Recent premium increase for United Healthcare coverages

[jphorenci]

I am absolutely appalled at the just announced price increases for United Healthcare coverage. The increase in RX (over 90%) announced during the last open enrollment was enough force me to make a change and now the supplemental health coverage increase (22%) is astounding. As their primary selling agent, you should anticipate my changing to another, more affordable carrier at my first opportunity and hopefully a boatload of others doing the same. Shameful, unjustified, heartless, and ridiculous. Shame on both you and United Healthcare.  

[sktn77a]

A bit late to this party but it's not just UHC supplements that are increasing uncontrollably.  I'm 73 and have an Aetna/CVS Plan G supplement.  Started out at just over $120 a month 3 years ago.  After one year, it went up to $150.  This year it went up again to $180 - 50% in three years - WAY greater than any inflation measure you can come up with.  Before that I had an Old Surety Plan F which was skyrocketing before I switched.  Unfortunately, 2 years ago I had a minor heart issue requiring the implantation of a pacemaker so I'm basically stuck with my current supplement ad infinitum.  I think these companies tease seniors with low starting rate (eg the "30% discount" with UHC) and then sneak in annual increases to make up for this.  I wish State insurance commissioners would take a harder line with these insurance companies!

[NealV490712]

Congratulations, that's much less than my increase with United Healthcare!

[GailL1]

@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.  

[k703721s]

In Colorado, my premiums went up 24% as did my husbands! It's not the best plan either, and we, of course pay Part D and Part B separately so it's pretty high. At this rate, we will be priced out at the time of our lives when we need it the most. Aren't there any regulations for United Healthcare? 

[AnneG775142]

 In California you have the legal right to change Medicare supplement plans annually for 60 days starting on your birthday,  WITH NO UNDERWRITING, so you don't have to qualify medically.   I have United Healthcare Supplement Plan G and will be changing to USAA.   This is because of United Healthcare's recent premium increases, and a disturbing story in today's New York Times about United Healthcare's legal bullying of those who call them out.     Finding myself very disappointed with AARP's partnership with United Healthcare.   I trusted AARP which is why I chose UH.

[GailL1]

@AnneG775142 

You might want to read the post I just made in this board on California’s proposed new law on Medicare Supplemental plans.

https://community.aarp.org/t5/Medicare-Insurance/CALIFORNIA-Senate-Bill-SB242-Medicare-Supplemental-... 

[AnneG775142]

Got it, many thanks GailL1 - had no idea you are way ahead of me -

[GailL1]

@AnneG775142 

Well IF California SB242 passes, you will know why your Medigap premiums went up $ 40 just for this reason + more for usage or medical inflation.

And I am sure that it is $ 40 for just the current year like 2026 - maybe even more in later years - would just depend on the health of those coming into the Medicare Supplemental marketplace in this special enrollment period without underwriting.  

You can just keep switching your Medigap coverage  to the lowest cost plan - just like everybody else is gonna be doing.  

[wicheesehead]

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

[GailL1]

@k703721s   The rules for Medigap plan (Medicare Supplemental plans) are all the same at the Federal level.  States have some prerogative about making it easier for people to switch plans or or switch insurers - I do not see that Colorado is such a state but you can: 

• Contact the Colorado State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) at 888-696-7213 for free, personalized help. .
• The SHIP personnel can explain the details of Medicare, while also giving you specific information about the plans available in your area of Colorado.

Medigap plans are affected by medical inflation and the use of the plan.  All Medigap plans are designed exactly the same way because the design comes from the Federal government but some plans have some extra benefits that may also have some cost in your premiums.  UHC and a few other insurers also offer a declining discount on their plans that begins to add to the premium cost after you have been on it for, I think, three years - 

Some states require their approval before a medigap plan rate increase takes effect.

Medigap coverage is not required but people do get them in order to protect themselves from a medical catastrophic event.  However, the more risk one is able to take on themselves, the less the premiums - A High Deductible Plan G is much less expensive in premium cost that a regular Plan G.  Even though once the deductible is met on the High Deductible Plan G (2025 - $2870), the two plans work identical.

Most all Medigap plans are getting more expensive in premiums irregardless of the insurer - perhaps some more than others - medical inflation, the number of people now using the plans - UHC is THE top insurer of Medigap plans but there are many others who also sell the plans - and like I said the plans are work the same, cover the same things; only the premium price differs.  

I did find this from 2023 that is a publication out of the Boulder County area - it should be the same as the rest of the state - but it is 2023, I could not find a more recent update.

Boulder County.gov - Medicare Supplement Insurance Policies in Colorado September 2023 

If the premiums get too expensive, you can switch but it will probably require underwriting and with perhaps a few months when any preexisting condition may not be covered - read Colorado’s state specific policy on this.

This is exactly why many people chose to go with a real good Medicare Advantage plan because they cannot afford the monthly premiums of a Medigap plan.  

[kasyy]

For the love of god - that last paragraph is amazing!  Are you selling advantage plans??  IF "many people choose to go with a real good Medicare advantage plan because they cannot afford the monthly premiums of a Medigap plan" , then how on earth will they pay the thousands and thousands they will be responsible for a hospital stay.  Do the math whoever wrote that silly little response.  Pushing people  into these scam advantage plans only makes the problem bigger and much worse.   I have done the math.

[pf75974628]

My premium went up by 25% this year.  So I pay part B plus the deductible for a Plan G, I pay for a prescription plan and also pay for a separate dental plan in addition to the Medigap policy.  Managing my health expenses is the most expensive thing in my budget including housing and a car.  I'll soon be priced out of health care except for Part A which I suspect is nearing the chopping block too.  I have friends with conditions they can't get treatment for because their Medicare Advantage plans have denied them.  I don't want an Advantage plan because the advantage goes to the companies denying treatment.  I believe that UHC is determined to move people from Medigap plans to Advantage plans because they want to increase their profits.  At the expense of the nation's retirees.  

[GailL1]

@pf75974628 

If you had to pay for Part A rather than your premiums being paid during your working years, It would be $ 518 a month for 0 - 19 Medicare credits or $ 209 a month for 20 - 39 Medicare Credits.  

Why don’t you switch plans to one that is cheaper in premiums?  Depending on your state and your health, you may of may not have to go thru underwriting.  You can switch anytime so you could at least do some research with either your state’s SHIP office or with an independent Medicare Insurance Broker that represents a lot of different insurers for a MEDIGAP plan.

The High Deductible Plan G has a (2025) deductible of $ 2870 - that will be made up of everything you pay for Medicare except your Part B premiums - but once that has been reached, the rest of the year it works just like your Plan G.

The High Deductible would be the sum of the Part B Deductible, any of the 20% the Medicare does not pay for Part B claims, IF applicable the Part A deductible or charges - ANYTHING that you pay for your Medicare claims up to the deductible amount of (2025) $ 2870 - then after that, for the rest of the year, it works just like your Plan G now.  

So you would always be limited to the High Deductible Plan G amount every year - many of the people I know that have it have NEVER reached this HD amount. They just pay whatever they use but just never reach the HD amount plus as a trade-off their premiums for the High Deductible Plan G are very cheap per month - like less than $ 60 - $ 70 a month or lower - I cannot be specific cause this is insurer and state specific so you would have to check in your state and do the math based on your health and claims.

There are many other Medigap plans to choose from - every insurer may not carry some of them - in fact, I know in some states AARP-UHC does not offer the HD_G plan.  

Medicare.gov - Compare Medigap Plan Benefits 

Rule of thumb - the more risk you are willing to take for your health, the lower your premiums.  If you want 1st dollar coverage  for everything except the Part B deductible like you have now - then that is what you are now paying for - 

Yes, they will all increase in premiums through the years but some not as much as others.  Up to you where and when you want to spend those medical bucks.  

[TRL1111]

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@pf75974628 wrote:

I believe that UHC is determined to move people from Medigap plans to Advantage plans because they want to increase their profits.  At the expense of the nation's retirees.  

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If you object to how they operate, then why do business with them?  UHC isn't the only supplement provider out there.  There's no reason for you to continue to line their pockets.

[NorCalMom]

I'm in the same boat. Medigap G went from $118 - $165 - 191$ and I've only been on it since 4/24. My medical is way more expensive now than when I worked. I think retirement is going to go into the history books as a failed American dream. 

[GailL1]

@NorCalMom 

I will ditto what @TRL1111 said - most likely during your working years your employer was covering the lion share of your health insurance premiums.  

I was always self-employed when I worked and premiums were way, way on up there - thousands of dollars a month for me and my husband (both self employed).  

You also have Plan G - the most lucrative Medigap plan sold to current beneficiaries.  Pays everything except the Part B deductible - $ 257 in 2025.  If you want 1st dollar coverage for everything - inpatient and outpatient - then you are paying for that coverage.  Other Medigap plans would be cheaper in premiums but you would have some other expenses.  The more risk you are willing to take for your health, the cheaper your premiums - plus some other companies might also be cheaper for the SAME benefits.

Medicare.gov - Compare Medigap Plan Benefits 

[TRL1111]

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@NorCalMom wrote:

I'm in the same boat. Medigap G went from $118 - $165 - 191$ and I've only been on it since 4/24. My medical is way more expensive now than when I worked. 

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Are you taking into account the amount your employer paid toward your health insurance?  Actually, do you even know what that was?  Most people don't, and it's a shame that people don't realize how much their employer-sponsored plan actually costs.  

Your Medicare is costing you about $375 a month, with a deductible of $257, and no network limitations.  I'd be shocked if you added how much you and your employer paid toward your premium and it totaled less than $400, never mind not having a network, preapproval requirments for procedures, and a deductible that low.

[Tonster521]

@TRL1111 Many folks do not know how much their employers pay for health insurance. Moreover, they do not realize that the cost of health insurance is part of their overall compensation. As you may not know, employer report the average cost of health insurance on an employee's W2. Because I do taxes for a small group of people, I see amounts that can exceed $14,000 per year for Family Coverage. Most of those larger costs are related to Government Plans (i.e., teachers, law enforcement, Federal, State, County, etc.). Moreover, many of the Government employers require little or no contribution. So, the costs, for the most part, are paid by the taxpayers. When very little is deducted from one's paycheck, it leads many folks to believe that health insurance is not a big cost.

With regard to Medicare, I believe your estimate of approximate $375 per month is low. You may be only considering the monthly contributions for Part B, Part D, and Part A, if any. As GaiL1 pointed out, Part A may cost as much as $518 per month for folks with under 20 Medicare credits. This is in addition to the Medicare Part A deductible of $1,676 and co-pays of $419/day for days 61 thru 90. If you need to use Lifetime Reserve Days 91 thru 150, the co-pays are $838/day. Rather than calculate various "what if" scenarios, just use $518 per month for Part A. This is much easier than calculating 1.45% Medicare Tax imposed on your Earnings throughout your career. For example, you earned $2,000,000 over a 40 year career and paid $29,000 in Medicare Part A taxes. Keep in mind, employers would have also paid $29,000 in Medicare Part A taxes for a total of $58,000 over that 40 year career. We only pay on average 25% of Part B Medicare costs or for 2025 in most case $185 per month. The current estimate of Part B for 2025 is $740 per month. The Federal Government covers the other $555 per month (on average). This is a Welfare Benefit provided by the Federal Government. There are additional costs to consider for Part D. However, there are way to many schemes with various costs. So, for this post, I am simply omitting Part D costs since Parts A and B ($518 and $740, respectively) add up to $1,258 which is significant. I have not tried to guess or add deductibles, co-pays, and coinsurance to the above amounts. The bottom line is Medicare costs are pricey. Folks with Medigap Plans need to add the monthly costs for their Plan to the above totals. Folks without Medigap Plan coverage are self insuring and are taking a huge risk that may be expensive than buying a Medigap Plan. Hope this helps.

[TRL1111]

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@Tonster521 wrote:

With regard to Medicare, I believe your estimate of approximate $375 per month is low. You may be only considering the monthly contributions for Part B, Part D, and Part A, if any. 

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I simply added $185 (Part B premium) + $191 (her Plan G supplement premium).

The poster didn't complain about Part D costs, so I didn't address them.

Since she compared her costs under Medicare to what her employer-sponsored plan cost her, I assume she has enough work credits that she's not paying a Part A premium. And I didn't go into Part A copays because she has a supplement that covers that.

The only thing she mentioned was the increasing premium for the supplement, and Medicare plus her supplement is $375/month.

But I'll point out that she previously posted that she has a condition that requires yearly tests, and those cost over $100,000 a year. I think paying $4,500 a year (Part B premium + Plan G supplement plus $257 Part B deductible) is a smoking good deal for $100,000 of expenses, and that's only those tests--if someone is getting tests that cost $100,000 a year, then they probably have other medical expenses, as well.

[Tonster521]

@TRL1111 You missed the cost for Part A which is paid from your earnings while working. Maybe you think it is free, but it is not. In fact, it is expensive for most folks. Part A requires payments of 1.45% from both you and your employer. I used $2 million for a career earnings which is essentially $50 K per year for 40 years. Folks with a mathematical aptitude may be able to adjust the numbers I used to their own unique situation. So, rather than accumulate the Medicare Part A taxes that one pays over a working career and elect to use a time value factor (i.e. 2.5%, 3.0%, or even 0.0%) for each period of time, I suggested to use the current cost for Medicare Part A which is $518 per month for folks with less than 20 medicare credits. It should be abundantly clear that folks who work long periods of time (35 years and more) and pay medicare Part A taxes have a greater cost for Medicare Part A. Many folks have 40 years or more of Medicare Part A tax payments. You need to account for those Medicare tax payments as well as the payments for Part B and a Medigap Plan, if elected. Also, there are folks that pay Income Related Monthly Adjustment Amounts (IRMAA) for Medicare Part B (and Part D). Their amounts are greater than the $185/month Part B premium. 

[CBtoo]

Presuming you have enough work credits the premiums for A is now "free" to you when retired (not enough work credits and it costs money). That money is "sunk costs". It is money under the bridge so counting it as a current cost (unless you are actually paying a premium for it) is not really relevant to current costs. Of course if you don't have a supplement or an advantage plan then the out of pocket for that is steep if you are hospitalized.  

[Tonster521]

@CBtoo I suggest you review the history concerning Medicare as well as the discussions regarding a National Insurance Plan proposed by President Truman in the 1940's. Hospitalization is the most expensive medical costs that one may incur. Prior to Medicare (1965), only certain folks could afford buying hospitalization after leaving the working world. For the less fortunate folks which were many, families would pass the hat around to raise money for hospitalization. In many cases, the hat did not fill up with enough money. Medicare Part A was the solution wherein a worker would pay along with their employers Medicare taxes for hospitalization coverage to become available after attainment of age 65 or disability (most cases after 2 years). This pay in advance or prepay approach was and is the solution to eliminate an expensive monthly premium that was the case before Medicare. This is a cost whether you choose to recognized it or not. Some folks that are savvy will also develop their cost for Medicare Part A using a future value calculation. In other words, calculate each year's Medicare Part A tax and elect a reasonable interest rate (i.e., 2.0%, 2.5%, 3.0%, etc.) that will compound over a working career. Many working careers are 35 years or more. Instead of developing a future value that will vary from person to person depending on their amount of Medicare Part A taxes paid and length of time worked, I simply used $518 per month which is an amount that the SSA/Medicare developed to reflect the cost of Medicare Part A. So, you may believe Medicare Part A is free because there is not any contribution/premium deducted from your SS Benefit payment. However, you have prepaid for Medicare Part A while working. I will concur that for some folks who live a longer life, their cost for Medicare Part A will be amortized over time to zero. Hope this helps. 

[CBtoo]

I never said it was free. I said factoring in what you paid prior to retiring is taking into account sunk costs, money that you can’t get back regardless. Some people will never see that back in using Medicare. A others will use it a lot. Some paid more into the system than others. In retirement some people actually have to pay premiums for that. That’s different than being free. Paying in advance helps with many people‘s retirement budget (especially since most people are bringing in less in retirement). Some people get back way more than they paid in and others will never break even. Just like with Social Security. Those both work the same way in that respect pay in advance. What you get back before you die is not fixed in stone. Current premiums, however don’t work that way, as we all know.

[Tonster521]

 @CBtoo With regard to the cost for Medicare Part A, please review your first sentence of your June 12, 2025 post. You have clearly stated that if you have enough work credits (Medicare taxes paid), the premiums for Part A are now free to you when retired. I concur that there will be no additional deduction from your SS Benefit payment, but Medicare Part A is not free. All of us have prepaid for Part A when working so that there would not be a huge cost for Part A when we stop working. I understand your view that the Medicare Taxes you paid are not refundable. So those taxes are "sunk costs" because you will never get those taxes back directly. However, you may benefit from those taxes in the future by accessing Medicare Part A benefits. Who pays for those Medicare Part a benefits? Is it you, your fellow workers, employers, the federal Government? If you answered all of the above, you are correct. You appear to have a financial background when you use the concept of "sunk costs". So, you should be aware that designating a cost as "sunk" does not mean those costs do not matter or should not be considered. A good example is the pharmaceutical business. Companies spend large amounts of money research & development, on salaries of biochemists, scientists, etc. and compounds that never make it out of the laboratory. Those costs are "sunk costs". If there is a subsequent successful drug, those costs may be recouped over the years. Until that time, those "sunk costs" are recorded as expenses and are considered. 

So, it depends on the specific context and how the term,"sunk costs", are being used. If you are on a "cash basis" using an out of pocket approach, I understand why you do not recognize the cost for Medicare Part A. However, there is a cost for Medicare Part A coverage and the benefits that are provided when or if needed. You may calculate your own individual costs over your working years which may be cumbersome for most folks. Or, simply use the current amount of $518 per month which the SS actuary has determined to be an appropriate amount for such coverage. At any rate, there is a cost for Medicare Part A. You can use either approach. However, to not recognize a cost for Medicare Part A coverage is understating the costs for your Medicare coverage whether you prepaid or "pay as you go".

[CBtoo]

It is now free to you once you take it IF you have the work credits (otherwise you still pay). That you paid into the system prior to taking it is irrelevant for the to free to you now with respect to not paying premiums for it once you retired. That is all I was talking about.

Sure, some people will have paid into the "system" prior to retirement more than they get back. Personally I'd rather be a "profit center" so to speak to the government for this (and any other insurance company, medicare B, D, and etc.) rather than be sick enough to have to actually use my health insurance (or car insurance or home owners insurance or renters insurance...).

[TRL1111]

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@CBtoo wrote:

I never said it was free. I said factoring in what you paid prior to retiring is taking into account sunk costs, money that you can’t get back regardless. 

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Plus it's just silly.  Under this thinking, people who get $2,000 a month in social security don't really get $2,000 because that number needs to be reduced by what they paid in taxes in order to get that $2,000.  

[Tonster521]

 @TRL111, The math you referenced is why many young folks do not agree with the SS Program. Many believe they will obtain better outcomes from simply investing their FICA payroll taxes over their working career. And for savvy folks who may compound their investments over time, this is true. At any rate, I suggest that you review the Greenspan Commission's findings from 1981 through 1982. You can find their Report at the SSA website. It is the basis of the 1983 Amendments to FICA aka Social Security. FYI, the SS Trust was projected to reach zero ($0.00) by August 1983. President Reagan formed a bi-partisan Commission headed by Allan Greenspan to develop solutions and save the SS Program. Prior to 1984, SS Benefits were not taxable. The reasons vary. However, one reason was that workers already paid federal income taxes on their earnings and then were subject to FICA payroll taxes on such earnings. That view changed in 1984 after the Greenspan Commission noted that SS benefits were funded 50%/50% by employee/employer. Because the employer did not pay federal taxes on their 50%, that shortfall was shifted to the SS Beneficiaries receiving SS payments if their income exceeded certain thresholds. This provision (50% taxable) was agreed upon rather than an "exclusion ratio" which is the approach you reference. In other words, your SS Benefits are not income until such SS Benefits exceed your FICA payroll taxes. It should be noted that any federal income taxes obtained via the 50% tax approach is returned to the SS trust and not directly kept by the U.S. Treasury. So, folks with other income that exceed the thresholds established in 1983 are, in effect, repaying their SS Benefits back to the SS Trust via the federal income tax provisions. So, there are a number of approaches to consider. First, will you and/or your survivor live long enough to exceed the amount of FICA payroll taxes that you and your employer(s) have paid during your working career. Second, you need to adjust the amount of SS Benefits paid to you by the amount you may be required to repay the SS Trust via the federal income tax provision. The time periods will vary from person to person, but generally, most receive their FICA payroll taxes back within 5 to 10 years. Based on income, approximately 50% of the folks are repaying the SS Trust every year via the federal income tax provision. In 1993, the federal income tax was increased from 50% to 85% of SS Benefits taxable. If you elect to do a thorough analysis of your situation, it will require a mathematical approach. If you use a future value approach using the time value of money and a reasonable discount rate of 5%, many never receive their FICA payroll taxes including employer(s) FICA taxes back over their lifetime. This does not include the federal income provisions which may make it even more difficult to recoup.

[TRL1111]

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@Tonster521 wrote:

At any rate, I suggest that you review the Greenspan Commission's findings from 1981 through 1982. 

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I'll pass, because it has nothing to do with how the increases in Medicare supplements are affecting people's budgets during retirement.

[CBtoo]

Lots of people take into account sunk costs for many things which makes no sense. Regardless of your sunk costs, if your income level says you get $2000/mo gross when you retire that is the size of the check minus whatever is taken out (for example B, etc.). 

I also (and this is an aside to this thread) the people who decide to take SS at 62 (who don't have to for other reasons) so they are more likely to get everything back they paid into it aren't thinking either. If you don't have other sources of income it would make more sense to wait to get the higher amount at 70 (if you can afford to wait) as you may well need that higher amount later when you can't earn extra income. You may never get back everything you paid in, but having a higher monthly income would certainly be helpful to many.