An Overview of AARP Medicare Supplement Plans

AARP Medicare supplement plans are offered through UnitedHealthcare Insurance. Eligible people use these plans to supplement their Medicare plan if they think that their plan may not provide all the health coverage they need. AARP has offered health plans for its group members for more than 50 years.

Benefits of AARP Medicare Plans 

There are many features and perks of AARP plans.

• Coverage is offered nationwide.
• You can use any doctor who accepts Medicare. This includes your current doctor.
• You don't have to be referred to other doctors you may need to see.
• Your policy can't be canceled or your premium increased because of health problems.
• A supplement plan can be joined with Medicare Part D to help lower your prescription drug costs.

A Look at AARP Supplement Plans

Here is a brief look at the AARP supplement plans offered by UnitedHealthcare. Note that exact coverage, coinsurance, copays, and deductibles may vary by state. There are quite a few plans to choose from:

• Plan A
• Plan B
• Plan C
• Plan F
• Plan G
• Plan K
• Plan L
• Plan N

Plan A

Hospital Services for Medicare Part A:

• You must pay the Part A deductible of $1,556 for the first 60 days of hospitalization. This plan includes semiprivate room and board and normal nursing costs.
• You do not pay anything for days 61 to 90. Days 91 and beyond are covered while using your 60 lifetime reserve days.
• All eligible costs that Medicare would not otherwise cover are paid for an added 365 days once the lifetime reserve days are used. You must pay out of your own pocket for all costs that had been covered by Plan A or Medicare after those 365 days have passed.

Medical Services for Medicare Part B:

• Medicare pays about 80% of your healthcare costs after you pay the $233 Part B deductible. Plan A pays the remaining 20%. These include doctor's services, inpatient and outpatient medical and surgical services and supplies, physical and speech therapy, diagnostic tests, blood, and durable medical equipment either in or outside of a hospital. It includes outpatient care.

Plan B

Hospital Services for Medicare Part A:

• Hospitalization is covered like with Plan A, except you won't pay anything during the first 60 days.
• Plan B covers the cost of a skilled nursing facility for the first 20 days if you've been in the hospital for at least three days and enter an approved facility within 30 days of leaving the hospital. Plan B pays up to $194.50 per day for skilled nursing care for days 21 to 100. You must pay for all skilled nursing care costs after day 100.

Medical Services for Medicare Part B:

• Medicare pays about 80% of your healthcare costs after you pay the $233 Part B deductible. Plan B pays the remaining 20%. These include doctor's services, inpatient and outpatient medical and surgical services and supplies, x-rays, diagnostic tests, mental health, and durable medical equipment either in or outside of a hospital. It includes outpatient care.

Plan C

Hospital Services for Medicare Part A:

• Covers the Part A deductible of $1,556 for the first 60 days of hospitalization, and it otherwise replicates Plan B's coverage.
• You must pay for all skilled nursing care costs out of your own pocket after day 100 (costs covered for the first 100 days).

Medical Services for Medicare Part B:

• Covers the $233 Part B deductible, then covers about 20% of the healthcare costs left over after Medicare pays about 80%.
• You will pay nothing for doctor visits and all preventative services covered by Medicare.
• There isn't an out-of-pocket maximum.
• It covers ambulance services (ground and air) and 80% of foreign travel emergencies (after a $250 deductible with a $50,000 lifetime maximum).

Plan F

Plan F is the broadest supplement plan UnitedHealthcare offers. This plan covers the same items Plan C covers. However, the one difference is that it covers 100% of Part B's excess healthcare cost charges above the approved amounts.

Plan G

Plan G covers nearly everything that Plan C covers. However, there are a few differences. In Plan G, you pay the $233 Part B deductible

The plan also pays 100% of the Part B excess charges above the approved amounts, In contrast, Plan C requires you to pay 100% of the Part B excess charges.

Plan K

Plan K is much like Plan C, but it doesn't cover all of the costs. It has an out-of-pocket limit ($6,220 for 2022). Once you reach it, the plan will cover 100% of your covered medical expenses for the rest of the calendar year.

Hospital Services for Medicare Part A:

• Plan K pays only 50% (or $778) of the $1,556 Part A deductible. It pays up to $97.25, instead of $194.50, per day for days 21 to 100 for care at a skilled nursing facility.
• You will pay $778 for the first 60 days of inpatient hospital care.

Medical Services for Medicare Part B:

• Plan K pays 90% of some costs related to outpatient care, services, and equipment.
• These costs include being treated by doctors, inpatient, outpatient medical and surgical services and supplies, physical and speech therapy, tests, and durable medical equipment.

Plan L

Plan L is much like Plan C but pays only 95% rather than 100% of certain costs. Like Plan K, it also has an out-of-pocket maximum ($3,310). However, after meeting the limit, the plan pays 100% of your covered medical expenses for the remainder of the calendar year.

Hospital Services for Medicare Part A:

• Plan L pays only 25% of the Part A deductible.
• It pays for care at a skilled nursing facility for the first 20 days. After that, you'll pay up to $48.62 for day 21 through 100. You'll pay all costs after that.

Medical Services for Medicare Part B:

• Unlike Plan C, Plan L does not pay the Part B deductible.

Plan N

Plan N differs from Plan G in two ways. Plan N pays costs that are more than $20 per office visit and $50 per emergency room visit. The $50 copay may be waived if you are admitted to a hospital, and the ER visit is covered by Medicare Part A.

Plan N also pays nothing toward Part B excess charges above the approved amounts, compared with Plan G's 100% coverage.

Eligibility Requirements 

You can enroll in Medicare up to three months before your 65th birthday. You're required to be enrolled in Parts A and B to be eligible for Medicare supplemental coverage.

You don't have to do anything extra to be enrolled in Medicare if you receive Social Security benefits. The open enrollment period for buying a Medigap plan lasts six months, and begins the month you are enrolled in Medicare Part B. You must also be at least 65.

An insurer may not charge you more for a Medigap plan during the open enrollment period than it would charge a person who didn't have a preexisting condition, even if you have a preexisting health concern.

Is an AARP Plan Right for You?

An AARP plan may be the thing you need to help with your healthcare costs if you're concerned about the cost of copays, coinsurance, and deductibles not covered by Medicare. You must first become an AARP member to enroll in AARP supplemental plans. You can fill out the AARP application online. 

You can contact AARP if you have more questions about AARP's supplement plans.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)