medicare SUPPLEMENT plan broker needed

AARPUHC - G. Yes.

Wendy: You can also look at this discussion; start at March 30, 2023

https://www.bogleheads.org/forum/viewtopic.php?p=7196143&hilit=AARP+united+healthcare#p7196143

Hi all. Just to update you all as to what my household has done and what I found out. dickf3 is right about the lack of transparency of the AARP UHC decreasing "loyalty" discounts. But the good news is that come June that will change. I am on Medicare Part B with the aforesaid AARP UHC supplement effective May 1 and asked tons of questions as an educated consumer (and nudgy and still employed lawyer ).  The Summary of Account I got for May shows a plan rate that is the standard rate and then it says "any discounts are reflected in the amount due on the monthly coupons."  So first no more coupons. Each member of a Household will be billed separately but as long as you've given all permission come June I can call and pay for each of ours monthly bill by credit card (yes, do that to get your own points/cash back as the EFT does not give you the discount that points/cash back does).  The Household discount is 7 percent which doesn't change but pales in comparison to the so-called and miss named loyalty discount start at 34 percent and 33 percent for me and spouse respectively. And yes then it does decline each year. So while it is community pricing it is in fact an age increase. But it's still the best plan for us. At least going forward AARP UHC will be more transparent. Probably complaints and regulators looking into things caused this but who knows. I do know they are very accessible with all the queries I had for the last week. That is a plus. Hope this rambling helps some folks.

Wendy Lauter

Query - why supplements over Advantage plans?  I know some folks who have been on Advantage plans for years and like them and NYC has been trying to push its retirees onto an Advantage plan but retirees have successfully pushed back.  NYC alleges the benefits will be much greater (though I don't understand why they don't offer the Advantage plan and see if people switch on their own).

Thanks.

Steve said:

Query - why supplements over Advantage plans?  I know some folks who have been on Advantage plans for years and like them and NYC has been trying to push its retirees onto an Advantage plan but retirees have successfully pushed back.  NYC alleges the benefits will be much greater (though I don't understand why they don't offer the Advantage plan and see if people switch on their own).

Thanks.

Supplement plans allow for more freedom of choice than some advantage plans, no network limitation on which doctors are covered by the plan, no referrals needed, no gate keeper telling you the procedure you want/need will not be covered.  Advantage plans may include benefits that supplement plans don’t such as transportation to medical appointments, meal delivery after discharge from hospital or rehab, wellness programs, case manager, home visits, etc.  There really is no best choice for everyone.  The NYC case, still in the courts, would result in a cost saving to the City.  City retirees see it as a loss of freedom of choice since they can now choose from a variety of Medicare plans, one of which is the AETNA plan the City is pushing.  Another issue is that a significant number of retirees have moved outside of the NY metropolitan area and may not get adequate coverage under the AETNA plan.

joan_crystal said:

Steve said:

Query - why supplements over Advantage plans?  I know some folks who have been on Advantage plans for years and like them and NYC has been trying to push its retirees onto an Advantage plan but retirees have successfully pushed back.  NYC alleges the benefits will be much greater (though I don't understand why they don't offer the Advantage plan and see if people switch on their own).

Thanks.

Supplement plans allow for more freedom of choice than some advantage plans, no network limitation on which doctors are covered by the plan, no referrals needed, no gate keeper telling you the procedure you want/need will not be covered.  Advantage plans may include benefits that supplement plans don’t such as transportation to medical appointments, meal delivery after discharge from hospital or rehab, wellness programs, case manager, home visits, etc.  There really is no best choice for everyone.  The NYC case, still in the courts, would result in a cost saving to the City.  City retirees see it as a loss of freedom of choice since they can now choose from a variety of Medicare plans, one of which is the AETNA plan the City is pushing.  Another issue is that a significant number of retirees have moved outside of the NY metropolitan area and may not get adequate coverage under the AETNA plan.

Well said Joan!  

Thanks Joan and Wendy, but I was more curious why (in general terms) the posters on this thread chose supplements over Advantage plans.

Steve said:

Thanks Joan and Wendy, but I was more curious why (in general terms) the posters on this thread chose supplements over Advantage plans.

Joan herself is on an Advantage plan. Others like me and dick are on supplement plans. I think Joan gave you very good reasons - in general terms - why some folks choose supplement plans. For me it was the freedom to choose among other reasons and the possibility that some of my valued doctors would not be on such a plan. If you need more detail than what I have given you generally feel free to contact me privately.

Wendy Lauter

Real person

Hi Steve. Are you on Medicare yet and if not why not and if so what plan are you on? Thanks for the specific information if you don't mind. 

I am not (not old enough - yet). I'm getting near that age and was just trying to understand why some people prefer supplements and others prefer Advantage plans (my mom has been on an Advantage plan for years now).

wendy said:

Hi Steve. Are you on Medicare yet and if not why not and if so what plan are you on? Thanks for the specific information if you don't mind. 

wendy said:

Joan herself is on an Advantage plan. Others like me and dick are on supplement plans. I think Joan gave you very good reasons - in general terms - why some folks choose supplement plans. For me it was the freedom to choose among other reasons and the possibility that some of my valued doctors would not be on such a plan. If you need more detail than what I have given you generally feel free to contact me privately.

Wendy Lauter

Real person

Thank you.  I was looking for general reasons and the part of your answer that I bolded above is precisely what I was seeking.  I thought that the fear that preferred doctors might not participate would be a driving factor.  I actually hadn't really considered the issue of what if I need a new doctor and how being in an Advantage plan might complicate matters.

Steve said:

Thank you.  I was looking for general reasons and the part of your answer that I bolded above is precisely what I was seeking.  I thought that the fear that preferred doctors might not participate would be a driving factor.  I actually hadn't really considered the issue of what if I need a new doctor and how being in an Advantage plan might complicate matters.

It depends on the Advantage plan.  Some operate like an HMO and restrict your coverage to their network.  Others, like the NYC AETNA plan you reference in your OP, offer a point of service plan where you can go to any doctor who accepts the plan.  Note:  Not all doctors will accept Medicare in any form.  That is why supplement plans contain the provision that you can see any doctor who accepts Medicare.  

Steve said:

I am not (not old enough - yet). I'm getting near that age and was just trying to understand why some people prefer supplements and others prefer Advantage plans (my mom has been on an Advantage plan for years now).

I'm old enough but still working. Fortunately I'll have several years to make this confusing decision.

When I turned 65, I received an overwhelming amount of advertising for Advantage plans. Dozens of pieces of mail a week. To me, that was a clue that the plans are profitable for someone but maybe not so great for the consumer. 

Since then, there has been a lot of bad press about Advantage plans. 

• Medicare Advantage Plans Often Deny Needed Care, Federal Report Finds
• ‘The Cash Monster Was Insatiable’: How Insurers Exploited Medicare for Billions
• Hospitals and doctors are fed up with Medicare Advantage
• Medicare Advantage? More like Medicare Disadvantage.

Advantage plans seem to work well for people who are fairly healthy. The problems emerge when medical issues become more complicated, networks are limited, and treatments are denied. At that point, you can't switch back to regular Medicare.

A big factor for me is limited networks. I plan to spend time in different parts of the country during the year, and I wouldn't be covered by an Advantage network. 

• Medicare Enrollment Guide: 2024 Edition

Thanks @kthnry.  

kthnry said:

Steve said:

I am not (not old enough - yet). I'm getting near that age and was just trying to understand why some people prefer supplements and others prefer Advantage plans (my mom has been on an Advantage plan for years now).

I'm old enough but still working. Fortunately I'll have several years to make this confusing decision.

When I turned 65, I received an overwhelming amount of advertising for Advantage plans. Dozens of pieces of mail a week. To me, that was a clue that the plans are profitable for someone but maybe not so great for the consumer. 

Since then, there has been a lot of bad press about Advantage plans. 

• Medicare Advantage Plans Often Deny Needed Care, Federal Report Finds
• ‘The Cash Monster Was Insatiable’: How Insurers Exploited Medicare for Billions
• Hospitals and doctors are fed up with Medicare Advantage
• Medicare Advantage? More like Medicare Disadvantage.

Advantage plans seem to work well for people who are fairly healthy. The problems emerge when medical issues become more complicated, networks are limited, and treatments are denied. At that point, you can't switch back to regular Medicare.

A big factor for me is limited networks. I plan to spend time in different parts of the country during the year, and I wouldn't be covered by an Advantage network. 

• Medicare Enrollment Guide: 2024 Edition

I too am still working kthnry but unless you have such an amazing policy where your employer is basically contributing nearly all of the premiums I strongly suggest looking into Medicare. I work for a great company that contributes on average 70 percent towards the insurance costs (many plans are cheaper than mine I had) but costs have sky rocketed and by switching to medicare with supplement this year as I just did I am saving about $6000 a year. Yes you heard me right. Feel free to contact me privately if you want. I had put off the switch not being aware of how much the costs have skyrocketed. 

And this savings is with the Medicare Plan G supplement and not an Advantage plan as I felt the same as you.

I've wondered if I should switch to Medicare. My premium is only $230/month for a plan that provides good coverage for routine maintenance, and my copays for meds are trivial. If I develop any exceptional medical conditions, it might be worth doing the math. Can I switch at any time even if I'm still working? 

wendy said:

I too am still working kthnry but unless you have such an amazing policy where your employer is basically contributing nearly all of the premiums I strongly suggest looking into Medicare. I work for a great company that contributes on average 70 percent towards the insurance costs (many plans are cheaper than mine I had) but costs have sky rocketed and by switching to medicare with supplement this year as I just did I am saving about $6000 a year. Yes you heard me right. Feel free to contact me privately if you want. I had put off the switch not being aware of how much the costs have skyrocketed. 

And this savings is with the Medicare Plan G supplement and not an Advantage plan as I felt the same as you.

kthnry said:

I've wondered if I should switch to Medicare. My premium is only $230/month for a plan that provides good coverage for routine maintenance, and my copays for meds are trivial. If I develop any exceptional medical conditions, it might be worth doing the math. Can I switch at any time even if I'm still working? 

wendy said:

I too am still working kthnry but unless you have such an amazing policy where your employer is basically contributing nearly all of the premiums I strongly suggest looking into Medicare. I work for a great company that contributes on average 70 percent towards the insurance costs (many plans are cheaper than mine I had) but costs have sky rocketed and by switching to medicare with supplement this year as I just did I am saving about $6000 a year. Yes you heard me right. Feel free to contact me privately if you want. I had put off the switch not being aware of how much the costs have skyrocketed. 

And this savings is with the Medicare Plan G supplement and not an Advantage plan as I felt the same as you.

Hi kthnry, Your premium is SO MUCH LOWER THAN MINE and besides both spouse and I were on my plan from the time I started there in 2016. We also don't have a plan for just routine maintenance even though that is one of the plans offered. So for us we are saving thousands. Your plan and you seem in a very different position.  

As you said above, in case you ever want a non routine coverage plan that may be the time to look into comparing costs and for that I recommend either a SHIP counselor or a reputable agent (with the limitation of the agent choice is that they may not always offer the best plans depending on the restrictions of being an agent).

And yes you can switch anytime while you're working. IOW, with your status every day is open enrollment day. But switching often works best in the first few months of the calendar year due to deductible. We didn't though and just began this month.