AARP UHC Medicare Advantage plan - drops comprehensive dental coverage!

[th80115446]

Just checked the document for the 2025 changes for the AARP UHC Medicare Advantage plan.

Got surprised!!

Checked with UHC to confirm (Italics clip from the chat session with the UHC agent):

2025 (next year)

You pay a $0 copayment for covered preventive and diagnostic services.
You no longer have coverage for comprehensive dental services.
Platinum Dental Rider
You pay $54.00 a month for up to $1,500 per year for covered preventive and comprehensive dental services

6:29 PM

You may check more plans with our sales team.

Interesting that they are offering a $54 per month plan that only cover $1500!!!!

[SoulSurvivor61]

If you have a Medicare Advantage plan,  open enrollment continues from January- end of March. I am still looking from different options in my area other than UHC. There is some grim matters happening right now with this Insurance Agency

[AndreaL105279]

Great! Just when I need to go to the dentist and need lots of cavities filled they remove the vast majority of dental coverage from my plan. They also reduced OTC benefits from $50 in 2023, to $40 in 2024, and now it's down to $25 whopping dollars. I wish I had looked at the new plan sooner bc now it's too late to get a new plan. I desperately need the dental coverage because maintenance - cleanings, x-rays, and flouride are great if you have healthy teeth and no issues.

[JohnC327937]

That's absolutely right .......  when you reach our "Golden Age"  - generally we have more wrong with us than we do have right !!  And who has perfect teeth just needing cleaning ?  Nice if you do, I'm afraid that's not me. 

[GeorgeK186361]

If you live in a hurricane affected area, you can probably get an extension. 

[mpberinger]

 UHC WA - #14 has a $2,500 Dental coverage clause that covers 15 counties.

[JohnC327937]

Lucky you, that looks pretty good. No comprehensive dental coverage for us with the UHC HMO or PPO living in Melbourne, Brevard County, Florida (also known as "God's Waiting Room" )

[AndreaL105279]

I'm in Seminole county and same. So mad because I desperately need to go to the dentist. They cut pr greatly reduced a lot of benefits for 2025. Preventative care does nothing if you don't have 100% healthy teeth. What good is an x-ray when if they find an issue it's not covered anyway. 

[JohnC327937]

So each plan content / coverage is dependant upon your location - whilst your plan (and mine) does NOT now include comprehensive Dental (it always used to) - the same plan (like the persons below - RancherMike) , does include comprehensive Dental - lucky you RancherMike.

Personally I cant believe AARP let this happen - come on AARP you are meant to be helping us !!!   Now I am going to go with CIGNA after 5 years of being very satisfied with AARP UHC.

[th80115446]

Yep....I did add'l checking. There is an AARP UHC SC Advantage plan that does conver Comprenhensive dental - UHC SC-8 PPO. However, verify your prescriptions. One of the prescriptions that we currently use is significanly more expsensive in 2025 (even with Optum Home delivery and the $2000 yealy Medicare Rx cap). Looking into BCBS Total PPO. It does have a $19/month permium, but cheaper than the hit we sw from the UHC Rx hikes.

[AndreaL105279]

One of the medications I've been taking for years was always covered but in 2025 it's not. 

[AndreaL105279]

Same... I just looked and one of the meds I've beent taking for years is no longer covered. It's not even an expensive med. 

[rancherMike]

I checked our aarp uhc ppo medicare plan for 2025 on the uhc website. It shows the same dental coverage as 2024. However, the notification of changes for 2025 offers no mention of dental coverage. Therefore I think we may have coverage in 2025. See the plan here,

https://www.uhc.com/medicare/health-plans/details.html/65662/229/H8768027000/2025

[AndreaL105279]

You're in a different location. Every zip code has different plan options and unfortunately, dental is no longer on the plan. 

[th80115446]

Thanks. Looks like your plan includes comprensive denta;. My plan in SC was cahnged to drop comprehensive dental. UHC does offer the option to pay more for it:

Introducing the Platinum Dental Rider
We know that having choices in selecting health care benefits is important to you. The Platinum
Dental Rider is an optional supplemental benefit package that can be purchased to replace any
dental benefits that may already be offered within your Medicare Advantage plan. The Platinum
Dental Rider cannot be combined with any other dental benefits that may be included in your
plan. It is offered to you for a monthly premium of $54.00.

[AndreaL105279]

For that price there's more comprehensive dental plans out there I can get. It just stinks because that's another extra expense, so the tiny increase in disability will have to go to a dental plan. I'm so mad at myself for not looking at my new 2025 sooner. My plan has always had comprehensive dental so I thought it would be the same. My fault...

[GeorgeK186361]

Yeah, now you can pay $54 for what was included last year. No thanks, already moved over to an Aetna plan.  

[GailL1]

@th80115446 

I assume that this is a MAPD (Medicare Advantage with an embedded Prescription Drug Plan) - most are today.  

If so, are you finding other things changing on the Prescription Drug side of the coverage - could be drugs changing tier levels, a deductible being added when there wasn’t one before - or it could be that they have changes some drugs for others.  Just check it closely.  

Sorry you lost this dental coverage but it is what it is - all of the policies are changing - MA, MAPD and free standing PDP - all as a result of legislative changes and a reduction in what these plans are getting from Medicare, the program - both MA, MAPD and free standing PDP.

If you want to switch, open enrollment is scheduled to begin on October 15 - Dec. 07 and the new plans should be available to view around the 1st of October.

Good Luck in finding the best one for your needs - SHIP or a knowledgeable Medicare broker can help.  Independent agents represent many different companies and type plans, but some agents are captive to only one company, like UHC.

[GeorgeK186361]

Check Aetna for plans in your region, somehow they are still offering comprehensive dental coverage.