AARP Senior Health Insurance – Senior Health Plan Choices
Understanding the different types of AARP senior health insurance
If you are researching senior health plan choices, you may want to compare AARP senior health insurance to other available options. But don’t expect the comparison to simple. There are three several types of AARP insurance for seniors.
For our purposes, we will look at plan choices for those that qualify for AARP membership. You can join AARP at age 50 and there are plans available when you first become eligible for membership and plans specifically for people with Medicare.
Compare Medicare Insurance Quotes
AARP insurance for those age 50 to 64
AARP members who are under 65 and not yet eligible for Medicare have two senior health plan choices. Members in this age range that are already enrolled in Medicare due to a disability will want to avoid the following options and instead consider AARP senior health insurance for those members with Medicare.
AARP Essential Premier Health Insurance is underwritten by Aetna and is major medical insurance that is custom-designed for AARP members age 50-64. If affordable, major medical insurance is your best choice for comprehensive coverage. When comparing AARP Essential Premier Insurance to other major medical policies, it is important to not only look at the monthly premium, but rather the benefits included in each plan. Value cannot be determined by only considering the premium.
AARP Hospital Indemnity Insurance is underwritten by United Health Care. Hospital indemnity insurance is characterized as having a schedule of benefits. For instance, the policy will pay a flat fee for each overnight stay in a hospital. Plans often include predetermined benefit amounts for surgery, emergency room and outpatient procedures. Often plans will include discounts on additional value added services, such as, dental, vision and prescription drug discounts.
Choose an indemnity policy if a major medical policy is unaffordable or you are looking for some supplemental coverage. Keep in mind that if you only have an indemnity policy, you will have some financial exposure should you require many types of care.
AARP senior health insurance for members who are enrolled in Medicare
If you are enrolled in Medicare the previous two choices will not be suitable for you. When looking at senior health plan choices, you will normally be choosing between a Medicare supplement (Medigap) or a Medicare Advantage plan.
AARP Medicare Supplement Insurance is underwritten by United Health Care. Comparing an AARP supplement to other companies is simple. Medicare supplements are standardized plans and will include the same coverage no matter which companies you are comparing. For instance, the only difference between AARP Medicare supplement Plan N and Mutual of Omaha Plan N will be the price and the service you receive after the sale.
A Medicare supplement will fill the gaps left by Medicare. You are essentially prepaying for your care and will have little or no out-of-pocket expense for covered services. You will also need to purchase a separate Part D drug plan. When looking at a supplement as one of your senior health plan choices, ask to get historical data on rate stability. Knowing that your premium is not going to have erratic increases can give you some peace of mind.
AARP Medicare Complete is a Medicare Advantage plan (Part C) that is underwritten by United Health Care. A Medicare Advantage plan is not a Medicare supplement, but rather, another way to receive your Medicare benefits. A private insurance company contracts with CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid) to administer your Medicare. Advantage plans will often include Part D drug coverage. Advantage plans are offered on an annual basis and can change from year to year.
With an Advantage plan like AARP Medicare Complete, you will be responsible for co-pays, coinsurance and deductibles, but will generally receive additional benefits beyond traditional Medicare. Benefits may include dental, vision, hearing and gym memberships.
Researching senior health plans
The Medicare website can be a great resource to get general information and find links to insurance company websites. Shopping online is a time-saving way to compare plans and request information. You can also do it the old fashioned way and sit down with an insurance agent to compare senior health plans.
No matter which method that you use to get information on health plans, it may be worth you time to look at AARP senior health insurance options.
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Comments
Alice, I would recommend calling the phone number on the invoice to determine if the invoice is for the AARP membership or for your AARP life insurance. This site is neither owned or operated by AARP. We merely provide information and reviews of 2011 Medicare Advantage plans and Medicare supplement insurance, including information and reviews on AARP Medicare Complete and AARP Medicare supplement insurance.
I am 63 years old will be 64 in June. My CORBA prmium will end the end of April. My husband is on Medicare now so I
can not go on his policy. I live in New York state so the plan I am on now is not transferable. I have checked in to some other plans in New York state and we are over the monthly gross income. Others plans the payment would be near a $1000 a month. Would you send me more inforation on AARP insurance for those who are 50 to 64 years old.
Thank you
Nina, Here’s an article about AARP Senior Health Insurance that may help. This site is not operated by AARP and to get an application for AARP Health Insurance you would need to visit their site.
I have AARP MedicareComplete from SecureHorizon plus Medicare Supplement Plan G from Mutual of Omaha.Haven’t had to use my supplemental but it is going up this year.Does AARP Supplemental compare to this Plan G with Mutual of Omaha ? Do I need a supplemental ?
Elvin, Double check to see which plan is actually active. It’s not possible to have both a Medicare Advantage Plan (Medicare Complete) and a Medicare supplement (Mutual of Omaha). If you are a member of AARP Medicare Complete and have been paying premiums to Mutual of Omaha, you are due a refund.
Should you decide to change to an AARP Medicare supplement for 2012 you will find Plan G to be identical coverage to Mutual of Omaha Plan G. The premium will be based on several factors and may or may not be a lower premium that the Mutual of Omaha.
Hazel, I would recommend that you contact a local insurance broker who represents multiple companies. I’m sorry I don’t have a specific product or company recommendation.
I would like a reminder of when my AARP membership expires. Also, would like to be informed of the annual enrollment in AARP Medicare complete.
Thank you. Ezio A tamburrini
Ezio, Medicare Advantage Plan sponsors are required by law to give you the information you seek in a time frame dictated by The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The Annual Enrollment Period for Medicare Advantage Plans with an effective date of January 2012 begins October 15, 2011 and ends December 7, 2011. As far as the AARP membership expiration, you will be notified in time to renew if that is your preference.
I’m makeing payments on my life ins.but I got a letter to renew my membership is this for the magazine an aarp bulletin only or what else?