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Actually, you have AARP United Healthcare Medigap Plan F and are considering Plan G.
Difference is Plan G does not pay the $185 Part B deductible. Otherwise, it will continue to pay exactly as Plan F has.
Plan F premiums usually are about $300/year higher to compensate for the convenience of paying the $185 Part B deductible. Plus, people w/first dollar coverage tend to use their Medigaps more.
There are two schools of thought on downgrading to G.
The first theory is because of the deductible and open risk pool, premium increases won't be as high as for F which will be closed to newly-eligible Medicare enrollees beginning 2020.
Otoh, of late, premium increases for Plan G in some areas have been higher percentagewise than they have been for F - theory being twofold - (1) many policyholders downgraded to G last year in advance of the F closure, and (2) in 2020 G will replace F as guarantee issue plan under both Medicare's Open Enrollment and guarantee issue rights. Both have put pressure on G rates.
If money isn't a big deal to you, my thinking is stick with F for a while until we see how premium increases will sort themselves out. The closed risk pool for F may not be as detrimental as some anticipated.
Know that - whether now or later, if you want to downgrade to Plan G, you will need to complete a health questionnaire. Depending on your health issues, UHC may say (1) you can stay w/Plan F at the same premium, or (2) we'll sell you Plan G, but you'll need to pay the higher level 2 premiums because of health issues.
I do not remember exactly why DH chose N over G (he does the research), when F was eliminated in GA, but we are very happy with N, and I’ve had multiple surgeries that cost me nothing.
Actually, you have AARP United Healthcare Medigap Plan F and are considering Plan G.
Difference is Plan G does not pay the $185 Part B deductible. Otherwise, it will continue to pay exactly as Plan F has.
Plan F premiums usually are about $300/year higher to compensate for the convenience of paying the $185 Part B deductible. Plus, people w/first dollar coverage tend to use their Medigaps more.
There are two schools of thought on downgrading to G.
The first theory is because of the deductible and open risk pool, premium increases won't be as high as for F which will be closed to newly-eligible Medicare enrollees beginning 2020.
Otoh, of late, premium increases for Plan G in some areas have been higher percentagewise than they have been for F - theory being twofold - (1) many policyholders downgraded to G last year in advance of the F closure, and (2) in 2020 G will replace F as guarantee issue plan under both Medicare's Open Enrollment and guarantee issue rights. Both have put pressure on G rates.
If money isn't a big deal to you, my thinking is stick with F for a while until we see how premium increases will sort themselves out. The closed risk pool for F may not be as detrimental as some anticipated.
Know that - whether now or later, if you want to downgrade to Plan G, you will need to complete a health questionnaire. Depending on your health issues, UHC may say (1) you can stay w/Plan F at the same premium, or (2) we'll sell you Plan G, but you'll need to pay the higher level 2 premiums because of health issues.
I consider plan G an upgrade over plan F as it is less expensive after paying the $185 deductible. Also most insurance agents I spoke with expect plan G to have lower fee increases because the pool of insureds will be mainly younger retirees.
I consider plan G an upgrade over plan F as it is less expensive after paying the $185 deductible. Also most insurance agents I spoke with expect plan G to have lower fee increases because the pool of insureds will be mainly younger retirees.
Except that some issue-age F's have been going up only a few dollars (this is a FL poster),
Quote:
Originally Posted by WellShoneMoon
I have a type F plan (not the high-deductible) through USAA. I first bought it directly from them when I turned 65 and started receiving Medicare benefits. That was in 2012. I bought type F mostly because of the travel coverage -- I used to do a lot of travel, and I didn't want to be stuck in a local network.
I believe the initial premium was in the high $180's or low $190's, but today it's $203 per month. I can remember only one premium increase, but I'm not sure how good my memory is.
I'm very happy with Plan F and with USAA.
an average increase of 1% a year in those seven years (2012-2019), whereas G's in some areas are up 5% a year without factoring in age increases for those under 77. There really isn't a blanket rule that applies to ALL G's v. ALL F's. Region, insurer, and how a policy priced are variables which factor into premium changes.
One may consider G an upgrade because of 'potential' lower premium increases, but in states where one is given a GI right to switch annually, plans must be equal or lesser. For GI purposes, G is considered lesser to F because G does not have first dollar coverage.
that premiums for G are under a lot of pressure, have risen and will be rising dramatically because of the GI factor.
I'm not sure we have enough data yet to support it that view wholesale, which is why I say wait a year and see where the truth actually lies. You might want to read back a few pages on this thread where more substantive discussion occurs on what has actually been happening with G.
Last edited by Ariadne22; 10-19-2019 at 05:11 PM..
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