topic Re: United Healthcare AARP Prescription Plan 130% increase in Medicare & Insurance

United Healthcare AARP Prescription Plan 130% increase

GiacomoM491699 — Fri, 22 Mar 2024 03:42:39 GMT

Our AARP Medicare Rx Walgreens from United Health Care (PDP) went from $35.20 to $80.40 in January 2024 - a 130% increase!!!

We only saw the increase when the credit card was charged in January 2024. Their notification was an email that said "your 2024 Annual Notice of Changes is ready for you to review" with no indication on the email of a significant premium change.

We believe this is clearly insufficient notice and misleading.

Our attempt to terminate the plan or reduce the charge was unsuccessful. We also contacted Medicare and found that there is nothing that can be done.

Our interaction with customer care at United Healthcare was very frustrating. We were sent around 5-6 departments and spent hours on the phone on this issue.

I realize now that Medicare regulations are very favorable to insurance companies and provide very little protection for the consumer.

I expect AARP to sponsor companies that provide better transparency and information to their members. And I ask AARP to be more demanding towards United Health Care, as the service they are providing us is clearly not serving the interest of the members and their communication is insufficient if not quite deceiving.

If others have experienced the same, please respond/comment on this (you can just say "same here" or "agree", so AARP can hear us.

Re: United Healthcare AARP Prescription Plan 130% increase

GailL1 — Sat, 23 Mar 2024 01:56:21 GMT

Did you check to see how much your plan actually changed with the increase in premium -

Beneficiaries are urged to review their plans every year during open enrollment to make sure that the plan is still the best for them and their needs.

I can only guess but perhaps you opted for a paperless coverage - where you go online to review any changes or receive any notices - liken this to how some utilities go paperless.

There was a rash of news about 2024 Part D premiums escalating because of law changes - specifically because of the Inflation Reduction Act and the Medicare Prescription Drug program changes within it.

Medicare Part D coverage plans are by law required to give more so with giving more, they cost more. In 2025 the amount of premium increases is gonna be restricted to a certain % therefore insurers are making adjustments for that as well as all the new coverages that is coming into play.,

CNBC 11/21/2023 - Retirees face significantly higher Medicare Part D prescription drug premiums in 2024. What to know

KFF.org 04/20/2023 - Changes to Medicare Part D in 2024 and 2025 Under the Inflation Reduction Act and How Enrollees Will Benefit

AARP.org - 10/09/2023 - CMS Projects 2024 Part D Prescription Drug Premiums

DO start reviewing your plan every year during open enrollment - that’s why we have an open enrollment period for Medicare Advantage and Medicare Prescription Drug plans either standalone or as combined in a MAPD.

OpenEnrollment is October 15 - December 07 and policies go into effect on Jan 01.

Re: United Healthcare AARP Prescription Plan 130% increase

GiacomoM491699 — Sat, 23 Mar 2024 03:04:31 GMT

@GailL1 thanks for your comments.
Yes, I opted for paperless coverage, which does not mean I opted for more obscure communications. The email of paperless coverage could very well highlight the content of the communication, like your premium has changed/increased, while it just says: there is a new document for you to review on our website, under the third level of the account menu ....
Paperless is a cost advantage for the insurance company and not a license to limit, obscure or deflect information.

I believe AARP should advocate for clearer and more transparent information and communication from the services they sponsor. I feel misled by how the significant increase was not properly communicated.

Re: United Healthcare AARP Prescription Plan 130% increase

WalterF955441 — Wed, 24 Jul 2024 20:46:14 GMT

I know what you mean about feeling helpless when you're locked into an AARP UHC Prescription Plan! I'm locked into the AARP Medicare Rx Preferred Plan, which was supposed to be the best coverage they offer. I even selected a plan with the best rates for Walgreens, the dominant pharmacy chain where I live in Colorado. So far, through the first six months of this year, I am paying 91% of my Total Prescription Costs and my expensive AARP Medicare Rx Preferred Plan for Walgreens has paid 9%. I'm not on any super-expensive cancer drugs, or taking any highly other super-expensive drugs that make my situation unique.

Of course, I called AARP/UHC to try to rectify this "mistake" and I learned, after going over each drug I take with Customer Service, that this was no mistake. I'm paying AARP/UHC a high premium every month for the privilege of paying 91% of my Total Prescription costs. Another way of putting it is that I'm paying 10X more for my prescriptions that my AARP/UHC Rx insurance does! I'm not alone, either. The Customer Service Representative I spoke with told me that a lot of people who have AARP Medicare Rx Preferred with UHC are irate over how much they're having to personally cover for prescriptions.

If I can't trust AARP as a senior choosing Supplemental Medicare Insurance for Prescriptions, then who can I trust? If you're reading this, don't make the mistake that I did and automatically renew your AARP Prescription Drug Plans every year! Take advantage of your town, county, or state Medicare Advisors for Seniors. They will go over the coverage of your current plan by looking at the costs and insurance coverage for every single prescription you take and recommend the best available Supplemental Plan for Prescriptions for you.

Re: United Healthcare AARP Prescription Plan 130% increase

kathleeno616576 — Fri, 27 Sep 2024 21:17:39 GMT

Wait until you see the 2025 premium Rx increase (Walgreens plan)! Just read latest United email, and after some digging, found the info on plan changes for 2025. My premium is going up to $103 a month; currently $68 after being $38 in the beginning of 2024. This percentage increase is unreal as I still have a yearly deductible to meet and I don't take alot of meds. I am at the point of cancelling my AARP membership because I do not see the value anymore when they attach their name to such thievery!

Re: United Healthcare AARP Prescription Plan 130% increase

WalterF955441 — Sat, 28 Sep 2024 00:26:32 GMT

Shame on AARP for lending their name and, I'm sure, profiting from this AARP United Healthcare Medicare Rx Preferred Plan that uses their name. I have what is supposedly their very best plan and I pay 91% of my total subscription prices at Walgreens out-of-pocket. And I have the Walgreens Plan. During Open Enrollment, I am looking at alternatives. If there isn't anything better, I will literally save money by having no insurance coverage for prescriptions, as the premiums I pay are far more that the paltry 9% of total prescription costs that AARP UHC Medicare Rx Preferred pays this year BEFORE the price increase.

Re: United Healthcare AARP Prescription Plan 130% increase

KellyO21422 — Tue, 22 Oct 2024 15:03:09 GMT

I also paid the high premium and was told no co-pays and prescriptions, and no cost or generic. That was a lie.

Re: United Healthcare AARP Prescription Plan 130% increase

JohnE641806 — Wed, 23 Oct 2024 03:08:03 GMT

After seeing the new plans from United for 2025, I too am considering dropping my AARP membership. It seems that AARP has lost it's way, and now their main objective is to help promote a scam on seniors. Why would AARP endorse such poor healthcare plans?

Re: United Healthcare AARP Prescription Plan 130% increase

PaulE709499 — Sat, 26 Oct 2024 12:58:07 GMT

I also think the $2000 max part D in 2026 will increase premiums tremendously going forward. Somebody has to pay for those costs above $2000- it will be everyone.

Re: United Healthcare AARP Prescription Plan 130% increase

PaulE709499 — Sat, 26 Oct 2024 12:59:14 GMT

I do not follow what AARP endorses. See Genenworth LTC.

Re: United Healthcare AARP Prescription Plan 130% increase

PaulE709499 — Sat, 26 Oct 2024 13:02:28 GMT

I am not a fan of what AARP endorses. They provide some decent information but that's about it.

Re: United Healthcare AARP Prescription Plan 130% increase

gba1958 — Fri, 01 Nov 2024 13:38:20 GMT

Same here!

Re: United Healthcare AARP Prescription Plan 130% increase

MarkP478229 — Fri, 01 Nov 2024 16:18:13 GMT

AARP is fighting for YOU.

Re: United Healthcare AARP Prescription Plan 130% increase

STLmember — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 18:06:52 GMT

In my opinion, AARP is on the side of the current administration, which is on the side of giant companies - like insurance or big pharma companies (which command huge profits, even on cheap drugs). BTW: Wouldn't you love to see the healthcare insurance options available to members of Congress? I sure would.

Re: United Healthcare AARP Prescription Plan 130% increase

SallyS241271 — Wed, 13 Nov 2024 18:01:03 GMT

I saw my drug plan go from $34 in ‘23 to $54 in ‘24 and now it is projected at $89 for ‘25. I take zero medications. I will definitely be ditching this company. They also hold my Plan G and will be more expensive than most companies. Sorry AARP this is not the best choice for consumers.

Re: United Healthcare AARP Prescription Plan 130% increase

GailL1 — Wed, 13 Nov 2024 19:44:13 GMT

@SallyS241271

A beneficiary should not pick their Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plan (PDP) based on the price of the premiums or the insurer sponsor of the plan. A beneficiary picks their Medicare Part D PDP based on their medication needs and the plans available to them in their geographical area.

Each plan develops their own formulary based on the rules which CMS has set on what has to be covered in these prescription drug plans.

Plan formularies must include drug classes covering all disease states, and a minimum of two chemically distinct drugs in each class. Part D plans are required to cover all drugs in six “protected” classes: immunosuppressants, antidepressants, antipsychotics, anticonvulsants, antiretrovirals, and antineoplastics.

This criteria as well as the extent to which methods are utilized by the plan sponsor to control cost determine the premiums. Factors used to control are applying a deductible or not - and CMS determines the deductible annually, pre approvals necessity on some drugs, quantity limits on some drugs and the utilization of step therapy in the plan.

Part D PDP are also divided into basic and enhanced - and these are also how the plans are priced - because the enhanced does cover more perhaps with less constraints per certain medication.

This is all done by georgraphical area since this matters in pricing - all health care cost are local.

If a beneficiary takes no meds, or maybe only a generic or two, they can actually just get the lowest to no cost plan and even buy their monthly meds out of pocket from some drug discounter and no use their plan at all. They should at least sign up for the lowest cost or no cost plan available to them to avoid the late sign up penalty assessed by the government and which stays with the beneficiary forever.

This year, insurer sponsors are having to redo many of their plans because of the extent to which the plan design was changed by legislation to help the many who are talking higher cost drugs and limit the out of pocket in 2025 to $ 2000.

All beneficiaries need to review their Medicare free-standing drug plans or their Medicare Advantage plans this year during annual enrollment to make sure their needs are covered. They should do this every year cause plans do change.

Medigap plans like your Plan G are NOT medical insurance - they are financial protection insurance linked to Traditional Medicare so as to assure a beneficiary that they do not experience a financial catastrophe due to a medical problem. A beneficiary picks the level of coverage they want under a Medigap plan - which are federally legislated in design.

Re: United Healthcare AARP Prescription Plan 130% increase

t988165l — Sat, 27 Sep 2025 20:15:06 GMT

I totally agree! Outrageous! and this year, it went up another approximately 50%! From when I first got it in 2023 to now, it has been a 500% increase. I will be changing plans although they likely are all raising rates.

Something I learned today to PAY ATTENTION to is the price of drugs from different pharmacies available for the same plan. Until today, I had no idea that there could be as much as a $270/month difference between a pharmacy and online pharmacy! Or even more shocking, over $100/prescription difference per month between one pharmacy and another available in my plan.

At least I noticed now versus ten years from now.

1. Review your updates and look for changes - they will not point it out.

2. Do your research and order from the cheapest pharmacy for EACH new prescription you get.

Re: United Healthcare AARP Prescription Plan 130% increase

TRL1111 — Sat, 27 Sep 2025 20:55:04 GMT

Once the 2026 plans come out, everyone with a Part D prescription drug plan, and by that I mean every. single. person., should go to the Medicare.gov plan finder, put in their drugs, and see which plan will be the cheapest. It takes only a few minutes.

A few years ago, I saved a friend of mine $1,000 by doing it, when his agent refused to help him. He was on an AARP/UHC Part D drug plan and the premium was going up to over $100/month. I found him a BCBS plan for like $17/month, with similar coverage for the drugs he takes. Then the next year Wellcare showed up with a $0 plan, and I switched him to that and almost all of his drugs are $0 copay, with a $0 premium.

I don't take any drugs, and am currently on the same Wellcare $0 premium plan, and it appears it's going to be $0 next year, too.

But be aware that using Medicare.gov's plan finder means your choice is based only on the drugs you currently take (if any), and obviously doesn't take into account drugs you MIGHT be prescribed at some point next year. But there's nothing you can do about that, so use the information you have to make an as informed a choice as possible. And find some comfort in knowing that there's a $2,000 out-of-pocket maximum ($2,100 in 2026), which obviously will hurt, but it IS a maximum. And be aware that the OOP maximum doesn't include premiums.

This also goes for anyone with an Advantage plan. REVIEW ANY CHANGES YOUR PLAN HAS. And even if there are no changes, maybe shop around anyway to see if there's a better one out there.

Re: United Healthcare AARP Prescription Plan 130% increase

kathleeno616576 — Sat, 27 Sep 2025 20:56:35 GMT

Thank you for sharing your experiences and suggestions. In January 2025, I changed to Cigna and had a premium of app. $12 a month with a 0 deductible for drugs in Tier 1 and 2. Well, Cigna prescriptions has been bought out by HealthSpring, a company that I have never heard of. And my premium is going up $50 a month to app. $62 which is a kicker because I only take 2 generic medications. So, it's back to doing my research but it doesn't seem possible to beat the system that is stacked against people who are just trying to stay healthy.

Good luck!!

Re: United Healthcare AARP Prescription Plan 130% increase

GailL1 — Sat, 27 Sep 2025 20:56:46 GMT

@t988165l

Yes, lots is changing in the Medicare Part D realm this year - we got all those benefits last year as the result of the Inflation Reduction Act and now time to pay for them.

The insurers have taken on more of the cost of Part D drugs.

You have a $ 2000 out of pocket max on the drugs that are covered in your plan. Some very expensive drugs taken by many seniors have been negotiated downwards in price and more are being added every year. So lots of new benefits for us, seniors.

Yes, review your plan choice every year and then find the best plan for your needs and pocketbook.

The Medicare . gov drug plan comparison selection should be up and running about 10/01/2025 - definitely by 10/15/2025 - the date that you can officially change plans