UnitedHealthcare Medicare Supplement Plans

UnitedHealthcare Medicare Supplement Plans have been around since the 1970s. UnitedHealthcare Medicare Supplements are available across many states.

Some states offer more letter plans than others. UnitedHealthcare offers some of the most popular insurance in the nation. Their brand is known across the country.

Many people have had coverage through UnitedHealthcare from an employer at some point. If you were happy with your employer coverage, then it would make sense to consider them for your Medicare Supplemental insurance.

UnitedHealthcare Medicare Supplement Plans & Benefits

When you enroll in a UnitedHealthcare Medicare Supplement policy, you get benefits like:

• Early enrollment
• Household discounts
• No application fees
• You can visit any Medicare doctor in the United States
• Coverage can’t be canceled for health issues
• 30-day free look period
• Peace of mind with a top A-rated company
• In select areas, Silver Sneakers gym membership

Qualifying for UnitedHealthcare Medicare Supplement Plans

Eligibility for Medicare Supplements, or Medigap Plans, is the same no matter which carrier you use. You can enroll in a UnitedHealthcare Medicare Supplement Plan if you’re at least 65 years old and enrolled in Medicare Part B.

Although you can enroll in Part B at any time after 65, you’ll avoid a late enrollment penalty if you:

• Sign up when you are first eligible during the seven-month period around your 65th birthday
• If you are still covered by employer-sponsored insurance when you turn 65, enroll within six months of the date when the employer-sponsored coverage ends

In some states, you’re eligible to enroll in a UnitedHealthcare Medigap Plan if you’re under 65 and receiving Social Security disability.

Best Time to Sign Up for UnitedHealthcare Medicare Supplement Plans

The best time to sign up for a UnitedHealthcare Medicare Supplement Plan is within the first six months after you’re Medicare Part B is in effect. This time period is called your Medicare Supplement Open Enrollment Period.

During this time period, you can enroll in any UnitedHealthcare Medicare Supplement Plan with Guaranteed Issue (GI) rights. Meaning, regardless of any pre-existing conditions, UnitedHealthcare must approve the policy.

However, even if you miss this time period, you can still enroll in a UnitedHealthcare Medicare Supplement Plan at any time. You’ll have to answer some medical underwriting questions during the application process.

Part B beneficiaries losing Medicaid are eligible for GI rights on a Medigap policy in California, Kansas, Maine, Montana, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and Wisconsin.

Available UnitedHealthcare Medicare Supplement Plans

Plan N

UnitedHealthcare offers Plan N, which was designed for people who are willing to cover some of their own medical expenses in exchange for a much lower premium.

Your cost-sharing under Plan N is the Part B deductible and copayments up to $20 for doctor visits and $50 copayments for E.R visits. Beneficiaries are also responsible for any Part B excess charges.

Part B excess charges are no more than 15% that some doctors will charge beyond what Medicare pays. You can always ask doctors beforehand if they charge excess charges.

Medigap Plan N is popular for people who want the flexibility of Medicare Supplement coverage with a lower premium option.

Plan C

Medicare Supplement Plan C is considered the first dollar coverage. In states like Connecticut, where providers are forbidden to charge Part B excess charges to Medicare patients, it’s worth considering.

Medigap Plan C will cover everything except the excess charges, which most doctors don’t charge anyway. Plus, you can always ask the doctor before you go if they charge Part B excess charges.

Plan C is usually a cheaper option than Plan F, with almost identical benefits.

Plan F

Medicare Supplement Plan F is also considered first-dollar coverage. Once Medicare pays its share of a bill, it sends the balance to UnitedHealthcare to pay the rest. The carrier doesn’t get to decide which benefits they will honor, and which benefits they won’t.

As long as Medicare covers it, your UnitedHealthcare Medicare Supplement will cover it. Medicare Supplement Plan F has been one of the most popular plans on the market for decades.

Again, as long as the services are covered by Medicare, it’s covered by the supplement plan. With Plan F, you’ll have no out-of-pocket expenses, you just need to pay your monthly premiums.

Medicare SELECT F

Medicare SELECT plans are a little different than Standard Medicare Supplement plans. The Medicare SELECT F won’t be as widely available as other standard Medigap policies.

There’s a network of providers for your non-emergency, covered services. This means you may be required to see doctors that accept your insurance policy. On the bright side, Medicare SELECT plans usually have a lower premium than other Medicare Supplement policies.

1st Dollar Coverage Plans are Going Away

In 2020, all 1st-dollar coverage plans will be going away. However, those enrolled in Plan F & Plan C will be able to keep their plan.

Congress passed legislation, Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) of 2015. This was set in place to ensure that doctors would be paid better for providing Medicare Services.

Lawmakers believe that when people have no deductible, they will be more likely to use their coverage for minor issues that don’t require medical care.

A very important fact to note, as long as you turned Medicare-eligible before 2020, you can still enroll in Plan F or Plan C after 2020. Again, if you turned 65 any time before 2020, but didn’t enroll in Part B until after 2020, you can still enroll in a 1st dollar coverage plan after they’re discontinued in 2020.

If you turned 65 after 2020, 1st dollar coverage plans will not be available to you. The next best alternative is Plan G.

Plan G

Medicare Supplement Plan G has been a favorite among agents and clients alike. The benefits are more comprehensive, as well as more affordable than Plan F in most states.

UnitedHealthcare offers Medigap Plan G, which covers everything except the annual Medicare Part B deductible. This is a great value if the annual premium is more than you pay out for your deductible.

If you find a Medicare Supplement Plan G in your area that is considerably cheaper than Plan F, then it’s in your best interest to enroll in the Plan G. The annual savings in premiums can be a few hundred dollars more than the cost of the Part B annual deductible.

Plan A

Insurance companies that sell Medicare Supplement Plans are required by law to offer Plan A. Plan A offers the most basic benefits that are included in all Medicare Supplement insurance plans.

Plan A, as well as all Medicare Supplement Plans, cover 100% of these four things:

1. Medicare Part A coinsurance payments for inpatient hospital care up to an additional 365 days after Medicare benefits are used up
2. Medicare Part B copayment or coinsurance expenses
3. The first 3 pints of blood used in a medical procedure
4. Part A hospice care coinsurance expense or copayment

All Medicare Supplement Plans will cover hospital care coinsurance at 100%. The other plans all cover at least one additional benefit that Plan A doesn’t cover, some cover up to an additional five benefits.

Plan B

Plan B offers the same benefits as Plan A, but it will also pay your Part A hospital deductible. If you want coverage on things like foreign travel or Part B excess charges, you should consider Plan F or Plan G.

Quick note, Plan A and Part A are two different things. Same as Plan B and Part B. Part A & Part B are referring to Original Medicare. Plan A and Plan B are referring to Medicare Supplement Plans.

Plan K

If having a lower premium with more cost-sharing is your ideal coverage, you’ll love Medicare Supplement Plan K. This plan will cover the Part A hospital deductible and cover about 50% of the other gaps in Medicare.

Plan K doesn’t cover your Part B deductible, excess charges or Foreign Travel Emergency. However, the plan does offer an out-of-pocket limit. When you reach that amount, the plan will pay 100% of covered services for the rest of the year.

Plan L

Plan K has a lower monthly premium than Plan L; however, Plan L offers lower coinsurance amounts and a lower annual out-of-pocket.

Plan L will cover the Part A hospital deductible and cover about 75% of the other gaps in Medicare. Medicare Supplement Plan L doesn’t cover your Part B deductible, excess charges or Foreign Travel Emergency.

United Healthcare Rate Increases

Rate increases happen with all insurance companies. UHC is no exception; most beneficiaries see at least a 3% increase annually with UHC and some see a higher increase.

Since rate increases are state and policy dependent, predicting a rate increase is difficult. Additionally, states have specific rating guidelines as well as DOI rules and regulations.

The best way to obtain proper coverage is through a licensed broker that understands the top-rated companies in your service area.

United Healthcare Medicare Providers

To find United Healthcare Medicare Advantage providers you can search the provider tool. Also, another way to discover doctors in your area is to call the number on the back of your insurance card.

If you have a supplement policy, any doctor that accepts Medicare will accept your policy.

UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage

UnitedHealthcare has Medicare Advantage Plans that are available across the nation. Medicare Advantage Plans work differently than the UnitedHealthcare Medicare Supplement policies.

There are both HMO and PPO Medicare Advantage Plans available throughout the United States. Most Medicare Advantage Plans will have a network of providers, verifying that your physician participates in the plan’s network is very important.

Medicare Advantage Plans offer lower premiums than Medicare Supplement policies. Instead, the costs add up through copayments, coinsurances, and deductibles. This is good for Medicare beneficiaries who want to pay for medical services as they go along.

Many Medicare Advantage Plans will include Part D prescription drug coverage, and some plans even have dental, vision or hearing services.

UnitedHealthcare Part D

UnitedHealthcare offers Part D prescription drug coverage, which isn’t included in Original Medicare. Part D prescription drug coverage is designed to help you save money from your first filled prescription and give you coverage if your drug needs change.

All the plans that UnitedHealthcare offers cover commonly used generic and brand name prescriptions but offer slightly different coverage and drug lists. When you fill your prescriptions at a preferred retail pharmacy, you can be eligible for members-only savings.

Like with most Part D Plans, when you choose the convenience of Preferred Mail Home Delivery pharmacies, you can save even more.

UnitedHealthcare Medicare Supplement Reviews & Ratings

UnitedHealthcare is part of a group of seven health-related businesses owned by the United Health Group. Others include Americhoice, Ingenix and Prescription Solutions.

Millions of people nationwide have supplemental Medicare coverage through UnitedHealthcare, and their approval rating stands at 96 percent. A.M. Best gives UnitedHealthcare an A rating, they are an excellent company.

In addition, many UnitedHealthcare Medigap plans include a SilverSneakers fitness program as a benefit. SilverSneakers helps you stay in shape with free access to gyms and exercise classes. SilverSneakers is not available in all states.

Medigap policies pay on time since Medicare oversees denials and approvals for claims. Medicare will pay its share and then the Medicare Supplement policy pays their share.

The real concern with many seniors is customer service. With MedicareFAQ, we can service the policy for you. If you want great customer service, you can enroll in our agency. Most clients will say they couldn’t have handled the issue without the help of a licensed insurance expert.

Apply for UnitedHealthcare Supplement Insurance

For more information on how to sign up for UnitedHealthcare Medicare Supplement insurance plans online, contact us today by phone. Or, complete our online rate form to see a side by side comparison of UnitedHealthcare Medicare Supplement rates in your area.

All our insurance agents have licensed Medicare agents, trained to lead you in the right direction. We can discuss your Medicare enrollment, coverage options, and desired premium amounts in order to come up with a plan that’s right for you.