Recent premium increase for United Healthcare coverages

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@ksbradley21 wrote:

id like to know why this much of a jump in my plan F? 

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It is no doubt at least in part due to the fact that Plan F isn't accepting enrollment by anyone under 70 years old, so the people with Plan F are not only aging and presumably filing more claims (which results in increased premiums), their claims are not being offset by younger people who presumably don't have as many claims, so a Plan F's overall claims experience will typically increase faster than with other plans that are still open to younger enrollees.

You said you're not sick (although you go every three months to the doctor), so I assume you can pass underwriting (if you're in a state that allows it).  Shop for a new plan.  Switch to Plan G if the premium is lower enough to make up for the Part B deductible you'll have to pay, and maybe even if it isn't if you want to get out of the Plan F pool while you still can.  Or get a high-deductible plan, since your healthcare costs are low.

But be aware that all supplements are being hit hard by inflation and increased claims (people getting treatment that was put off during Covid, and people whose health was compromised during Covid and are suffering the effects of it), and supplement premiums go up to account for it.

@WendyK644630 

Why not - it is a cost of doing business just like the claims that are paid against the policy.  Premiums for Medigap plans are based on usage utilization, the rating method - be that community rated or age related and medical inflation.  

However since UHC is such a big insurer their cost of doing business is also done by type - be that a Medicare plan of Medicare Advantage or financial protection in a Medigap plan against Traditional Medicare because there is NO limit to your our of pocket cost under the Trad. program.

Or an Employer Group health plan OR an employer Retiree plan or a Medicaid MCO plan - and UHC is within ALL of these insurance marketplaces.  

Protecting  employees does span the gamut of their vast types of coverage. Whereas legal fees could be somewhat isolated as to the type of product having the legal need.

You know what would keep your Medigap premiums down -

1.  Accept more of the risk yourself course that means picking a Plan N or a High Deductible Plan G rather than a regular Plan G - a high deductible Plan G has very low premiums less than a $100, perhaps $ 60 a month.  Once you meet the deductible (2025 - $ 2870 and this includes Part B deductible and Part A deductible) - it performs just like the regular Plan G for the rest of the year.

2.  Everybody STOP using their plan - course that also means STOP using your Medicare.  

3.  If age related rating - STOP getting older

Now for some of these yes, I am being factious.  

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@ClaudiaP763758 wrote:

Coverage is the same with exception of losing Silver Sneakers 

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Is a gym benefit important to you?  If so, in my area a company called MedMutual includes Silver Sneakers with all of its supplements.  The network seems to be a little smaller than UHC's Renew Active, but there's a lot of overlap.  

It's possible your broker doesn't contract with MedMutual.  I went to medicare.gov and did a search for supplements in my zip code, and the results include ALL supplements available to me.

@MichaelH904998 wrote  . . . . my wife had an emergency room visit.  It was about $10,000 gross, written down to $2,500 for Medicare.  AARP thus paid about $500.  We are paying roughly $3800 for the coming year the equivalent of roughly 7.5 ER visits.

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The Medicare negotiated rate with this ER was $ 2500 and they pay 80% of this figure or $ 2000 - leaving you $ 500 to pay either out of pocket or by your Medigap plan.  YourAARP UHC plan paid the $ 500 - so you had NOTHING out of pocket.

Sounds like you have a Plan F or maybe a Plan G and you had already paid the $ 257 Part B deductible (that’s the only different in Plan F and Plan G - the Part B deductible in 2025 is $ 257.00.

Now what if the Medicare approved cost had been more?  Your plan F would have covered it all - maybe even more than your annual premiums.  Now if this happened with millions of seniors in the plan - and the AARP UHC plan paid all the differences - your premiums will go up. 

My premium along with my wife was increased 30% this month. I have been a customer for 10 years, but not any longer. I got same supplemental benefits from another provider at a much lower cost.. Shop around

@sktn77a wrote . . . . . I wish State insurance commissioners would take a harder line with these insurance companies!

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How do you know they don’t?   From the guidance that I have seen on their Loss Ratios and the amount they have to have in reserve in some states - it seems that beneficiaries are all using their plans - and not just AARP/UHC as you pointed out.  And their plans are usually the ones where it protects their pocketbook the most - now, Plan G, so there is more on the insurer to pay.

It is EASY money for the insurer - they don’t have to manage any care or make any decisions about what or who to pay - If Medicare pays, they pay whatever is their portion or IF Medicare does NOT pay, they don’t get any flack because they didn’t pay, that is all on Medicare to do the determination of coverage and the amount of the payment.  

I have heard that some of the smaller insurers are considering their options of leaving this coverage market - Allstate & National General were the ones  I heard about leaving this Medigap marketplace recently.

Utah just changed their Medigap law to allow for the “Birthday Rule” so premiums will be going up there in a few years just because of this.  

Are you sure your state does not have any extended guaranteed issue right periods where you can switch again without underwriting?  There are getting to be more and more states that are adding some resemblance of the Birthday Rule and of course there are a few states where you can change or pick up anytime because they have continuous enrollment - NY, MA, CT and ME (but ME is a little weird so I would have to read their rules again for the detail).

We all have known that cost rise with years - me, I don’t have to worry about a Medigap plan premium because I have other coverage but I am having to put on my 2nd roof on my home and it is a lot more than I paid the last time - 24 years ago.  

Last year in March I received my new premium notice.  It rose by 25%.  I called to find out why and was told it was because the medical facilities in my area charged some of the highest costs in the country.  This year my new notice says the premiums will rise by 18%.  I have a G plan that now includes a deductible.  I used to have an F plan but the premiums were even higher.  It appears that everyone gets a low premium for a while since they are generally younger and healthier but once you start using your insurance, the premiums rise rapidly.  I need to do some research on how local facilities charge versus other states.  Maybe UHC is pulling a 'Trump.'

yes - agreed - I got rid of it year half ago when they priced me almost 30% more - luckily I was able to get a guaranteed policy with my union - and you are so so correct - wellcare'rx plan is awesome - and AARP sending people to buy an overpriced drug plan - shameful

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@zooeyhall wrote:

Reading all of these, is why I am glad I stuck with traditional Medicare.

I don't think you're following the discussion.  It's about the huge increases in Medigap supplement premiums.

I'm not a fan of how Medicare works, but I think it's a good thing Advantage plans are there for those who can't afford a supplement, because that's the only way they can avoid being on the hook for 20% coinsurance with a maximum of infinity dollars every year. 

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@JamesH377174 wrote:

I could understand maybe 10% but 20% is insane.

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Why is 10% okay but 20% insane?  Did you examine the numbers UHC submitted to the insurance commissioner that led it to approve the 20% increase?