AARP Medicare Advantage Plans – Get More Value For Each Medicare Dollar

AARP aims to enrich people’s lives as they get older, offering benefits like travel and restaurant discounts and advice on health and retirement. The group also partnered with UnitedHealthcare to provide medicare advantage plans to people who are eligible for Medicare.

Medicare Advantage (also called Medicare Part C) plans are all-in-one plans that combine the coverage of Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) with extra benefits you can not get from Medicare alone. Most plans also include Part D prescription drug coverage and may offer additional benefits such as dental, vision, hearing, and fitness. You may get these plans without an additional premium charge.

Many private insurance companies provide these plans. However, UnitedHealthcare is an exclusive insurer of Medicare Advantage Plans. It offers several benefits not available in Original Medicare (Part A and Part B), such as preventive dental care, vision care, and hearing exams. UnitedHealthcare, which insures AARP Medicare Advantage plans, offers the largest Medicare Advantage network of all companies, with more than 1 million network care providers.

AARP Medicare Advantage Plans by UnitedHealthcare design the policies that help customers make most of their health care spending. The plans’ services vary by service area, many of these plans offer medical and non-medical benefits that enable senior citizens to save.

AARP Medicare Advantage Plans offer the best coverages for aged people and those who have any kind of disability. If you are retiring or near retiring age, you must proceed with this article to know how this plan works and make your health care spending worthwhile.

What is medicare advantage plan?

Medicare Advantage (also called Medicare Part C) plans are all-in-one plans that combine the coverage of Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) with extra benefits you can not get from Medicare alone. Most also include Part D prescription drug coverage and may also offer additional benefits such as dental, vision, hearing, and fitness. These services do not include an additional premium.

Medicare Advantage plans operate within defined geographic areas called service areas. You must live in a plan’s service area to become a plan member, and a plan’s coverage and costs can vary by plan and location. Moreover, some plans might not have network providers. Out-of-pocket expenses also vary due to the nature of the plan.

What do medicare advantage (Part C) plans cover?

It is important for a consumer to know what medicare advantage plans cover. All plans cover the following:

• All the benefits of Part A
• All the benefits of Part B

Most Part C plans cover the following:

• Prescription drugs

Additional Benefits Medicare Advantage Plans May Offer:

• Dental exams, cleanings, and X-rays
• Eye exams, eyeglasses, and corrective lenses
• Hearing tests and hearing aids
• Wellness programs and fitness memberships
• Other extra benefits such as transportation to medical appointments and virtual provider visits

Medicare Advantage (Part C) Plans from UnitedHealthcare

If you’re looking for a Medicare Advantage Plan, UnitedHealthcare offers a variety of plans that may be a good fit for you. We have HMO and PPO plans with low monthly premiums and no deductibles, as well as plans that offer additional benefits like dental and vision coverage.

To find a plan that meets your needs, enter your zip code below. You’ll be able to see all of the plans available in your area, as well as the monthly premiums and benefits for each plan.

If you’re not sure which type of Medicare Advantage Plan is right for you, we also have a comparison tool that can help you decide.

Medicare Coverage Choices

Original Medicare is a fee-for-service plan that covers medically necessary services and preventive care. You can see any doctor or provider that accepts Medicare.

There are two main parts to Original Medicare: Part A (hospital insurance) and Part B (medical insurance). You can choose to enroll in both parts, or just Part A or Part B.

Part A covers inpatient hospital care, skilled nursing facility care, hospice care, and home health care.

Part B covers outpatient medical care, preventive services, and some home health care.

AARP Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans

• AARP MedicareRx Plans
• AARP Long-Term Care Insurance Program
• Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) Plans
• Special Needs Plans (SNP)
• Medical Savings Account (MSA) Plans
• Advantage Plan doctor before you can see a specialist.

Original Medicare covers you anywhere in the United States. If you have a Medicare Advantage Plan, you might only be covered in specific areas or when you travel outside of the country.

You might have to wait for coverage if you switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage Plan, or from one Medicare Advantage Plan to another.

AARP unitedhealthcare medicare advantage plans 2021

UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans are the only plans with the AARP name that gives you more for your Medicare dollar, offering benefits and services beyond Original Medicare. Most Medicare Advantage plans include coverage for prescription drugs.

UnitedHealthcare offers Medicare Advantage Plans that combine the benefits offered by Medicare Part A and Part B (also called Original Medicare) into one simple plan. Many Medicare Advantage plans (also called Medicare Part C) offer additional benefits that Medicare Part A and Part B do not cover. These additional benefits can include:

• Coverage for prescription drugs
• Vision care
• Hearing care
• Fitness and wellness programs

Before you enroll in AARP Medicare Advantage Plans through UnitedHealthcare, you must review each type of plan to know about its benefits, costs, and services. To serve this purpose for you, here is a brief overview of UnitedHealthcare medicare advantage plans.

Health maintenance organization (HMO)

United Healthcare HMO plans to give you access to a local network of doctors and hospitals, including a primary care provider to help coordinate your unique health care needs. You will need to get care from doctors and providers in the network and you select a primary care provider to help coordinate your care.

If you use a provider that is not in the national network, you may have to pay for the service yourself. Many plans include UnitedHealthcare Passport, which gives you the network costs and benefits of your plan when you travel. Most HMO plans have a low or $0 monthly premium.

HMO-POS (Point of Service) plans grant you access to a local network of doctors and hospitals, including a primary care provider to coordinate your care. Further, you can see out-of-network doctors and providers for certain covered services. Many United Healthcare HMO plans also give you access to care across the country at network costs using the UnitedHealthcare Medicare National Network, the nation’s largest network of top doctors and specialists.

Preferred provider organization (PPO)

UnitedHealthcare PPO plan allows you to see any doctor nationwide that accepts Medicare, without referrals for specialists and hospitals. However, in most cases, your out-of-pocket expenses may increase if you see a provider outside of the plan network.

Private-fee-for-service (PFFS) plans

A PFFS plan does not have a network. It gives you the freedom to see any Medicare-approved doctor that accepts the plan’s terms. If a PFFS plan does not include drug coverage, you can purchase a separate, independent prescription drug plan. Medicare Advantage PFFS plans still cover the same care covered by original Medicare. They also offer extra benefits as a fragment of the Part C plan, though these vary from plan to plan.

UnitedHealthcare special needs plans (SNP)

These are the special AARP Medicare Advantage Plans offered by UnitedHealthcare, which offer additional benefits to people who qualify for special healthcare and financial needs. All SNPs include prescription drug (Part D) coverage as well.

UnitedHealthcare offers several different types of Medicare SNP plans:

• Dual Eligible Plans: These plans facilitate those people who get both Medicare and Medicaid.
• Institutional Plans: These plans support Medicare beneficiaries who live in skilled nursing facilities.
• Institutional-Equivalent Plans: These plans are for those Medicare beneficiaries who live in assisted living communities and need the same types of care as people who live in skilled nursing facilities.
• Chronic Condition Plans: These plans help support Medicare beneficiaries who have certain severe or disabling chronic conditions.

To make it more understandable, let’s break it down in a table for you to choose the best plan.

When consumers opt for AARP Medicare Advantage Plan, they receive several benefits that help them seek the full health service as written in the insurance policy. To help you choose the right plan, next, you will see the brief details of the medical and non-medical benefits of the Part C plan.

Medical benefits under AARP medicare advantage plans from UnitedHealthcare

While AARP Medicare Advantage Plans from UnitedHealthcare come in a variety of forms, most of them offer prescription drug coverage. Additionally, many AARP United Healthcare Medicare Advantage Plans offer the following medical benefits:

• $0 copays for in-network primary care provider visits
• $0 copay for many lab tests
• $0 prescription drug copays for most common prescription medications
• $0 copay to speak to an in-network healthcare provider using 24/7 telehealth services.

These benefits are not available in all plans. The customer must check the specific plan details of the policies in your region using the official AARP website for Medicare plans.

Non-medical benefits under AARP medicare advantage plans from unitedhealthcare

The number of enrollment in the AARP medicare advantage plan multiplied in the past decade. The non-medical benefits that AARP Medicare Advantage Plans from UnitedHealthcare offer are to promote overall health. According to the AARP website, most AARP Medicare Advantage plans include non-medical benefits:

• Fitness Programs: Renew Active is a free fitness program designed to help you stay active through the gym and home activities.
• Dental Benefits: $0 copays for in-network exams, yearly x-rays, and routine cleanings. Many plans also offer coverage for fillings, crowns, bridges, dentures, and certain kinds of root canals.
• Vision Benefits: $0 copays for routine eye exams and eyewear allowances for contact lenses or frames, with full coverage for standard lenses.
• Hearing Benefits: $0 copays for regular hearing assessments, plus savings on name brand and UnitedHealthcare exclusive hearing aids.

The social determinants of health play a significant role in health outcomes. By offering innovative non-medical benefits that eliminate barriers, Medicare Advantage plans are doing their part to help members lead healthier lives.

Eligibility criteria of unitedhealthcare medical advantage plan

UnitedHealthcare provides AARP Medicare Advantage Plans for US citizens aged more than 65 years old or those who have any kind of disability. However, you do not qualify for the plan automatically, there are some eligibility criteria to qualify.

Let’s determine if you are eligible or not.

• You’re eligible for a Medicare Advantage plan if you have Part A and Part B. Even those under 65 on disability may enroll!
• Further, you must live in the plan’s service area and continue to pay your Part B premiums. You will pay the Medicare Advantage plan’s premium if it applies in addition to your Part B premium.
• Low-income or Medicaid-eligible beneficiaries may qualify for extra help paying premiums, deductibles, and copayments.

Additionally, you must do a few things to be eligible for Medicare Advantage Plan:

1. Know your Part A and B effective date
2. Have your Medicare card number
3. Live in the plan’s service area

How to enroll in Medicare advantage plan information?

If you are new to Medicare, turning 65, retiring, moving, qualify for assistance, losing employer coverage, or have another qualifying situation, you may be eligible to enroll now. UnitedHealthcare offers a variety of Medicare Advantage plans, you must keep abreast yourself with every detail for qualifying to get one.

There are three ways to enroll or signup in AARP / UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage Plan:

1. Online: You can enroll yourself in most plans online. Online enrollment is easy, secure, and available as per your schedule. To begin, enter your ZIP code on the website, and it will provide you with the necessary details.
2. By mail: To enroll by mail, download and fill out the paper enrollment form, then print it and mail your completed enrollment form to UnitedHealthcare. To get UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plan enrollment forms (PDF).
3. Over the phone: Call UnitedHealthcare toll-free number available on the website 8 AM to 8 PM 7 days a week to speak with sales representatives who will walk you through the enrollment process.

Enter your ZIP Code on the designated page of the website and click the “Find plans” button.
On the next page, you will see a list of plan types. If there are Medicare Advantage plans available in your area, you will see a number above the plan type.

Choose one of the available plans in your area and click on the “View plan (and drug coverage) details” link for that plan. If that plan is accepting enrollment, you will find the form you need in the Plan Documents section near the bottom of the page.

Your costs and benefits will vary from plan to plan, so be sure to review the plan documents as you consider which plan will best fit your healthcare needs and your budget.

Tips to find the best Medicare Advantage plan for your needs

There are a few things you should think about when shopping for a Medicare Advantage Plan:

• What type of plan do you want? HMO, PPO, SNP, MSA, or PFFS?
• What extra coverage does the plan offer? Vision, dental, fitness programs, etc.?
• How much will you have to pay for services? Monthly premium, copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles?
• Does the plan cover the doctors and hospitals you want to use?
• What is the plan’s rating? Plans are given ratings from 1 star to 5 stars.
• What happens if you need care while you’re traveling?

You can learn more about Medicare Advantage Plans and compare plans in your area by visiting Medicare.gov or calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048.

How much do AARP Medicare Advantage plans cost?

Medicare Advantage (Part C) Plans

Medicare Advantage plans are a type of health insurance offered by private companies that contract with Medicare to provide you with all your Part A and Part B benefits. Some Medicare Advantage plans also offer prescription drug coverage. If you enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan, you’re still in the Medicare program. You can get your Part A and Part B benefits from the Medicare Advantage plan, and you’re still responsible for paying your Part B premium to Medicare.

Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap)

Medicare Supplement Insurance plans Medigap plans are health insurance policies sold by private companies to fill the “gaps” in Original Medicare coverage. If you have Original Medicare and a Medigap policy, Medicare will pay its share of covered health care costs, leaving the Medigap policy to pay its share. Most Medigap policies cover:

* Part A coinsurance and hospital costs up to an additional 365 days after Medicare benefits end

* Part B coinsurance or copayments

* First 3 pints of blood each year

* Part A hospice care coinsurance or copayments

* Skilled nursing facility care coinsurance

Prescription Drug (Part D) Plans

Medicare prescription drug coverage is insurance that covers both brand-name and generic drugs. Medicare Part D plans are offered by private companies that contract with Medicare to provide this coverage. If you decide not to join a Medicare drug plan when you’re first eligible, and you don’t have other creditable prescription drug coverage, or you enroll late, you’ll likely pay a penalty. You can get Medicare prescription drug coverage in two ways:

• Through a Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug plan as part of a Medicare Advantage plan that covers all your Part A and Part B benefits
• Through a stand-alone Medicare Prescription Drug Plan that you join separately from any Medicare Advantage plan

Dual Special Needs (D-SNP) Plans

Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans (D-SNPs) are a type of Medicare Advantage plan limited to people with both Medicare and Medicaid. D-SNPs have contracts with state Medicaid programs to provide Medicaid benefits, in addition to the Part A and Part B benefits covered by all other Medicare Advantage plans. If you’re enrolled in a D-SNP, you usually don’t need to enroll in a separate Medicaid managed care plan.

You may be able to get help paying your Medicare premiums and other costs from your state or the federal government. To see what assistance might be available to you, visit the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) website, or contact your state’s SHIP.

There are a few things to keep in mind when you’re shopping for a Medicare Advantage plan:

•  Make sure the plan covers the services you need.
• Check to see if your doctors and other health care providers participate in the plan.
•  Find out if the plan requires you to use certain pharmacies for your prescriptions.
•  Make sure you understand the plan’s rules about getting care from out-of-network providers.
•  Find out if the plan has extra benefits that might be important to you, like dental or vision coverage.
•  Check the plan’s star rating to see how it compares with other plans.

Is AARP medicare complete an advantage plan?

AARP Medicare Advantage plan options

There are a few things to consider before enrolling in an AARP Medicare Advantage plan. First, you need to decide if you want an HMO or PPO plan. HMOs tend to have lower monthly premiums, but they also have more restrictive networks. PPOs have higher monthly premiums, but they offer more flexibility when it comes to choosing doctors and hospitals.

Second, you need to decide if you want a plan that covers prescription drugs. Some Medicare Advantage plans do not include prescription drug coverage, so you will need to purchase a separate prescription drug plan.

Third, you need to decide if you want a plan with dental and vision coverage. Dental and vision coverage are not included in all Medicare Advantage plans, so you will need to purchase a separate dental or vision plan if you want this coverage.

Medicare Advantage plans and Medicare Prescription Drug plans

Medicare Advantage plans are an alternative to Original Medicare. These plans are offered by private insurance companies that contract with Medicare. If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, you’re still in the Medicare program. But your coverage comes from the private insurer, not from Original Medicare.

A Medicare Advantage plan must provide at least the same level of coverage as Original Medicare, but many plans provide additional benefits. Most Medicare Advantage plans include Part A (hospital insurance) and Part B (medical insurance). Some plans also include Part D (prescription drug coverage).

AARP medicare complete provider phone number

To connect with UnitedHealthcare, you need to call the phone number provided on their website. They have a separate toll-free number for providers to seek any assistance they require. You can provide your tax ID for routing through the process. The general timings of operation are from 8 AM to 8 PM, Monday to Friday.

What is the highest rated medicare advantage plan

According to medicare ratings done by the government, Kaiser Permanente has the highest rated Medicare Advantage Plans to offer. It receives a 5 out of 5 rating by medicare.gov. This insurance company is the fifth largest provider of medicare advantage plans to more than 1.7 million members enrolled in 2021.

What states offer AARP Medicare Advantage plans?

AARP Medicare Advantage plans are available in all 50 states. To find a plan that meets your needs, enter your zip code below. You’ll be able to see all of the plans available in your area, as well as the monthly premiums and benefits for each plan.

How much will my Medicare drugs cost?

There’s no easy answer to this question, as drug prices can vary depending on the type of medication you’re taking, your dosage, and where you purchase your drugs. However, we can give you some general information about Medicare drug costs.

Original Medicare (Parts A and B) does not cover most prescription drugs. However, you can add drug coverage to your Medicare plan through a Part D Prescription Drug Plan or a Medicare Advantage Plan with prescription drug coverage.

Clinics and Facilities for Medicare Advantage plans.

In return, the plans receive payments from Medicare. Private insurance companies offering Medicare Advantage Plans can make changes to the plans they offer each year. The plans might also change the providers (like doctors, hospitals, and pharmacies) in their networks, and how much you pay for services.

Medicare Advantage Plans usually have network providers. This means you’ll pay less if you use doctors, hospitals, and other health care providers that belong to the plan. You might have to pay more, or get no coverage at all, if you go out-of-network.

What Are the Disadvantages of Medicare Advantage Plans?

Even though Medicare Advantage Plans offer extra coverage, you might pay more for some services than if you had Original Medicare. For example, you might have to pay a deductible, copayments, or coinsurance for some services.

Conclusion

Medicare Advantage Plans is an alternative to Original Medicare that includes all the benefits of Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) and often a few extras, such as cost help with dental and vision care. Medicare Advantage plans are offered by private insurers, and plan availability depends on location. AARP Medicare Advantage plans are a popular option for people who are eligible for Medicare. About 4 in 10 Medicare-eligible people are in a Medicare Advantage plan. But each plan has different strengths and weaknesses.