United Health and Optum RX--what is AARP doing to monitor this?

[lyndoncomstock]

As with many other AARP members, my wife and I have received Medigap and Part D coverage from United Health, which we chose because of the AARP endorsement.

I'm now very concerned about the Part D coverage from United Health and how well AARP is monitoring this on our behalf.  In fact, I dropped United Health for Part D coverage this year because the costs were rising so quickly.

The front page article today (June 21, 2024) in the New York Times about the big 3 P.B.M. (Pharmacy Benefit Managers), including Optum RX owned by United Health, should concern all AARP members who are, or have been, getting Part D coverage from United Health.  

The amounts of money going through the big 3 P.B.M. is staggering.  The Times article makes clear that the potential for financial exploitation by the big 3 P.B.M. is also staggering and provides a number of examples where this has taken place.

AARP needs to take this issue seriously and report to all of its members about what it's doing to monitor United Health and its subsidiaries to make sure they are operating in our best interest to provide the best Part D Medicare coverage.  This article raises major, major concerns about whether United Health and its P.B.M., along with the other 2 of the big 3 P.B.M. are instead ripping us off on a huge scale.

[AARPConsumerCare]

@lyndoncomstock, we are also concerned by price increases that in some cases would double the cost of people’s monthly premiums. AARP knows that any increases, let alone ones on this scale, are difficult to manage – especially for people on fixed incomes. A major driver of these increases is the underlying prices of prescription drugs charged by pharmaceutical companies. It is why AARP has fought so hard to bring down those prices, including by allowing Medicare to negotiate for better prices on behalf of consumers. Thanks to the law that passed last year, Medicare now has that ability with the first negotiated prices taking effect in 2026.

The current Part D premium increases are not unique to the AARP-branded Medicare Rx Part D plans from UnitedHealthcare and are happening across the industry. UnitedHealthcare has informed us that their goal is to provide valuable, sustainable, and affordable plans for Medicare members. According to United, although premiums for most Medicare Part D plans change each year, it has worked hard to minimize those increases over the past few years. If you are interested in learning more about other available plans during open enrollment, please contact Medicare directly at: 1-800-MEDICARE or visit: Medicare.gov - Diana G.