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We are considering changing Medigap plans for my husband, who will turn 67 this May. We currently have BCBSTx high deductible F. We are considering trying to get him into an "F" or "G" policy. We do not have a guaranteed issue at this point. He also has significant pre-existing conditions (not ESRD), and I don't think he will pass underwriting on a change within BCBS.
I was looking at the AARP UHC Medigap F (G is apparently not offered in Texas), as the word is that underwriting is softer on this policy. It is my information that it is also community rated.
However, I am confused. When using the website to price a policy, the rate does change depending on what birth date I fill in. An older age has a higher quote. I thought community rated was supposedly the same across age/gender/health conditions? Or am I misunderstanding it?
I also noted that the start date in the year made a difference - the later in the year the start date, the higher the quote.
I can't answer some of your questions (we'll wait for our resident experts), but I have seen that AARP UHC is rolling out a Plan G on July 1. On another thread here, I saw a suggestion to enroll in F with them and as they evidently allow easy switching between their plans, moving to the G when it becomes available.
We are considering changing Medigap plans for my husband, who will turn 67 this May. We currently have BCBSTx high deductible F. We are considering trying to get him into an "F" or "G" policy. We do not have a guaranteed issue at this point. He also has significant pre-existing conditions (not ESRD), and I don't think he will pass underwriting on a change within BCBS.
I was looking at the AARP UHC Medigap F (G is apparently not offered in Texas), as the word is that underwriting is softer on this policy. It is my information that it is also community rated.
However, I am confused. When using the website to price a policy, the rate does change depending on what birth date I fill in. An older age has a higher quote. I thought community rated was supposedly the same across age/gender/health conditions? Or am I misunderstanding it?
I also noted that the start date in the year made a difference - the later in the year the start date, the higher the quote.
Can someone clear up my confusion?
What website are you using? Medicare.gov lists a whole bunch of providers for Medigap G, including AARP, in the Dallas area. AARP UHC is the only policy community-rated.
The reason you get differing rates is because UHC discounts the maximum community-rated premium for those under 75. Thereafter, everyone pays the same.
For example, in my area a couple of years ago, anyone 75 and over was paying $259.50 fpr tje Plan F, whereas a male at age 65 would pay $181.64, with the premiums increasing annually b/c of age until the community-rated maximum is reached.
Suggest you talk to a Medicare agent in your area.
I can't answer some of your questions (we'll wait for our resident experts), but I have seen that AARP UHC is rolling out a Plan G on July 1. On another thread here, I saw a suggestion to enroll in F with them and as they evidently allow easy switching between their plans, moving to the G when it becomes available.
I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong.
Thanks, that is interesting information. What is even more interesting is that I plugged in a start date of July 1, to see if G would be listed then. It was not, but what did appear was a new set of rates. Along with the "standard discounted enrollment rate", was a "Level 2 Rate", which was much higher than standard rates, just about double!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ariadne22
What website are you using? Medicare.gov lists a whole bunch of providers for Medigap G, including AARP, in the Dallas area. AARP UHC is the only policy community-rated.
The reason you get differing rates is because UHC discounts the maximum community-rated premium for those under 75. Thereafter, everyone pays the same.
For example, in my area a couple of years ago, anyone 75 and over was paying $259.50 fpr tje Plan F, whereas a male at age 65 would pay $181.64, with the premiums increasing annually b/c of age until the community-rated maximum is reached.
Suggest you talk to a Medicare agent in your area.
I was using the AARP UHC website. Although Medicare.gov shows AARP UHC with a community-rated G plan, it does not come up on the actual AARP UHC website for my zip code 76018. It does have F and several others.
Thanks for the explanation of the rising rates on age. That makes more sense now.
I will take your advice to find a Medicare agent in our area, this might be a dicey thing to do.
What is even more interesting is that I plugged in a start date of July 1, to see if G would be listed then. It was not, but what did appear was a new set of rates. Along with the "standard discounted enrollment rate", was a "Level 2 Rate", which was much higher than standard rates, just about double!
UHC AARP Medigap plans are community-rated but they have to offer the discounts outlined in the PDF link below to compete with attained-age plans.
UHC AARP will start rolling out their Plan G on 7/1/17. As mentioned above, UHC/AARP makes switching between their plans easy, so he could enroll in F and have your agent or customer service switch him to Plan G when it's available in your area.
I entered a birthdate of 5/2/1950 on their website. For a 5/1/2017 effective date, it only returned the standard rate. For a 7/1/2017 effective date (age 67), it returned both the standard rate and the higher level 2 premium discussed in the PDF. This suggests the additional health questions in Section 6 on page 81 of the below PDF may apply to Texas applicants age 67+ without GI. Please consult with a local agent or UHC customer service to confirm.
UHC AARP Medigap plans are community-rated but they have to offer the discounts outlined in the PDF link below to compete with attained-age plans.
UHC AARP will start rolling out their Plan G on 7/1/17. As mentioned above, UHC/AARP makes switching between their plans easy, so he could enroll in F and have your agent or customer service switch him to Plan G when it's available in your area.
I entered a birthdate of 5/2/1950 on their website. For a 5/1/2017 effective date, it only returned the standard rate. For a 7/1/2017 effective date (age 67), it returned both the standard rate and the higher level 2 premium discussed in the PDF. This suggests the additional health questions in Section 6 on page 81 of the below PDF may apply to Texas applicants age 67+ without GI. Please consult with a local agent or UHC customer service to confirm.
Wow, SCGamecock, this is very useful, thank you so much. It explains everything I was seeing. From the quick read through of the app, he is still in the clear, and should not have level two rates. I will review it more detail.
lady400, I don't know whether I can make a recommendation to you here for an agent/company to work with (I am also in Texas), so if you would like to DM me, I would be happy to do so.
I just started my Medicare in January. I researched and researched for months trying my best to get a comprehensive understanding of Medicare. There were many threads here that helped me. When I was pretty sure I wanted Original Medicare and a supplement and was trying to finally make up my mind between Plans F and G, I came across a website and put in a request for information (which is about the last thing I ever do). But I was contacted the next day by a very nice agent who answered my questions thoroughly, gave me the information and comparisons of companies and premiums that I needed and let me work through everything with no pressure. There was no cost to me and all the set up went smoothly in applying and purchasing a Plan G (with another company – not AARP UHC) and a Part D drug plan.
She was here locally in Fort Worth, but they are licensed in 46 states. They have a really helpful website with some of the clearest, easy to understand articles I came across anywhere. I am planning a move to another state before the end of the year and will work with her again. They also are available to go to bat for you should you have any problems with your coverage or Medicare itself.
Obviously, I am pleased with the service I received. I have no [business] affiliation with them otherwise. And I finally got a good night's sleep once the decisions were made and in gear.
If this is the "Secure Horizons" plan....run away fast.
Secure Horizons is an Advantage plan. Nothing to do with a Medigap. No one here has ever reported a problem with the UHC Medigaps. Advantage plans are another issue, entirely.
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