Help/Explain UHC Medigap Premium increase (36%)

[LeslieR210081]

I have been on medicare with UHC medigap plan G for less than 2 years.  66 years old male, Ohio.  Low insurance usage, dont even go over the deductible.   My premiums started out at $119, then $143, and now going to $195 starting in October 2026.  These seem to be astronomical increases. 

Oddly, my same address household partner, same UHC plan, who is female 71 years old has experienced acceptable premium increases of roughly about $10 for the same period.  Her premium in October will be $187 (compared to my $195).  Note she is 5 years older than I. 

Could someone explain these premium increases and different rates per person?

I looked forward to Medicare hoping for some price stability, but this is anything but stable.  

I never thought I would consider shopping around for other insurance companies, is it wise to switch companies (same plan G)?  Do most people shop around, or just stay with UHC?

[MarcGritz]

My UHC supplement is atrocious with a huge increase coming in June which will bring it to $538 per month.    Something smells rotten with these prices.

[GailL1]

@MarcGritz 

Do you have a Plan F?  

Are you on Medicare as a result of a disability rather than age? 

Also what state are you in?

I am reading some really high increases from people over on Reddit Medicare and they have other insurers than UHC.  

Can you switch plans or insurers without underwriting in the state where you are?  

It isn’t rotten - your state has approved the increases -  (well except for UHC enrollment declining discount; if you have that - it was your choice.

[ricirutkoff]

My Medigap Plan G just went up 17% - a $700/year increase. Complaining to UnitedHealthCare is a waste of time - AARP needs to step up and renegotiate with UHC or find another insurer for the policy that includes their name. 

[GailL1]

Medigap rates are approved by your state’s Dept of Insurance.  

Medigap rates are based on usage and risk - and since they pay what Medicare does not pay based on the plan that you have, medical inflation.  

Many UHC Medigap plans also included an enrollment discount which declines with time so that too could be part of your increase if they do it all together - in some states, the two increases are separate, so a beneficiary gets (2) increases a year rather than one. 

You can always switch carriers or plans with underwriting or in some states switch without underwriting based on the state’s rules where you live. 

All health insurance premiums increased this year due to inflation no matter what type.  

Plus AARP and UHC’s relationship is only based on the royalties that UHC pays to AARP from the sell of these Medicare Supplemental plans.  AARP has NO influence over the pricing of the plans - how could they since this is based on actuarial data on use and risk + medical inflation.  

Some states are also increasing the risk on these Medigap insurers by passing laws in their state to allow for switching of plans, insurers or opening up the Gap plans more to those under 65 years old without any underwriting so all of this increases their risk.  ALL beneficiaries will bear the cost of these laws as good as they maybe, somebody still has to pay for this leniency.  That is one of the reasons why the Federal law does not make any allowances to cover those under 65 or to allow for ways for beneficiaries to switch plans / insurers without underwriting.  

You did not give your state so I cannot tell you if your state allows for switching without underwriting.   Check with your state’s SHIP office (State Health Insurance Assistance Programs) or your state’s Dept of Insurance - they may have something online that explains the laws in your state. 

State SHIP Locator  

[LeslieR210081]

I called UHC inquiring about high deductible plan G; they do not offer that plan, at least not in OH.  I ended up staying with UHC and switching to plan N; similar to G but with co pays, premium a little over $100.  The lower premium will cover any copays and still plenty left over. 

Changing plans was easy- get a person on the phone and you go through an extensive health question and answer session; I guess that is "going through underwriting". 

I will see how this goes, but will switch companies and go with plan G high deductible if high premium increases continue.

[GailL1]

@LeslieR210081 

Glad you took advantage of switching while you could without underwriting.  The Plan N copays are not that bad - $ 20 office visit and it has to be coded as one of the many type office visits - and $ 50 ER is only if you are not admitted.  The excess charges not covered are rare, very rare.

Good choice.

[LeslieR210081]

Thanks for clarifying the excess charges being rare, dont fully understand what those charges might be.

[GailL1]

@LeslieR210081 

They are from "non-participating" providers - they are a class of provider payment option that do not accept Medicare Assignment.

They are covered in this page from Medicare, as well as other types of provider pay classifications:

Medicare.gov - Does your provider accept Medicare as full payment? 

Look down to where it discusses "Using a provider that doesn't accept Medicare as full payment" - the ones that have selected to be "non-participating" providers - they can charge you up to 15% more of the Medicare-approved amount -This amount is called "the limiting charge." That is your "excess charge that Plan N does not cover"

Medigap Plans F and G would cover these as well as the HD-G once your (high) deductible is met. 

[CandaceS254392]

The increases are astronomical.  I received my letter, I am in Ohio with G plan, non smoking female 68 going from $129.66/mo to $183.  A 41% increase absolutely ridiculous, same with my husbands coverage. Neither exceeed our deductible.  Yes I am considering shopping around.  I am actually surprised AARP is endorsing this.   

[TRL1111]

You should definitely shop around, because if you're not even meeting your Part B deductible, you'll have no problem passing underwriting to switch supplements.  But be aware that an awful lot of supplements are suffering significant price increases.  As long as you can pass underwriting, you can chase the lowest premium.

Take a look at my previous post about high-deductible Plan G.  If you have low healthcare usage, it can be a good choice.

[TRL1111]

I'm not answering your question because I can't, and probably nobody can. 

But since you don't even exceed your Part B deductible, have you considered getting a high-deductible Plan G?  If you're able to pay for $3,000 in medical expenses in the event you have an absolutely disastrous year, it can be a good choice. They're usually available for about $50/month. 

I don't know if AARP/UHC even offers high-deductible plans (they haven't in any area I've looked at), but there's usually no reason AARP/UHC is better than anyone else.  In my case, I stick with them because of the Renew Active gym benefit, but it could very well be cheaper just to buy a gym membership than to pay a higher premium to have it included.  

With a high-deductible plan you'll have to pay provider bills, but you're already doing that for all of your healthcare if you're not hitting your Part B deductible.  And after you hit that, you'll be paying only 20% of the Medicare-approved amount, not the entire Medicare amount that you pay until you hit your Part B deductible.

[GailL1]

@LeslieR210081 

Read your EOC specifically the declining discount part if applicable  - this might explain some of the differences in the premium rates between you and your household partner - she may have started at a lower premium or her enrollment discount was larger at the time.  Or You may have extra benefits whereas your partners might not - 

Nobody here can tell you specifically - your state’s Dept of Insurance approves the standard increases - an enrollment declining discount is described and is done based on a schedule that should be in your EOC.

Your individual usage has nothing to do with your rates - but the usage of the entire group does.  Who is the largest insurer of Medigap plans in OHIO - AARP/UHC 

What is the most popular plan - PLAN G.  OHIO ranks 32nd in chronic health conditions for those over 65 based on America’s Health Rankings - 56% of Medicare beneficiaries ages 65-74 have three or more chronic conditions and are enrolled in the fee-for-service program.

AmericasHealthRanking.com-Multiple Chronic Conditions - Ages 65-74 in Ohio  

So what kind of makeup do you think your Plan G has - 

There is nothing different in the state laws and rules of Medigap plans so premiums aren’t strung higher because of risk or adverse selection.  If you want to switch plans you have have to go thru underwriting in OHIO.  

Actually, I don’t think your actual rate is all that bad - not in comparison to other states.  Now increases are another thing - health care cost are our highest inflationary number.  Not just Medicare either - ALL health care cost are escalating very fast.  Weight lose drugs and monitoring,  Alzheimers treatments, test and imaging,  High price chemical and biologic meds to treat everything from CV diseases to diabetes to various IBS or autoimmune disorders.

I mean take a look at these and how these negotiations helped on these medications. Now we are doing more drugs 

We have 60 + Million in Medicare now and will have at least another 10 million more by the end of 2030.  And they are all users.  And they are making decisions like this:

KFF Health News 03/23/2026 - Rising Health Costs Push Some Middle-Aged Adults To Skip the Doc Until ... 

So they are putting off care until they get to Medicare - probably enroll with a UHC/AARP Medigap Plan G in OHIO - and you help pay for their care.  

It’s Life !!!

[Maddie605]

Mine went from $104 to $152/mo. since 2024 for UHC Plan N, I'm a 70 yo female in Pennsylvania. So a 46% increase. I realize that some is because of the loss of the initial 5 yr "discount" but still a greater increase than I was expecting. So far I haven't shopped around.

[GailL1]

@Maddie605 

I don’t think that PA has any additional guaranteed issue rights to switch Medigap plans so most likely unless there is another special circumstance that opens up for you, your only way to change plans will be via underwriting. 

So do it while you are healthy.