approves the premium increases.

I think AARP could perhaps do a better job in explaining things to seniors - all types of thing from insurance to Social Security to Medicare.

What if your plan decided to lower its premiums - you would be happy, right? Would you be happy too if they then informed you that they could not pay some of your claims because usage was more than the premiums they collected and they need to shut their doors. You, of course, could find another play (because that is one of your GI rights) but then would you again start to complain about the escalating premiums.

To stop or drastically slow down the premium increases of Medigap plans - then tell beneficiaries to STOP using their Medicare benefits especially if they have a Medigap - doubly so for those on the same plan as you.

Or you can ask your state to restore underwriting, or restore stricter guidelines on what plans those under 65 have access.

I don’t know what to do about inflation - above my pay grade.

Re: United Health Insurance premium increases

TRL1111 — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 01:17:41 GMT

@JanetO299482 wrote:
Everything that has the letters AARP before it, is way more expensive.

Not necessarily. In New York City, there are seven companies that have Medigap Plan F policies. AARP/UHC is the cheapest, by a good margin: $417 a month, with the next cheapest one $514. The most expensive one, from Bankers Conseco, is $829.

For Plan G, it's not the cheapest, but only by $9: EmblemHealth is $362 and AARP/UHC is $371. The most expensive Plan G is Bankers Conseco at $763.

And the AARP/UHC supplement includes free gym memberships through Renew Active. Heck of a deal.

I'm not saying these numbers are typical. In fact, they most certainly are not. But not everything that has the letters AARP before it is more expensive, never mind way more expensive.

@JanetO299482 wrote:
This non profit is just another business making millions without having to pay taxes.

AARP comprises four different entities, one of which is AARP Services, described as "a taxable subsidiary of AARP that manages relationships for a variety of products and services that carry the AARP name and are made available to AARP members by third-party providers."

help.aarp.org/s/article/who-owns-aarp