If you are over the age of 65, then you are probably eligible for Medicare. There are many different options available to seniors through the Medicare program, including Medicare Advantage Plans. AARP and UnitedHealthcare Medicare are two of the biggest providers of Medicare Advantage Plans in the country. In this blog post, we will be doing a review of their plans to help you decide which one is right for you.
Quicks Thoughts
Medicare Advantage plans from AARP/UnitedHealthcare are a good deal. There are many $0 plans available, and the average cost of $21 per month is lower than other companies like Humana and Blue Cross Blue Shield.
AARP/UnitedHealthcare plans have a good overall rating of 4.2 stars. But the downside is its user rating of 3.6 stars, indicating issues with customer service and ease of use.
Thoughts on Their Plans
Medicare Advantage plans from AARP/UnitedHealthcare are widely available, affordable, and have good overall ratings. This is a winning combination for many people because UnitedHealthcare is also the most popular provider, issuing more than a quarter of all Medicare Advantage policies.
UnitedHealthcare is a good choice for people who want coverage from a reputable national insurance company; a wide variety of plans to choose from; and lots of included perks like dental care, vision, fitness, and more.
For those who want out-of-network coverage, AARP/UnitedHealthcare is an especially great choice because the cost of a local PPO plan averages $15 per month, which is 65% cheaper than the industry average.
If access to a wide range of doctors and hospitals is important to you, UnitedHealthcare has a reasonably large network of providers, but it’s not as large as Blue Cross Blue Shield.
The downside of UnitedHealthcare’s plans is its lackluster customer experience. Surveyed policyholders rate the plan as only 3.6 to 3.7 stars. That average performance is not as strong as some of the top-ranking companies, like Humana.
How Do Their Plans Work
Medicare Advantage, also called Medicare Part C, is a bundled insurance plan that’s administered by a private insurance company, in this case, UnitedHealthcare.
Plans cover medical care, hospitalization services, and usually prescription drugs.
You can sign up for Medicare Advantage when you first become eligible for Medicare, and then you can update your plan annually during Medicare open enrollment in the fall.
When comparing Medicare Advantage plans, we recommend you choose a plan based on the medical care you expect to need. If you’re in good health, a low-cost plan could be the most cost-effective, even if you have to pay a little more for your medical care. However, if you have chronic health issues, it may be cost-effective to sign up for a more expensive plan with better benefits. For example, paying $25 more per month is worth it if the more expensive plan will save you more than $300 per year in medical care.
UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage Brands
Medicare Advantage plans from UnitedHealthcare are sold under four brands: AARP, Erickson Advantage, Rocky Mountain Health Plans, and UnitedHealthcare.
AARP Medicare Advantage plans are the most commonly offered option — they’re even more common than UnitedHealthcare-branded plans.
With an AARP Medicare Advantage plan, you do not need to be an AARP member to enroll in the insurance coverage. That’s different from an AARP Medicare Supplement plan, where you do have to be an AARP member to enroll.
Availability and Popularity
Including all of the brands offered, UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans are widely available throughout the country, including 48 states and the District of Columbia. Nearly as widespread are its cheap plans that cost $0 per month.
UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage availability:
- All plans: 48 states and the District of Columbia (Only Alaska and Louisiana do not have plans available.)
- $0 plans: 47 states and the District of Columbia (The cheapest plan in Wyoming costs $35 per month.)
Keep in mind that Medicare Advantage plans are issued at the county level. That means plan options may change from county to county. For example, in California, UnitedHealthcare plans are only offered in about two-thirds of the state.
The AARP-UnitedHealthcare partnership is a result of a marketing agreement between the two companies. AARP endorses and promotes some UnitedHealthcare Medicare plans by putting the organization’s name on them, and in exchange, AARP gets a royalty fee for each plan sold. The relationship between AARP and UnitedHealthcare is exclusive, and AARP does not endorse Medicare plans from other insurance companies.
Our review considers all of UnitedHealthcare’s Medicare Advantage plans, regardless of the advertised brand. For example, even when the plan name says AARP, the insurance is through UnitedHealthcare.
If you are interested in a UHC plan. Give us a call and we can help you out.