I’m searching for more information on Medicare Supplemental insurance

February 28, 2024 3:05 PM

I’ve signed up for Medicare, picked out a drug plan and am now working to find a Supplemental Insurance plan (Medigap, NOT Medicare Advantage). I’ve been to the Medicare website to see the plans and prices available in my area. I’m wondering if there is any information that rates the insurance companies or has further information regarding this beyond the info from Medicare. Any insights on this from those Mefites who have Medicare Medigap insurance?
posted by jabo to Health & Fitness (12 answers total)

Well, mine is CVS - Accendo - an affiliate of Aetna (seriously 3 companies sharing space at the top of the card). I have no complaints, but it is my understanding (though I could be wrong) that some professionals have special licensing or training to give advice on Medicare. I know we have a good relationship with ours for 5 years, and she sub-contracts (as it were) every year to another guy who advises on Part D (drugs, since what pills you're taking will make some companies more advantageous for you).
posted by forthright at 3:22 PM on February 28

I worked with a broker for this. He'd specialized in Medigap for many years and he genuinely cared about making sure I got the right plan. It's worked out incredibly well.

I found him through my employer's broker.
posted by mochapickle at 3:39 PM on February 28

We went with a Plan-G supplement through AARP/United Healthcare, and have been very happy with it. We opted for a Plan-G because of my wife’s history of cancer, and a Plan-G supplement pretty much covers everything not covered by A and B. The extra cost is relatively negligible.

We also worked with a broker/advisor, and are glad we did.
posted by Thorzdad at 6:27 PM on February 28

I called AARP for a supplement when we transitioned to traditional Medicare, and they helped sign my spouse and me up for plan G coverage. I suppose I could have called an independent agent, but it didn't occur to me, and I know others who have been happy with the AARP supplement. It did not include dental or vision, but I signed up for another Delta Dental plan. (I find that dental insurance never pays much, so am basically resigned to paying most of the cost for dental care. I have a dentist I like and trust, and have so far been able to afford the cost.)

I was dissuaded from choosing a Medicare Advantage plan because I heard of significant hurdles getting certain medical procedures approved and certain drugs covered. Just like a regular commercial insurance plan, actually, with all the typical insurance blockade of coverage. It also is apparently difficult to opt out of Medicare Advantage and back into traditional Medicare. I don't know specifics about this issue, but have heard of significant hurdles, and I would check into this if you do consider Medicare Advantage.
posted by citygirl at 6:41 PM on February 28

Medicare Sup plans are basically designed by Medicare. The plans don't make any decisions about what to cover or what claims to pay. If Medicare covers a claim and pays their part, then the plan pays their part. You should get essentially the same service from any plan. Of course, inevitability, some companies will have better customer service than others.

My wife and I would never get an AARP plan because it is contracted out to United Healthcare, a company we loathe. That said, some combination of AARP and Medicare seem to be able to keep them from the shoddy practices that trouble their regular plans.

In the time I've had health insurance through an employer, I've had several problems that needed the intervention of someone from the company benefits department. If you have an option that offers that sort of ombudsman, I'd give it serious consideration.
posted by SemiSalt at 4:59 AM on February 29

Questions like this are best taken to your local SHIP, or State Health Insurance Assistance Program. Every state has one, and their services are free of charge. They will be the local experts in Medicare and its various supplemental policy options. If your profile location is still correct, you can find contact information for your state's SHIP here. If you're in a different state now, you can Google "your state" plus "SHIP" and find contact information.
posted by little mouth at 6:36 AM on February 29

SemiSalt- One of the plans I was looking at was the United Health AARP. Can you elaborate why you don't like them?

And more generally, is there anyone who rates these insurance companies regarding their service/reliability?
posted by jabo at 7:59 AM on February 29

I definitely get the loathing for United Healthcare. On the private insurance side, they have a less-than-stellar reputation. But, honestly, it’s hard to find a private health insurer that doesn’t. As it was explained to me by our advisor, the AARP/UH Medicare entity is kept apart from the private insurance UH everyone knows and loathes.

It’s certainly the “Must play by Medicare’s rules” part of the equation that makes the difference here. Everyone has to abide by what Medicare demands. The only real difference will be cost. Going through AARP get you a discount on the UH plan. And you needn’t keep the AARP membership to continue to get the discount.
posted by Thorzdad at 8:15 AM on February 29

I don't know anything about private UHC insurance. I have UHC/AARP Supplemental Medicare Plan F. It has never given me any problems.
posted by JimN2TAW at 10:43 AM on February 29

Jabo, the UHC problem is threefold. They have a reputation for denying and quibbling with patients over claims, they have fights with hospitals over payments, and based on advice from a former employee, their internal financial controls are not very good. However, as noted, the AARP plans seem to function OK.
posted by SemiSalt at 12:11 PM on February 29

As I understand it, all Medigap providers within a type of plan, say plan G, will function basically the same. They pay if Medicare pays, they don’t pay if Medicare doesn’t pay. I would look at the monthly premium and how the plan has behaved in terms of annual rate increases. UHC/AARP Supplemental plans will function the same as their counterparts in the same plan type. I would be very wary of their Advantage plans.

I talked to a local broker who tried to convince me to go with an Advantage plan. I used Boomer Benefits, an online broker, and have a supplemental Mutual of Omaha plan G. So far I’ve been very satisfied, though I’ve had minimal health problems.
posted by coldhotel at 6:53 AM on March 2

Here is the letter Senators Elizabeth Warren and Jeff Merkley sent to UnitedHealth Care:

We write today regarding the outsize profits your company has earned in the Medicare
Advantage program, the extraordinary salaries paid to you and other executives, and the billions
your company has spent on dividends and buybacks.

posted by andreap at 2:05 PM on March 3