Pro Tip: Not sure if you qualify for Medigap? Read my Medigap guide to learn about eligibility, enrollment periods, and types of policies.
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We picked out a few more recommendations worth considering:
By partnering with AARP, UnitedHealthcare offers some of the simplest and most comprehensive Medicare supplemental insurance plans. Not only will you receive coverage from two trusted organizations, but you’ll also have access to the nation’s largest network of providers, making it more likely that you’ll be able to keep your current doctors and providers.
Here, I’ll go over UnitedHealthcare’s available plans, their costs, and how they compare to competitors. You’ll see why I think UnitedHealthcare is one of the best Medicare supplemental insurance providers.
Pro Tip: Not sure if you qualify for Medigap? Read my Medigap guide to learn about eligibility, enrollment periods, and types of policies.
UnitedHealthcare is the largest health-insurance provider in the United States and one of the largest providers in the world. Founded in 1974, the company has a network of more than 1.3 million doctors and health-care workers, as well as 6,500 hospitals and care facilities all over the United States. If you’re looking for a company with a solid reputation and a large network, UnitedHealthcare fits the bill.
UnitedHealthcare offers eight Medigap plans, each with its own pros and cons. Here is an overview of each.
Plan A | Plan B | Plan C | Plan F | Plan G | Plan K | Plan L | Plan N | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Part A Coinsurance, extra year of hospital days after Medicare benefits run out | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
Part A hospice/ respite care copay/ coinsurance | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 50% | 75% | 100% |
Part A deductible | No | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 50% | 75% | 100% |
Part B copay or coinsurance | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 50% | 75% | 100% |
Part B annual deductible | No | No | 100% | 100% | No | No | No | No |
Part B excess charges | No | No | No | 100% | 100% | No | No | No |
Skilled nursing facility care coinsurance | No | No | 100% | 100% | 100% | 50% | 75% | 100% |
Foreign travel emergency | No | No | 80% | 80% | 80% | No | No | 80% |
Blood (first 3 pints per year) | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 50% | 75% | 100% |
Yearly out-of-pocket limit | No | No | No | No | No | $5,560 | $2,780 | No |
FYI: Older adults living in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Massachusetts have different Medigap plans to choose from than the above chart.
Since Medigap coverage is standardized by the federal government, it’s important to look into any extra benefits and perks offered by an insurer. Here’s what separates UnitedHealthcare from its competitors:
Through UnitedHealthcare’s HouseCalls program, you can receive yearly checkups — as well as other health screenings — right in your home. These visits cost no more than a regular doctor visit.
Through FirstLine, UnitedHealthcare’s medication discount service, you can receive a monthly allowance for vitamins, supplements, and other over-the-counter medications.
The UnitedHealthcare app, available for iOS and Android devices, allows you to access your health information on the go. I found it convenient to use the app to find medical, mental-health and urgent care, especially when I was out and about. I could also get a full summary of my payments, including copay, deductibles, coinsurance, and anything that wasn’t covered by UnitedHealthcare. When I left my insurance identification card at home before a routine checkup, I simply pulled out my phone and let the receptionist view my UnitedHealthcare app, which clearly displayed my ID.
The costs of any Medigap provider vary not only from state to state, but also from city to city and even person to person. Costs are higher in large cities such as New York and Los Angeles, while costs are lower in small towns and cities.
Here’s a sample of UnitedHealthcare plan costs in different cities for a nonsmoker over age 65:
Plan A | Plan B | Plan C | Plan F | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Warrensburg, MO | $109.60 | $155.86 | $189.11 | $191.67 |
New York, NY | $171.25 | $246 | $306.75 | $308.25 |
Seattle, WA | $134.50 | $196.50 | $231.50 | $232.25 |
Mobile, AL | $78.24 | $125.28 | $145.60 | $146.56 |
Tempe, AZ | $93.12 | $137.12 | $155.52 | $156.80 |
As a social worker, I’ve worked with older adults signing up for Medigap plans from UnitedHealthcare. It’s important to know that before you can apply for Medigap, you need to be enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B. If you sign up during the Medigap open-enrollment period, you are accepted automatically. The open-enrollment period lasts for six months, beginning when you turn 65 and you’re enrolled in Medicare Part D.
To view UnitedHealthcare’s plans, you can go to the company’s website and enter your personal information, including your ZIP code, birth date, and the dates your Medicare Parts A and B went into effect. The website will show you options, but you can also call an insurance agent to buy a plan.
Insurance is one of the few areas in which I actually appreciate brokers. When I spoke to UnitedHealthcare’s agents, they asked the right questions to see which plan was right, based on needs and lifestyle. Insurance policies and plans are so complicated that having extra assistance is almost always a good thing. If you want a personalized recommendation, call UnitedHealthcare’s agents, who are available on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET.
Don’t see a plan you like? I’ve reviewed other top Medigap insurance providers in addition to UnitedHealthcare, and these are some of my favorites:
I would recommend UnitedHealthcare as a Medigap provider. With nearly 50 years in business, it is a trustworthy health-insurance provider, and its eight Medigap plan choices provide options for older adults with a wide variety of lifestyles. Plus, I liked how easy it was to choose a plan using the company’s simple online quoting process.
To learn more about the best ways to augment your Medicare coverage, read our helpful guides:
Yes, UnitedHealthcare offers eight Medigap plans: A, B, C, F, G, K, L, and N.
Yes. With eight Medigap plans to choose from, you can trust the largest health-care provider in the United States for your Medicare supplement plan.
Comparing Medicare Advantage and Medigap is like comparing apples and oranges. Medicare Advantage and Medigap cover different areas, and they are not mutually exclusive. Medigap is meant to fill the gaps left by Medicare Advantage, which combines Medicare Plans A and B with prescription drug coverage. As long as you are enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B, whether through Original Medicare or Medicare Advantage, you are eligible for Medigap.
AARP offers Medigap Plans A, B, C, F, G, K, L, and N.
The best Medigap insurance companies I have reviewed include UnitedHealthcare, Cigna, Aetna, State Farm, Mutual of Omaha, Colonial Penn, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Humana, and Anthem.