They would promise insureds a certain number of covered mental health sessions.
They refuse to honor that agreement.

It is an insurance ripoff that aims to take over and privatize original Medicare so that insurers call the shots, not the government.

I never understood why AARP has been promoting UnitedHealth.

It is listed on the Stock Exchange meaning its first responsibility is to its shareholders, not to subscribers. The CEO is handsomely rewarded with multimillion compensation.

And, by the way, HealthPartners also offers Advantage plan. It has been covering all claims.

Now I'm on the AARP United Healthcare Medicare SUPPLEMENT plan (aka Medigap). As I understand it, all supplement plans have to cover everything traditional Medicare covers, and there are very tight rules on the various copays and deductible amounts that are covered with each of the plans. https://www.medicare.gov/health-drug-plans/medigap/basics/compare-plan-benefits

(Minnesota is one of 3 states that has a different set of supplement plans than the above. I got the most comprehensive expensive one).

I got the plan within 6 months of Medicare eligibility (I don't have the exact window details handy) which means I didn't have to answer (nor was asked) medical questions or have a physical or other medical examination to get it.

But if I try to switch, another provider of supplement plans can base the premiums on my medical history and exam results. Or refuse to cover me. So I'm stuck on it for life.

I wasn't wow'd by AARP's endorsement (nor swayed by it in the slightest). I did a *lot* of research on what was available to me at the time, knowing that it was a multi-multi-year decision..

You may want to check during open enrollment October - December.

Spouse has HeaithPartners and I have UCare. Both advantage - at least we do not get separate reports from Medicare - and we’ve never had any problems with either processing claims.

Last edited Wed Jul 24, 2024, 03:35 PM - Edit history (1)

Here's what it said when I said I am turning 65 --
https://www.medicare.gov/supplements-other-insurance/when-can-i-buy-medigap

that costs me less than the Medicare B premium (alone) will & covers a lot more. It's the main reason I've kept working, but I just can't stand it anymore.

I'm sticking with tradidtional Medicare but am suffering some sticker shock as I've priced it out what "B" and a supplement will cost. - I haven't added the Part D policy in yet.

But unlike the Supplement (Medigap), I didn't shop long. i don't take any medications (but I probably should), so I didn't carefully compare formularies or anything like that. Just so I had something that didn't look too bad and covered a couple of things I might need. Something so I don't have to pay a penalty for signing up for Part D months or years later when I need it.

The late signup penalty may seem small, but the math is that it's better to buy some minimal plan even if one doesn't use it, for example, than to skip part D coverage until one needs it -- if one expects to live their life expectancy (or somewhat less than their life expectancy -- it's a long time since I did the math and found the breakeven point and posted about it).

The thing is, that penalty, though seemingly small, is life-long, a certain amount a month until one dies. Which seems strange when one only skipped the first year or two, but that's the way it is. (The per month penalty is proportional to the length of time one went without Part D coverage, but it is a lifelong penalty -- a surcharge to what one pays for Part D)

LOTS OF EDITS / MORE INFO

I only take a couple pretty common generic prescriptions. But, like you, I'm signing up for one so I don't get penalized later.

it's that UHC denies too many claims. They do this with their employer and individual plans as well.

HealthPartners does offer both Medicare supplements & Advantages plans, but their clinics accept insurance from a lot of different companies.

Not sure why they'd change their ways now.

When I worked there (20+ years ago). The Onion published and article saying that UnitedHealth Group had decide to try something new: "Will start paying claims". The article had remarks attirbuted to Dr. Bill McGuire who was the CEO at the time. The artcle was making it aound the company like wildfire - even after McGuire's office sent out a warning that anyone caught forwarding it would be fired. (Seriously, he did that, which only made people who hadn't seen the article, go looking for it.)

They’ll come up with some medical necessity guidelines and pump up reimbursement rates. Almost always happens.

as well as the United Healthcare MA plan discussed in the OP.

Newsweek, 7/24/24

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/insurance/hospitals-leave-medicare-advantage-networks-as-problems-plague-coverage/ar-BB1qzmah