Is AARP United Healthcare Medicare supplimental insurance as bad as the customer reviews say??

Hassiman,

After reading your comments and those on that consumer affairs board that you linked, I can see that there is a good bit of confusion.

I don't know how long you or those commenters have been in the Medicare program but it is made up of many different parts.

Your post heading says "supplemental" insurance which is Medigap coverage and there is not too much a private insurer in such a program as Medicare Medigap (supplemental) insurance can do to mess up since each of the plans are strictly defined by their alphabet title and coverage by Medicare although state insurance regulators can watch premiums and how those premiums are set in their state.

There is NO formulary medication coverage in a supplemental plan.

The only medications which cover the part that Medicare doesn't pay are the ones described in Medicare Part B or as described if you are hospitalized or institutionalized for recooperation for a period of time.

Normally with traditional Medicare, you buy a supplemental policy to augment it and then based on your medication needs, you buy a separate Medicare D policy.

Of course, seniors also have the choice of participating in Medicare Part C or s Medicare Advantage plan instead of participation in traditional Medicare, a supplemental policy and a prescription drug plan. 

Within a Medicare Advantage Plan the private insurer has some leeway as to the plan design but must still cover basically the same things as Medicare.  No Medigap or supplemental policy is needed with a Medicar Advantage plan.  Prescription Drug coverage may or may not be included in the Medicare Advantage plan as well as some other perks which may also be included in these Medicare Advantage (private insurer) plans.

Everybody has to pick and choose the type of Medicare which is best for them in coverage and in price.

some of the people responding on that consumer affairs site also seem to be confused.

I suggest that you begin reading everything on Medicare.gov for clearer understanding and what type Medicare Plans are best for you and your health needs.

I am a 69 year old female and live in Ohio.  I have been on the United Healthcare Supplelmental Plan F insurance since I turned 65.   I have been completely happy with the plan and have not had any problems what so ever.   I like the plan because there is no paperwork involved, I can go to any doctor and hospital I want without any referrals, the customer service has been good, my doctors always get paid with no problems, and it is the most convenient of all the plans.  I have my monthly insurance fee paid electronically, so I rarely need to give my medical insurance a second thought.     I suggest you read all the information regarding all plans to educate yourself on making the best choice for you.  Their website provides lot of useful information and comparison charts.   The Supplemental Plan F is probably the most expensive, but I feel it is worth it for all the options and convenience factors.   I cannot respond to problems others have had -- this feedback is only based upon my own experience for the past 4 years.  

Good luck to you. 

A couple of months ago, I had two issues to address--get a new AARP card mailed and a United Healthcare Part D Supplement ID. I went ahead and printed the online card while waiting, which had the same membership number printed on my AARP Chase Visa Rewards credit card, but when the mail arrived I had a new AARP membership number. I called United Healthcare and was informed that my old number was now my Part D Supplement insurance policy number, so I orderwd an ID card for that over the phone. Now I get loads of junk mail asking if I would like to try and qualify for a United Healthcare policy wveryday, but no insurance supplement card to go with the Medicare card I have had since August of 1989.

I have had AARP/UHC Supplemental Plan F for 11 years since I retired.   I continue to be very happy with my plan.  The premiums do increase each year, but the increases are comparable to other companies and the customer service I receive is a blessing.   I recommended the same policy to my sister who retired a couple of years after I did, and she is also very happy with the plan.    I will continue to recommend this plan, and I intend to keep it for the rest of my days.  Thank you United Health Care!

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@Hassiman wrote:

Hi,
AARP's Medicare Supplemental Medicare Insurance sounds great... but I decided that before I purchase it I should read the reviews.

I was astounded! Consumer affairs reviews were the worst I have EVER seen for any product or service from any company.

 

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This topic gets a lot of hits. Please note that the question was first asked two years ago and then a few comments were made in 2016 and about a dozen have been made since mid March 2017. Take all of them with that timing in mind as well as keep in mind that the private Medicare supplement insurance discussed here -- from AARP or anyone else -- varies from state to state in price, discount structures and what it may or may not cover. It even varies in terms if all 'Plans' -- A, C, F, G, and so forth -- are available. Some states do not even have 'Plans' that use the lettering system.  In some states there is continuous, open enrollment but in some states that is not true. You need to look only at the plans available in your states to do a comparison.

YES! I am on disability and a veteran. I had back surgery last month and the doctor wrote a persription for extended release pain meds. They said they 72 hours to review for authorization and maybe up to 84 hours. I called and talked with them talked with a supervisor he said he was was sorry but they could not help. He told me to go to the ER and see if I can get an emergency supply.  The ER doesn't do that. They really didn't seem to care about anyone or there pain. All because they can take up to 72 hours. They only wanted to change what kind of medicine or the amount you can take in a day. I will be contacting aarp all of my state and federal reps. And possibly camp out in my travel trailer at there Corp office.  I am so angry with there lack of sempathy and care how much suffering a person will go through.  I will not let this go Un answered!

I'm starting to believe it is really bad. I just signed up with them September 31st and then trying to get a doctor. On the web-site there are many doctors connected to Cleveland Clinic (Weston FL) and it states that they all take new patients but when I called them they really do not accept new patients. I called at least 10 doctors on their list and none accepted me. When I called the Customer Service Help Line and they called the doctors they had the same experience. So none of the doctors listed and connected to the Cleveland Clinic is accepting new patient. Customer Service told me that the list is no being updated and kept current and the doctors told me the same.
This has been a bad experience and I think I should change to another Co-insurance company.

Since this thread is about customer reviews of “AARP United Healthcare Medicare supplemental insurance”.  Here’s my review:

I’ve had an AARP united healthcare supplement letter plan F for 3 years. I have also used it in those years and I have no complaints.

Medicare approves an amount of a medical charge and pays their 80%, the charges are then automatically forwarded to United Healthcare and they pay the remaining 20%. I do nothing other than file the explanation of benefits forms that are mailed to my house (I need to sign up for the paperless EOB statements).

Among my benefits I have silver sneakers, 24 hour nurse on call. Currently I pay $159 a month.

Why I originally chose United Health care? Besides the good value and low cost, because they are the largest provider of both Medicare supplement and Medicare advantage plans thus they have a lot of weight to throw around when it comes to protecting my privileges as a Medicare recipient. I believe as UH goes so goes the rest.

I did a lot of research and talked with a lot of average Joe’s about their health plans before I came to my conclusion about which supplement plan I wanted. I didn’t give many grains of sand to those that had an axe to grind about a senior organization. Separate the wheat from the chaff. 

So far I’m very pleased with my United Healthcare Medicare supplemental coverage.

Since this thread is about customer reviews of “AARP United Healthcare Medicare supplemental insurance”.  Here’s my review:

I’ve had an AARP united healthcare supplement letter plan for 3 years. I have also used it in those years and I have no complaints.

Medicare approves an amount of a medical charge and pays their 80%, the charges are then automatically forwarded to United Healthcare and they pay the remaining 20%. I do nothing other than file the explanation of benefits forms that are mailed to my house (I need to sign up for the paperless EOB statements).

Among my benefits I have silver sneakers, 24 hour nurse on call. Currently I pay $159 a month, a bargain.

Why I originally chose United Health care? Besides a good value at a low cost, they are the largest provider of both Medicare supplement and Medicare advantage plans thus they have a lot of weight to throw around when it comes to protecting my privileges as a Medicare recipient. I believe as UH goes so goes the rest.

I did a lot of research and talked with a lot of average Joe’s and Jane’s about their Medicare health plans before I came to my conclusion about which supplement plan I wanted. I separated the wheat from the chaff and didn’t pay attention to those that had an axe to grind about an organization and couldn’t be honest about their benefits. 

So far I’m very pleased with my United Healthcare Medicare supplemental coverage.

I am disappointed with the UNITED HEALTHCARE SUPPLEMENTAL "Cadillac" policy I have---which does not adhere to the supposed standards of AARP.  

---AARP's consumer advice always advocates for you to: "get a proper ID of whom you are speaking with on the phone, a first/last name, before giving out any personal information."

---When you telephone UNITED HEALTHCARE SUPPLEMENTAL to review your account---the person refuses to properly ID themselves, most likely because they do not want to be held accountable or responsible for the information they provide!  Additionally, as their way to cover up and defuse any accountability, you never get to speak with the same person twice.

---Consider that I am paying hundreds of dollars per month for UNITED HEALTHCARE SUPPLEMENTAL---this is not something I'm buying for $9.99!

---In contrast, I had an EXCELLENT experience with THE HARTFORD on my auto/homeowner's insurance in the past two years.  I consider their customer service to be spot on, efficient, courteous, reliable---and all of their representatives do give a proper ID, first/last name for accountability purposes.  (I recommend AARP's programs with THE HARTFORD, because besides very good customer service, they are very cost competitive.)

---With the AARP list of "Member Rights & Responsibilities" UNITED HEALTHCARE SUPPLEMENTAL fails miserably!  

---Their advertising and sales promotion claims: UNITED will pay for bills and claims which basic MEDICARE does not.  Yet, when I recently had a new vaccination for whooping cough, as recommended by my doctor and pharmacy---I was forced to pay $60---on top of my expensive   monthly premiums.  When I telephoned through the process provided on the website---some indifferent clerk with no knowledge simply said:  You have to call MEDICARE.  When I called MEDICARE---another indifferent clerk with no knowledge said:  We don't cover it!  (This was over a half hour sitting on the phone.)

---Why did I have to pay $60 to RITE AID for this immunization, when every month I am paying hundreds to MEDICARE, hundreds to UNITED HEALTHCARE SUPPLEMENTAL, and several hundred a year for my WALGREEN drug plan?

---This whole experience is a NEGATIVE TURN OFF, a source of aggravation.  These companies hope that they can intimidate you and discourage you so you just disappear and do not bother them---and they can pretend that everything is wonderful after taking your money!

MEANWHILE, there is no ability to send direct e-Mails to any leadership executives at AARP like Lawrence Flanagan, President of AARP Services, to let them know what is going on here!  These executives pretend they are so sensitive to your customer service needs---yet other than sending direct mail, paying $7+ for certified mail to make sure it gets there, it is impossible to communicate with these people who run these programs, there is no way to confront them. 

I would be surprised if anyone at AARP actually responds to my complaint here---their process is a joke!