As of June 1, 2023 medigaps are now with and without "extras" that were free to us and now aren't

[CarolynBI]

Totally by accident I found out AARP/United Health Care created new with and without "no extra charge to us" extras (vision, dental, hearing, fitness, etc). Back when they only had one program for each (I have G but they did this with all supplements but F and I think one other) they were included at "no extra charge to you". Now, at my age anyway, there is a $69.99 difference between G with the extras and G without the extras. This, according to medicare, effectively ended my G plan. It did so as it didn't charge me the lower rate (eg the rate of those with no "extras") but include the extras. 

AARP and United Health Care (UHC) all deny they ended the plan as we are all still in the more expensive plan with the extras. They, however, ended a key part of our plan - no added charge to you - part of the plan, which according to Medicare means that we have “guaranteed issue rights” to change plans without having to pass medical underwriting (which I do not). I wanted to change from G with the extras to G without and they told me I couldn't unless I passed medical underwriting or paid $400+ in premiums a month. 

I live in one of the many states that doesn't allow you to change your plan and/or company each year in your birthday month. 

AARP says they aren't responsible, UHC says they aren't responsible as they didn't end my plan as it still exists, it is just that these extras are no longer free to us (thus the plan has fundamentally changed - if it hadn't we'd have a G at the same price as the G without the Extras only we'd have the extras as that is the only way that is no charge to us). They told me I had to get a letter from Medicare that I have "guaranteed issue rights". Medicare says they don't issue those letters; you have to get them from your insurance carrier. Umm OK. Just sent in a circle. The state insurance commission says it isn't their problem. 

That they didn't even tell us about this is problematic in my mind as well. Also one UHC agent told me that UHC/AARP will be introducing more supplements (I presume with more "extras" that will cost more as they can't make up an alphabet letter for a new kind of supplement plan).

Also this sounds to me like a class action suit issue since all of us, on June 1, 2023 were put in the more expensive program now paying more for extras. Technically (since the rates of G alone are far less, we were already paying for the extras except they stated over and over that they were no charge to us - as a result they were lying which is another reason why you can change plans without having to deal with medical underwriting). 

Any suggestions? I have spent around 40 hours so far on the phone since open enrollment started trying to get them to let me switch without medical underwriting.

[new577]

 I have never heard of this. I have plan G UHC and nothing has changed. All medigap plans are uniform across all insurers and are regulated by the us government and further by state insurance departments.

In most states you cannot switch companies or plans without underwriting.

but in Florida where i am there is only G and high deductible G.