Drop AARP now - they are a shill for UnitedHealthcare

[KatK]

One easy action: Drop your AARP membership and let them know why on their Facebook page (leave comment on a post), Instagram, or (if you still use it) X,

Why?

"UnitedHealthcare has the worst record among all large insurers in denying necessary medical care to its subscribers.The data confirm what far too many patients experience. In 2023, UnitedHealth’s denial rate of claims was 32 percent, compared to an industry average of 16 percent. Nonprofits had a far better record than for-profits.

...

Why on earth would consumers buy such a flawed insurance product? It helps if they are captive customers, steered to UnitedHealth by a trusted source.

That would be AARP.

AARP has just under 38 million members. But AARP is basically an insurance marketing scheme masquerading as an advocacy group for the elderly.

For 27 years, UnitedHealth has been the co-branded choice of AARP. If you are looking for a supplemental policy to conventional Medicare, or a Medicare Advantage product, or a Medicare drug insurance policy, AARP will steer you to UnitedHealth. And only to UnitedHealth."


Read Robert Kuttner's Dec 11 article How AARP Shills for UnitedHealthcare

[JohnSJ]

1. No thank-you. I am NOT on their advantage care plans, and have absolutely no issues with them. Why would I cut my

nose off to spite my face?

As long as Medicare approves the procedure, it has to be covered under the supplemental plans. Not so with the Advantage Plans.

The problem per se isn't UHC but the Medicare Advantage plans that folks are on because I suspect many don't have the means to pay the premiums for the straight medi-gap plans.

This also applies to all insurance companies. Other insurer Advantage plans have the same problem, not just UHC.

This also may apply to HMO's under ANY insurance company, not just UHC, and many people may not have a choice. They need to select from what the company they work for has.

They can go for the ACA, but in most cases a company offered plan will have better premiums.

It is very unwise to make a blanket statement that some less informed people may make a decision that can adversely affect them on a public forum.

People need to make decisions on what is best for them.

I don't care what your suppossed stats show, the problem is with Advantage Plans and HMO's, not with Medicare Supplemental plans.

Incidentally, if you are on a Medicare Advantage Plan, it is NOT a given thing that you can just transfer to a Medicare Supplemental Plan.

[Scrivener7]

3. UHC, though, is the worst offender by a large margin.

[JohnSJ]

6. Not if you are on a Medicare Supplemental Plan. If Medicare approves a procedure or visit, they MUST cover it. It is

only if you are on an advantage plan where you can be denied.

I will say it again the problem isn't UHC per se, but all insurance Advantage and HMO plans.

Aetna, Humana, Blue Cross, etc. have all denied coverage to people under questionable circumstances for those under an Advantage Plan.

Advantage Plans allow the insurer to dictate what is covered, not Medicare or a party that doesn't have a conflict of interest. THAT IS WHAT NEEDS TO BE CHANGED.

[Yonnie3]

17. Yep

This brings to mind the saying: "I'm not going to cut off my nose to spite my face."

My AARP branded UHC supplemental plan (F) has never been a problem.

Before I was on Medicare, I had numerous problems with Anthem and other insurance provided by my Employer and ACA Marketplace. The worst was that in the middle of cancer treatments, all of my treatment team were suddenly off network. The providers informed me of the upcoming change, but it was not possible to set up my weekly treatments with a new team in less than months and no way to get the team back on the network. This cost me much money and UHC wasn't the insurer.

[Henry203]

28. Mutual of Omaha

has the best price. All supplemental plans are the same. It is mandated by the government.

[moniss]

19. However the denial stats for UHC under

Advantage Plans is far worse than anybody else. Also you do not need AARP membership in order to have a supplemental plan. Those plans are in fact simply a matter of who you want to pay. The premiums and the coverages are regulated and any differences between the companies will be the customer service experience of paperwork processing etc. types of things. In other words the premium for Level X coverage is the same with Physicians Mutual as it is for UHC.

AARP, which I have been a member of for many years until now, has morphed from their original incarnation and is now more of a marketing and sales organization aimed at a market segment. Their advocacy and effectiveness has been more and more spotty. People are thankfully finally beginning to "vote" with their feet and their wallet. I understand and appreciate you making the distinction about Supplement versus Advantage but you need to recognize that people leaving AARP because of their cozy relationship with UHC is not a bad thing.

[JohnSJ]

36. That may be, but Advantage Plans in general are where the problem is, and going after one insurer will NOT fix the

problem.

They need t fix the Advantage Plans so insurers must cover a procedure if their physician warrants it necessary.

[moniss]

41. However the issue is not just the insurer

but also this huge organization that cuddles them.

[DownriverDem]

30. Almost half of seniors

are on a MA plan. If Dr. Oz gets his way so will you too. Besides many seniors can't afford a supplemental plan and drug plan. Too many folks don't get this.

[Voltaire2]

2. Can't drop what I never picked up.

AARP has always been sus.

[Henry203]

27. AARP has th best denatl

it is Delta Dental and covers impants. The only policy that does.

[young_at_heart]

4. I sent them a SHAME letter about "The Donut Hole"

Every time I'd get a plea to join AARP during the Bush Jr. years I would "return to sender" with the word SHAME in large letters on the envelope because they supported Bush. I have never once joined AARP because of that!

[Ritabert]

5. What's a better supplemental plan?

I'm stuck with UHC until next October although I've never had trouble with their supplemental insurance (not an Advantage plan.)

[JohnSJ]

7. Exactly. No supplemental plan can deny coverage if Medicare says it is covered. Advantage Plans allow the insurance

companies to decide what they will or won' cover.

As long as it is an approved procedure or therapy, it will be covered under a supplemental plan.

The danger is if Oz takes over, along with the jerk RFK jr. That can adversely affect us all.

[Ritabert]

15. Good point.

[QED]

8. I have Physicians Mutual through Plan G

No complaints, they've covered everything so far. But then, I haven't needed them much.

[Ritabert]

13. Thanks. I'll look into it next October

We've been through a gall bladder surgery and hospitalization for an ulcer (my husband) and wrist surgery for me.

[Henry203]

25. Mutual of Omaha has the best price

[Ritabert]

40. Thanks I'll check it out. UHC isn't cheap.

[erronis]

12. USAA.com has a very good supplemental.

[Henry203]

24. They are all the same

mandated by the government. Mutual of Omaha has the best price.

[spooky3]

31. There are different plans, identified by letters. Plans with the same letters

(E.g., “N”) are standardized.

https://www.medicare.gov/health-drug-plans/medigap/basics

[Henry203]

33. I did the research

and the prices for the same plans from UHC, Blue Cross were both about $50 more per month for the same plan from Mutual of Omaha. Blue was close to $175. UHC was $165 and Mutual of Omaha was $112.

[spooky3]

34. My point is that your posts that "the plans are all the same"

May be misleading to some people because you didn’t differentiate them by letters.

[Henry203]

26. Mutual of Omaha

has the best price. All supplemental plans are the same. It is manf dated by the government.

[Ms. Toad]

39. Supplemental plans are identical. It doesn't matter who you buy them from,

so you should buy the cheapest over time. (I plotted out cost through age 100, based on historical data - UHC was considerably cheaper than its lowest competitor).

Aside from that, if you drop your supplemental plan, there is no guarantee you would ever be issued another one. You have one chance (in most states) to pick a supplemental plan. Unless you move or the company goes out of business, no other company is required to issue you a plan - and if they choose to, they can charge you based on your current state of health.

[JohnSJ]

9. What Robert Kuttner should be talking about is the problem with Medicare Advantage Plans or HMO's, because

that is the real problem with all insurance companies where the insurance company can play doctor.

Picking out one insurance company out of a group that practices the same thing is not a solution. Address the real solution, Advantage plans and HMOs.

[AKwannabe]

10. And not only that!

It is a Republican RAG! So many seniors have been duped into believing that AARP is for seniors. They are NOT. They are for money and have been making it hand over fist for decades! Fuck that rag.

Never will I ever be their member.

[Henry203]

23. AARP does delta dfental

It is the only dental plan that covers impalnts. If you go staright to Delta Dental they will not cober impalnts.

[2naSalit]

11. I had a sub...

For a year but discontinued because they really don't do anything for you and their scant advice is hardly worth it.

[milestogo]

14. I have not had any problems whatsoever with United HealthCare.

I do not use Facebook or Instagram.

This is not the time of year to make a change. The enrollment period had closed.

Sorry for not following your order.

[DownriverDem]

16. Don't have United Healthcare

I like AARP. I belong to The Ethel Group including the local group (The Ethel Gathering Group - Detroit & Suburbs) I have met some nice ladies going out to lunch with them.

[summer_in_TX]

18. UnitedHealth has long been known for its cruel policies.

I remember way back (maybe during the Reagan administration when homelessness soared to 4 million?), a news investigation revealed medical debt was a large driver even for those who had health insurance.

UnitedHealth was cited by the investigation for their aggressive “recissions,” terminating the insurance coverage for patients with life-threatening conditions when paying providers was going to bite into profits. They’d scour patients’ insurance paperwork for tiny mistakes to justify dropping them.

Desperately ill patients had to wait for care on appeals that often never resulted in the help they’d paid for in all good faith. And then they’d get dropped. Patients died and families were left destitute.

I suspect AARP was always mostly there to promote AARP and give them cover after the bad publicity. I never have nor ever will give them one dime because of the lives they’ve destroyed.

[Figarosmom]

20. This is a known

[Linda ladeewolf]

21. I dropped AARP

A long time ago. I dropped United H this fall, I hope my new provider is better.

[Henry203]

22. AARP also does delta dental

and it is the only dental plan that does implants. It is not AARP fault but it is ourselves as a consumer. If you do the research Mutual of Omaha has the best prices for the supllemental and it is exactly the same as AARP/UHC plan. The best vison is VSP. Don't blame AARP, it is your job to find out the most cost effective plan.

[Ms. Toad]

38. In both Ohio (two years ago, 15 years ago) and Nebraska (30 years ago)

Mutual of Omaha wasn't even close in cost to the UHC cost.

Humana dental covers at least some implants.

Cost, and what is covered, vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction.

[Mblaze]

29. United Health owns AARP

I've never joined. I have enough recycling without it. 😀

[barbtries]

32. never joined.

they sure tried though. like starting when I was 50? I'm 69 now and they leave me alone.

[kelly1mm]

35. No thanks. We have both an AARP membership and a UHC health insurance plan through ACA. Happy

with both (well, happy as one can be with any health insurance plan). Were previously on school board provided BC/BC plan for over 20 years and have similarly minor issues.

[Ms. Toad]

37. In every jurisdiction I've checked, their Supplemental Plan is the best available

Lowest initial cost, lowest increase over time, one of the smallest ranges over which age-related increases are taken.

Supplemental plans are identical (absent add-ons). Decide on the plan you want and by the one that is the cheapest over time. UHC was the cheapest when my parents bought their plans roughly 30 years ago, again when they had the opportunity to switch because they were moving out of state, and again when my spouse and I bought our plans 2 years ago.

My father's plan (at age 94) is around 200 a month. He pays the annual deductible (less than $300) and around $20 per office visit. My spouse and I have the deductible only plan. As of January 1, I pay $115/month. She pays $134 (she is older, so she is a couple of steps up the age-based increases). My mother is the only one not on UHC. She has 100% coverage and pays between 3 and 400 a month (to save the $300 deductible). My father wasn't able to convince her to switch when they had the chance (her mental faculties are declining).

Not a chance in the world I'm dropping my UHC plan.