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.  

[Robert1P345275]

As AARP is sponsering this Plan G you would think that they would advocate for us members and get them to adjust the increase to a more managable number.

I had planned an increase of approximately 5% but when I calculated a 17% increase I was like holy crap...  And now if you wish to change you have to be approved medically and can be declined coverage. 

So what does AARP have to say....

[jo85336578]

Robert,

I feel your pain - I do. My AARP-UNH G premium is going up 35% in January 2027. I'm sure they had "loss ratios" to prove that they needed/deserved the premium increases. I can't control the health insurance market. But I do have control over my choices (and I am humble and grateful that I pass medical underwriting) but my plan is to switch from G to HD-G effective the date of the planned rate increase: 1/1/27. And friend, I don't intend any of this as sounding "snarky," but AARP makes three times more money from lending its name to everything from home and auto insurance, online therapy, dental insurance, hearing aid services and even savings accounts, compared to all the AARP membership fees so there's a clear conflict of interest. I did not choose my AARP-UNH policy because AARP was in the name.  Stamping AARP on a product means much less than a Consumer Reports recommendation. Control what you can control and make your best shot. I wouldn't waste any time waiting to hear a comment from AARP; they like/need UNH's checks.

[TRL1111]

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@jo85336578 wrote:

my plan is to switch from G to HD-G effective the date of the planned rate increase: 1/1/27. 

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Just curious why you're waiting to switch.  You can pass underwriting today, and odds are you can pass a few months from now, but why risk it?  And why not start saving money with the high-deductible plan immediately?  

[jo85336578]

True, I could begin saving some (although not as much as I will in January 2027 after my G premium rises 35%), but the main reason I'm waiting to the new year is the annual HD-G deductible that could hit me for the last five months of the year and would be painful if I had a hospital admission in those five months. Running "the numbers" makes a compelling case for enrolling in HD-G in 2027 but not so much for the last four or five months of 2026. I plan to enroll as early as my new insurance company accepts new 2027 applications: October 15 I believe. 

[VirginiaN897716]

Iam paying $227 a month for Plan G with wellness.  United healthcare will not let me cancel the wellness to lower my premium. These increases are totally unfounded and AARP has led us all astray. Shame on them for scaring, lying, and taking advantage of seniors this way. How awful this is.

[CBtoo]

I have the same problem. They are lying that it is "FREE extras". Nope when the one without all the "extras" costs significantly less these extras aren't even remotely close to free. 

You can switch though if you pass medical underwriting (if you don't live in one of the states where you can switch without doing that once a  year).

The told me a different subsidiary runs the no "extras" version thus you have to pass medical underwriting to switch into it because it is a different company. It's part of the same **** (fill in your favorite swear words) company so corporate doesn't have to have those rules. They are choosing to do so because well over half of the people with those "extras" never use them so that is a big money maker for them. 

[TRL1111]

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@CBtoo wrote:

I have the same problem. They are lying that it is "FREE extras". Nope when the one without all the "extras" costs significantly less these extras aren't even remotely close to free. 

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It depends on the location. 

I like to play around with the plan finder just to get an idea of what's going on in various places.  A couple of years ago, I noticed that at a certain age in Texas, the Plan G with wellness extras was actually cheaper than the plan without the extras.  But since then, they've stopped offering the plan without extras in Texas, so you can't compare premiums any more using a plan finder.  But the plan without extras will probably go up faster because there are no younger people joining it (closed book).

When I got mine at 65, the version without wellness extras was about $10/month less than the one with the extras.  So it wasn't "significantly" less.

But to make my point about variances among locations--if you go to AARP/UHC's plan finder and use zip code 60601 (Chicago), a 65-year old would pay $226 for Plan G, and $195 for Plan G with wellness extras.  So for that location, getting the wellness extras actually costs $31/month less than if you didn't get them.  For someone who's 100 years old, the plan with the extras costs $100/month less than the plan without them.

I tried Denver, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Rapid City, Baltimore, Kansas City Missouri, and Salt Lake City, but none have plans without wellness extras.  So I may have lucked out by choosing Chicago for an example.

No, wait.  Kansas City Kansas has the two flavors of Plan G.  For a 65-year-old, the Plan G with wellness extras is $31/month more than the one without.  And for a 75-year-old, the one with wellness extras costs $72/month more.  I would consider $72/month significant.  But at age 85, the one with wellness extras is $34 cheaper than the one without.  IIRC, that's how it was with my Plan G in Texas--it was a little more when I was 65, but would actually be cheaper when I got to be a lot older.  But I can't look that up any more because the one without wellness extras doesn't appear on any plan finders because it's not open to new enrollees.

Actually, I believe you're in Mississippi, so I looked at plans for Jackson.  At 65 years old, the Plan G with wellness extras is $34/month more.  But at age 100, the difference is $29/month.  It certainly never becomes cheaper, like it does in other places.

Anyway, it's obviously very dependent on location.  Where you are is the only one I found that acted like my Texas one did, before they stopped offering the one without wellness extras.  It does indicate that changing from one with wellness extras to one without might save some money right now, but there's no telling what will happen in the future AND if they continue this trend of closing the book on the plans without wellness extras, it might be a current savings but maybe not in a few years.

It's just part of the cruel crapshoot that is Medicare.

[CBtoo]

When you actually get the amounts, the amount I’m paying has nothing in common with what’s given for my age on any website. That’s true for a couple of other people I know who don’t live in Mississippi. I’m paying about 90 extra dollars a year for the extras up from 70

[TRL1111]

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@CBtoo wrote:

When you actually get the amounts, the amount I’m paying has nothing in common with what’s given for my age on any website. That’s true for a couple of other people I know who don’t live in Mississippi. 

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It's not true for me in Texas.  Using my zip code, age, sex, and smoking status on Medicare.gov's plan finder, I get a premium of $215 for AARP/UHC Plan G.

Using AARP's website, I get a premium of $216.64 for that plan.  My actual premium is $214.64; I believe the $2 difference is an EFT discount.

It's real accurate for me.  I wonder why.

[TRL1111]

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@CBtoo wrote:

When you actually get the amounts, the amount I’m paying has nothing in common with what’s given for my age on any website. That’s true for a couple of other people I know who don’t live in Mississippi. 

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I wonder why not.  On Medicare.gov, using my zip code, age, sex, and smoking status, I get a premium of $215 for an AARP/UHC Plan G. 

On the AARP/UHC website, that plan has a premium of $216.64.  My actual premium is $214.64--I believe the $2 difference is due to an EFT discount.

It's very accurate for me.

[jo85336578]

As I've posted, AARP/UHC Plan's announced plans to raise my monthly premium by 35% effective 1/1/2027 motivated me to look for alternatives. Accordingly, I'm planning to switch to HD-G effective 1/1/2027. Even with all the research I've done, I still realize that there are many "unknown unknowns." But for me, the HD-G plan carries the least risk of skyrocking healthcare costs when you include the costs of Medigap premiums. Everyone's situation is different. 

[somarco]

 changing to another, more affordable carrier at my first opportunity . . . . 

MEDIGAP plans can be changed at anytime (subject to underwriting). If you live in a birthday/anniversary state that affords you another option.

[jo85336578]

So please report back when you find your plan at a lower price, please.

[CBtoo]

Be sure when you do this is look at what the premiums will be when you are old across any of the companies you are looking at and the one you are moving from. If they are far steeper the older you get in one or more companies avoid them since you can't predict what will happen with passing medical underwriting in the future.

Also some people fail it due to mistakes in their medical records. Before you apply look very carefully with respect to what is recorded in there. Then if there are errors you need the doctor to fix them, then it needs resubmitted to medicare (and earlier insurances if you have had medicare for less than 5 years as most things have a 2-3-5 year look back) to fix "mistakes". Only after that has gone through apply. If you can get your hands on the actual questions that should reduce the number of errors you need to fix if mistakes in there aren't included in what they check for.

Of course having an accurate medical record is a good thing anyway, but it is easier to correct just your medical record than having to correct insurance as the databases they look in record diagnoses and they use that, not what you say. If you fail and want to argue you will need to provide them (and that is not free and can't be mailed by you or be from what you can see in your medical records online) full medical records for however many years the look back is for the condition or medication. That will cost big bucks and you will have to pay for it.

[rr1026788]

United Healthcare had profits of $14.4 billion in 2024 and $12.1 billion in 2025. Profit was reduced due to restructuring. Why do the customers have to pay for restructuring? Are these profits not enough? My plan increased 23% and I do not think this is justified. After all Medicare only raised their premium 9.7%. I believe AARP should have enough clout with United Healthcare to pressure them for a decrease in the members health insurance costs!

[CBtoo]

Some of that increase was the declining discounts you get as you get older. Taking those out will give you the across the board increase everyone had.

[GailL1]

@rr1026788 

United Healthcare Group is a giant company -

• it serves Medicare with its Medicare Advantage plans (Medicare Part C) and as a supplement to Medicare (Medigap) as well as Medicaid and dual eligible plans - also special needs plans. 
• I believe it participate in marketplace plans for those who need individual health plan coverage - subsidized and not.
• It has a huge presence in employer provided health benefits, including some union plans
• It also has Optum, Optum Health, Insight, and Rx divisions
• It also operates some divisions in Canada

It is in some highly regulated health fields - like Medicare and the ACA where it has to play by the rules of coverage and payout a certain % (85%) of premiums for care with the remaining 15% going to administration and profit.

FOR ALL MEDIGAP INSURERS:  Premiums for your Medigap plan aren’t set on a whim - they are based on (1) USAGE (2) RISK (3) INFLATION.  Medigap plans are overseen by STATES not the federal government.  YOUR state approves the premium rate increases for Medigap plans.  

So if, as you say, “ My plan increased 23% and I do not think this is justified.  After all Medicare only raised their premium 9.7%. I believe AARP should have enough clout with United Healthcare to pressure them for a decrease in the members health insurance costs!”   Perhaps you should check with your states Dept of Insurance and get an explanation as to why they approved this amount of an increase.  AARP has nothing to do with UHC and their rates - their relationship is based solely on royalties that AARP gets for the use of their branded name - that is the extent of AARP’s clout in the relationship.

 Medicare raises their Part B premiums every year when there is a need since that is partially how Part B is financed (25% from premiums and 75% from the government (taxpayers) money)  but that is assessed on ALL beneficiaries - those with Original Medicare and those with Medicare Advantage plans.  And in some ways, Part B premiums are constrained by the annual COLA , which we get, because of the Social Security Hold Harmless Clause.  Medical inflation is outpacing regular inflation.  So who knows how next year will go in Part B premium assessment.  

Medigap is not really health insurance - it is financial protection insurance for those on Original Medicare to prevent a catastrophic medical event from hitting those on OG Medicare since OG Medicare has no limit on out of pocket cost.  

We have a huge number of seniors on Medicare and those who have OG Medicare and no other means of covering the part that Medicare does not cover have to have a Medigap plan and they are using their benefits big time.  When they use their benefits, their Medigap plan pays it’s part of the cost according to the plan they have picked.  Plan G is the most popular at the present time.  

Every time a state passes a law that expands their guaranteed issue rules for a Medigap plan, it increases the risk that is put on the insurer and the plan.  Thus you are also paying for this good deed of letting people switch plans WITHOUT underwriting or by expanding the plan choices of those who are less than 65 and are on Medicare because of a disability.  

Of course, you can always switch plans or insurers in some cases, by underwriting or by using your state rules on this, if you have that in your state.  

Also UHC is NOT the only Medigap insurer that are raising rates this year. It is pretty much all of them, at least the ones that are the big(er) players.

I suggest you at least try to understand how premium increases happen in the Medigap realm because calling on AARP to do something about it is an act of futility. 

Ask yourself, is my Medigap plan still a good value at the premium rate I am paying?  

Of course, it is, unless you have the money to pay out of pocket - it is not mandated to have a Medigap plan but it sure helps the ole pocketbook if there is a need for healthcare since OG Medicare does not have a maximum out of pocket and your share of the whole COULD go sky high.  The optimum word here is COULD - risk vs reality.

Ask yourself, could I take on part of the risk and pay at least something for my OG Medicare healthcare and perhaps pick another Medigap plan with lower premiums.

Of course, you can, but that decision is up to you, your healthcare needs and your pocketbook.

It isn’t on AARP, it is up to you to decide what is right for you.  Premiums for Medigap plans is not gonna go down.  Medical science is marching on - new treatments, expensive treatments are being approved and added everyday - treatments and monitoring of Alzheimers patients, chemotherapy for cancer victims, to name but just a couple - all these things drive up medical cost -  and when OG Medicare pays, your Medigap plan pays based on the plan you chose.   And that is what insurance is - a plan for your to pay for me and me pay for you.  Everytime I use it, you pay and vice versa.  

[TRL1111]

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@rr1026788 wrote:

My plan increased 23% and I do not think this is justified. 

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Premiums are based on the amount of claims that the plan has to cover.  How much did claims go up for your plan last year?

[jo85336578]

After learning that my 2027 premium on my AARP United Healthcare Plan G will rise 35% in January 2027, I am asking how do I make an informed / intelligent decision of which insurance company to move to?? (I know I can consult Medicare dot gov but that site only shows current (2026) premium rates and nothing about historical rates of increase, etc. I'm ready to move away from AARP / UHC!!

[GailL1]

@jo85336578 

1st are you on Medicare because of your age (over 65) or a disability (under 65)?  That makes a difference in what you can and cannot do in some states.

Next:  what state are you within ?  That is the place to start to find out what the rules for switching plans are in your home state.  Are you going to have to go thru underwriting or is there a “birthday rule” or in a few states continuous enrollment.

You can talk to a SHIP agent in your state - (State Health Insurance Programs Assistance)  Here is the locator for your state.

SHIPHelp,org  

OR you can talk to a long time, respected, independent Medicare Insurance broker in your area and sit down with them and let them do the info gathering for you - it cost you nothing.  They only get paid if you select a plan with their representation.  Ask friend and relatives who they might use.  OR as the agent that you buy your other insurance products from like homeowners or auto - they too may have a recommendation of a local, independent Medicare Plan in your area,  

It is sometimes difficult to to compare rating history of a particular insurer unless your state legislates that they all do it the same way - either community rated, issue age related or attained age related.  You would need to know this for any new insurer that you are considering - I believe ALL AARP/UHC Medicare Supplemental plans are community rated and are considered a group plan but maybe more than one specific group depending on which subsidiary might have done the underwriting of your policy.

I have always found that this publication from Medicare is a good overall description of Medigap plans even though at the national level the only thing they do is establish the individual plan descriptions on which plans stay open and which ones they are restricting from any further sales like in 2020 when they stopped the sale of Plan F and Plan C to stop first dollar coverage.  In 2010, they stopped any more sales of Plan H, I, J and I think E for the reason that they no longer were applicable with the changes to Medicare in early 2000’s with the advent of Medicare Part D. 

It is just a general knowledge publication but it helps to understand the actual coverage of a Medigap plan.  A Medigap plan is NOT part of the program of Medicare.  It is private insurance that is purchased in combination with Original Medicare - it is medical financial protection insurance to help a beneficiary out if they are struck with some cost catastrophic medical event since OG Medicare does not have a limit on out of pocket cost.  

Whoops forgot the link - here it is:

Medicare.gov - Medicare Supplemental Insurance 

 I will be happy to look up any state info for you on Medigap laws - if you need any help - it is usually found on your state’s dept of insurance website or related government agency site - like some times it is the dept of finance. Just let me know here if I can assist you in at least getting you started with your options.

[cherylrose103]

I don't believe he is talking about leaving Plan G, but looking at other companies with the same Plan G, but with lower premiums.

[jo85336578]

Cheryl,

Yes, initially I was looking at other companies' regular G plan but only one other company had announced the 2027 rates at that point. But I remembered hearing a little about HD-G plans and was now motivated to really become intimately knowledgeable about the plans. I decided that many people can't think beyond "that's such a huge deductible" instead of comparing "Best case" vs. "worst case" annual outcomes. To me, the choice of a HD-G plan became clearer once the difference In monthly premiums (G vs. HD-G) approached $250. That's what one should focus on and not just the deductible, IMO.

[GailL1]

@cherylrose103 

I believe he answered that in his next post to me - Plus it doesn’t matter in most states - same underwriting would be required if just switching plans or just switching insurers.

@jphorenci seems to be considering a Plan HD-G in comparison to the Plan G.  (see his next post to me) That would be a large savings especially in the years where there is no major medical expenses.  Even then it is still a savings over the lifetime.

Problem is when people have to outlay money for healthcare, they forget about the savings that they had accrued by going to he HD-G plan in the 1st place - so maybe a good thing to do is set aside the savings in an account for the 1st year anyway so it will remind one of the savings.  

If one is gonna switch plans whether by underwriting or just because you have the ability to do it every year, (heed your state laws) then if at all possible, maximize the savings don’t just piddle with it cause you will just be constantly chasing the “pie in the sky” IMO.

[jo85336578]

Gail,

For 2027, my current G plan's monthly premiums would be $270 ($3,240 per year) and an annual deductible of $283.

For 2027, I can get a BCBS HD-G plan for $41.25 per month ($495 per year) with an annual deductible of $2,950.

For either one, I would have to pay my Part B monthly premiums.

Therefore it appears that my best case outcome would be $3240 for G and $495 HD- G.

And worst case would be $3523 for G and $3445 for HD-G.

This leaves out the monthly Part B premiums due regardless of which plan I choose.

Summary:  A no-brainer with HD-G the clear winner in both best and worse cases.

Is my analysis correct?

[GailL1]

@jo85336578 - corrected to the proper addressee

Your figures are correct.  Your analysis is correct.

 I have a different view from @TRL1111 - I have never had a problem keeping up with insurance claims - I know how they are paid and just follow them on an Excel spreadsheet.

I also like to save money - And I feel that paying something for my medical care (more than the Part B deductible) is perfectly fine with me.   I am grateful that I can.

I think you will also find that the HD-G will have much lower increases also - most likely a healthier group, and ones that will most likely not head to the doc for every little thing.  That’s IMO, of course.

Pick the plan that is best for you, your health and your pocketbook.

[jo85336578]

Gail,

If I move from my current AARP/UHC "G" plan to a NC BCBS HD-G plan starting info January 2027,  my HD-G for 2027 would cost less than my G plan regardless of my health events.  Regardless of plan choice, the insureds should be sure they will have the liquidity to pay bills regularly.  If the numbers work as they did for me, HD-G will cost less than Plan G no matter what my health is in 2027. And I believe that the support my numbers show for HD-G will only increase over my remaining lifetime because premium increases for G will surpass HD-G. Here's more information about my plans:

Is the wealth / cash flow problem in America forcing seniors to pick Medigap Plan G over HD-G?

Once a senior sees that the total annual cost of Plan HD-G premiums  (around $495) plus the annual deductible (this year $2950) in my case exceeds the annual cost of Plan G's premiums (my actual announced $3270) plus the $283 annual Part B deductible and sees that in either the best case or worst case scenario, the HD-G plan would save the senior money, the only reason I can imagine for not choosing the HD-G plan is the seniior's lack of wealth or cash flow to support the irregular cash flows (but lower expense) of the HD-G plan.

Some have said that they fear being on HD-G in a future that they ima gine will bring higher medical expenses. That is simply illogical because the HD-G pays the same as G once the annual deductible is met. (And the deductibles actually paid are already included in the worst (or best) case scenarios described above.

Some have mentioned perceived fear of not meeting medical underwriting to get back to either G or N. To that I ask, "Why you ever want to return to G or N" after enrolling in HD-G?  In coming years and for the rest of your life, the monthly premiums of either G or N are expected to ilancrease much more than HD-G. 

So it must be a worry that you cannot afford to possible irregular cash flows associated with HD-G. May I suggest that before signing up for HD-G, you establish a separate FDIC-insured savings account to pay for your HD-G monthly premiums ($41 in my case) plus any deductibles that you might have. And if I were to establish a separate savings account to pay for a Plan G (for its monthly premiums of $3270 plus the Part B deductible), I would have to deposit a greater amount. So while the cash flows would be irregular, the cost of Plan G would , in my case for 2027, would be greater than the cost of HD-G.

The figures above the 2027 premiums of a HD-G plan I have found from N.C. BCBS (for NC residents only) and the announced 2027 premiums of $270 for an AARP/UHC Plan G with spousal and new member discounts. I would bet with a high level of certainty that future G premiums will rise faster and more than HD-G premiums. 

[GailL1]

@jo85336578 

I think I am gonna answer your question here under your new thread just because this one is getting so very long and it is aged with so many post from yesteryears.

[TRL1111]

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@jo85336578 wrote:

the only reason I can imagine for not choosing the HD-G plan is the seniior's lack of wealth or cash flow to support the irregular cash flows (but lower expense) of the HD-G plan.

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Actually, my reason for not choosing HD-G over regular G is the opposite of lack of wealth--I can afford the premiums (so far, anyway) without affecting my lifestyle, and dealing with medical bills annoys me no end.  I'm the type who likes to understand what's going on, especially if I'm paying for something, and even my really paltry number of medical bills has things I can't figure out.

I posted about a week ago about a check for $114 I got from Medicare that I simply don't understand.  Actually, if you'd like to take a look at it and explain it for me, I would really appreciate it.  And if you can't explain it, you'd better be the type who just pays what they're told to pay.  Which a lot of people are, but I just can't make myself do it.  I don't even like getting the $114 check from Medicare because it means I didn't pay everything I was supposed to last year.

community.aarp.org/t5/Medicare-Insurance/Recent-premium-increase-for-United-Healthcare-coverages/m-p... 

Also, did you look at what the Plan G premium from a different company than your current AARP/UHC would be?  My AARP/UHC Plan G is $182, but the cheapest available is $105; if I switched to that I could save $77 a month and continue to have a plan that pays everything after I meet the Part B deductible.  

[GailL1]

@TRL1111 

I tried to follow your link to the $ 114 but it just kept coming back to here  - but I found it in your history and gave you a reply - well as good of a guess as I could.