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AARP Medicare Complete is a United Healthcare MAPD plan “Medicare Advantage with Prescription Drugs”.  United offers 4 different versions of Medicare Complete in the state of Connecticut. They have 2 HMO (in network only) plans a PPO plan (That is the AARP branded plan) and a POS plan. (only in New Haven county)  A link to a plan comparison of the plans is provided  below.

United HealthCare Medicare Complete HMO Plan 2-  This is a $0 monthly premium plan with in network coverage only.  United has a substantial network in CT but you must use participating providers on this plan unless it is an emergency.  There are no referrals required to see specialists. The benefits of this option have lower copays and will result in less out of pocket compared to the AARP Medicare complete PPO plan.   If your doctors are in network, this plan will probably be a better value than the PPO.

United HealthCare Medicare Complete HMO Plan 1-  This plan is $99 dollars a month.  It is essentially the same as the HMO plan 2 but has slightly lower copays.  If you do the math on this plan, you will conclude that it is not a good value compared to the plan 2.   It is very difficult to get your $99 a month worth out of this plan because the copays are only slightly lower.

AARP Medicare Complete Regional PPO- The regional PPO is a United Healthcare plans that has the AARP branding.  This plan has in network benefits that are similar to the HMO 2 but it has slightly higher copays, offers out of network coverage and costs $24.00 a month.  The main reason someone would select this plan instead of the HMO 2 is to have the out of network coverage.  This plan will still provide coverage when you visit non participating providers.   This plan should not be confused with the AARP Medicare Supplement plans.  For more info on Medicare Supplement plans CLICK HERE

Please feel free to call our office at 203-796-5403  in the event you need more detail or would like to discuss other plans.  You may also email me at  Edward@Croweandassociates.com

United HealthCare Med Complete Plan 1 and 2 Comparison   (This summary has both CT and MA plan comparisons)

United AARP Med Complete RPPO Summary  (Connecticut only)

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AARP Medicare Complete is a general name given to a number of different United Health Care Medicare Advantage plans with the AARP logo.   United Healthcare also offers a number of different Medicare Complete plans without the AARP logo.

United has an AARP Medicare Complete branded product in most states.  In some states they have multiple plans.  The AARP branded Medicare Complete plans come in three types: HMO, POS and PPO.  The plans all have the same basic copay structure and more or less operate in the same manner with the only real difference being that the POS and PPO plans have out of network coverage.

Do you have other questions or do you want to see more detail on these plans?  I have a number of blogs on this topic or you may contact the office for more information.

AARP Medicare Complete is a general name given to a number of different United Health Care Medicare Advantage plans with the AARP logo.   United Healthcare also offers a number of different Medicare Complete plans without the AARP logo.

United has an AARP Medicare Complete branded product in most states.  In some states they have multiple plans.  The AARP branded Medicare Complete plans come in three types: HMO, POS and PPO.  The plans all have the same basic copay structure and more or less operate in the same manner with the only real difference being that the POS and PPO plans have out of network coverage.

Do you have other questions or do you want to see more detail on these plans?  I have a number of blogs on this topic or you may contact the office for more information.

AARP Plan N Supplement has a preferred price point in Maryland and is a good option for Medicare recipients as a result.   Other companies offer the Plan N but AARP currently prices it at the best rate which ranges from $85.00 a month to $105.oo a month depending on county.

For those not familiar with it, plan N covers all medical expenses with 3 exceptions. 1- It does not pay the Medicare Part B deductible of $144.00, 2- You can be billed a maximum of $20.00 for physician services and tests, 3- you pay $50 for ER visits.  Everything else (including inpatient hospital) is covered in full.

Plan N is a good option for those that want to keep Medicare primary in order to have access to more providers.  Plan N also eliminates the risk of any large copays for major services.   Plan N would be a good consideration for those with a Plan F supplement or those whom have a Medicare Advantage plan and would like to consider a Medicare supplement instead.

Feel free to call our office or email Ed Crowe if you have any additional questions or would like to apply for Plan N.

Ed’s cell 860-992-4494

Email: Edward@Croweandassociates.com

Medicare Supplement Plans (also called Medigap) are plans offered by private insurance companies to supplement original Medicare.   The plans help pay some or all of the coinsurance, copayments and deductibles in original Medicare. Some plans may also cover cover services that original Medicare does not cover.  Here are some key things you need to know about Medicare Supplement plans. Read more

AARP has released the average rate changes for 2013 in the State of New York.   This includes rate increases for current and grandfathered plans such as Plan J supplement.  Rates have been maintained well by AARP/United Healthcare which has resulted in very low increases for some plans and no increases for others.   AARP Rates 2013 New York

Medicare Supplement plans are standardized in New York which means that there are no variations in benefits in a supplement regardless of the company offering it.  The only difference is the premium of the plan.  If a consumer is looking to purchase a plan F supplement, the only thing they need to be concerned with is the price.  The benefits are identical from company to company.

I would like to dispel some common misconceptions with Medicare supplement plans (Also called Medigap) Medicare supplement plans DO NOT have a network.  You may go to any doctor that accepts Medicare.   Medicare supplement do not have drug coverage, you need to purchase a part D plan in order to obtain drug coverage.   Medicare Supplements are secondary to Medicare.  When you go to the doctor or hospital, you show them your original Medicare card and that is what they will bill.  The supplement will pick up the costs that original Medicare does not cover.  There is not any Medical underwriting in the state of Connecticut if you are turning 65 or if you have had continuous coverage for a retirement plan, a different supplement or a Medicare Advantage plan.

Please feel free to call or email with any questions.

AARP has released the average rate changes for 2013 in the State of Connecticut. This includes rate increases for current and grandfathered plans such as Plan J supplement. Rates have been maintained well by AARP/United Healthcare which has resulted in very low increases for some plans and no increases for others. AARP Rate Change CT

Medicare Supplement plans are standardized in Connecticut which means that there are no variations in benefits in a supplement regardless of the company offering it. The only difference is the premium of the plan. If a consumer is looking to purchase a plan F supplement, the only thing they need to be concerned with is the price. The benefits are identical from company to company.

I would like to dispel some common misconceptions with Medicare supplement plans (Also called Medigap) Medicare supplement plans DO NOT have a network. You may go to any doctor that accepts Medicare. Medicare supplement do not have drug coverage, you need to purchase a part D plan in order to obtain drug coverage. Medicare Supplements are secondary to Medicare. When you go to the doctor or hospital, you show them your original Medicare card and that is what they will bill. The supplement will pick up the costs that original Medicare does not cover. There is not any Medical underwriting in the state of Connecticut if you are turning 65 or if you have had continuous coverage for a retirement plan, a different supplement or a Medicare Advantage plan.

Please feel free to call or email with any questions.

AARP has released the average rate changes for 2013 in the State of New York.   This includes rate increases for current and grandfathered plans such as Plan J supplement.  Rates have been maintained well by AARP/United Healthcare which has resulted in very low increases for some plans and no increases for others.   AARP Rates 2013 New York

Medicare Supplement plans are standardized in New York which means that there are no variations in benefits in a supplement regardless of the company offering it.  The only difference is the premium of the plan.  If a consumer is looking to purchase a plan F supplement, the only thing they need to be concerned with is the price.  The benefits are identical from company to company.

I would like to dispel some common misconceptions with Medicare supplement plans (Also called Medigap) Medicare supplement plans DO NOT have a network.  You may go to any doctor that accepts Medicare.   Medicare supplement do not have drug coverage, you need to purchase a part D plan in order to obtain drug coverage.   Medicare Supplements are secondary to Medicare.  When you go to the doctor or hospital, you show them your original Medicare card and that is what they will bill.  The supplement will pick up the costs that original Medicare does not cover.  There is not any Medical underwriting in the state of Connecticut if you are turning 65 or if you have had continuous coverage for a retirement plan, a different supplement or a Medicare Advantage plan.

Please feel free to call or email with any questions.

AARP has released the average rate changes for 2013 in the State of Connecticut.   This includes rate increases for current and grandfathered plans such as Plan J supplement.  Rates have been maintained well by AARP/United Healthcare which has resulted in very low increases for some plans and no increases for others. AARP Rates 2013 Connecticut

Medicare Supplement plans are standardized in Connecticut which means that there are no variations in benefits in a supplement regardless of the company offering it.  The only difference is the premium of the plan.  If a consumer is looking to purchase a plan F supplement, the only thing they need to be concerned with is the price.  The benefits are identical from company to company.

I would like to dispel some common misconceptions with Medicare supplement plans (Also called Medigap) Medicare supplement plans DO NOT have a network.  You may go to any doctor that accepts Medicare.   Medicare supplement do not have drug coverage, you need to purchase a part D plan in order to obtain drug coverage.   Medicare Supplements are secondary to Medicare.  When you go to the doctor or hospital, you show them your original Medicare card and that is what they will bill.  The supplement will pick up the costs that original Medicare does not cover.  There is not any Medical underwriting in the state of Connecticut if you are turning 65 or if you have had continuous coverage for a retirement plan, a different supplement or a Medicare Advantage plan.

Please feel free to call or email with any questions.

This post is for a review of the United Healthcare Medicare Complete and the AARP Medicare Complete plans for 2013.  If you want 2012 information CLICK HERE

United Healthcare will be making some minor changes for the better to the 2013 Medicare Complete plan line which includes United Healthcare Medicare Complete and AARP Medicare Complete products.  All products listed are Medicare Advantage plans.  Look at seperate postings for information on AARP Medicare Supplement plans.

The United Healthcare Medicare Complete product is very similar to the AARP branded version but most versions do not have out of network coverage as they are usually HMO plans.  The in network benefits tend to be a little better than the AARP branded in network benefits as a result.  for 2013 the United Healthcare branded products will look similar to the 2012 version with a few improvements such as a lower annual out of pocket max, a outpatient surgery benefit that offer more than 80% coverage and  a lower primary doctor copay.  The improvement to the outpatient surgery benefit is the most needed change overall and this will reduce costs for many members.

The AARP Branded Medicare Complete plan took on a $20 monthly premium in 2012 and it looks like that will stay for 2013 as well.  The outpatient surgery benefit and out of pocket max on this plan will also be improved over last years version.   The AARP branded plan is on a PPO platform in most states and offers out of network coverage as a result.  Last years version only provided for 70% coverage out of network.  It is not yet known if this will be improved for 2013 or not.

The drug coverage in both versions will be mainly the same for 2013 with some very small ($2 or $3) increases in the name brand tiers of the drug coverage.  While the United and AARP Medicare Complete plans did not compare well to competitors in 2012, it should be in a much more competitive position for 2013.

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