AARP Medicare Supplement Plans
AARP Medicare Supplement plans have become among the most sought after coverage across the country. Since AARP also offers other benefits, including employer insurance, the name has become well-known in the market. You have likely been covered by AARP in some in the past, and if you had a positive experience, then consider their supplement plans too.
We have been offering AARP Medicare Supplement plans for a long time with policyholders across 48 states. We are an authorized agency that has provided Medigap coverage for decades.
Various insurers provide the standard Medicare supplement plans, but the plans offered by AARP are co-branded. With 7 supplement plans, AARP is available in many different states.
Enrolling requires being over the age of 50 and an organization member. However, applying for Medicare supplement policies through AARP signs you up for membership and supplement enrollment.
When enrolling, you receive the following benefits:
No fee application process
Household discounts and early enrollment (varied by state)
Guaranteed renewal – supplement coverage cannot be dropped based on medical condition
Covered Nationwide – Coverage at any provider that accepts Medicare across the nation
30-day ‘free look’ window
Stress-free membership from having an A-rated insurer
Silver Sneakers – A free gym membership to certain locations nationwide
Summary of Plans
AARP Medicare Supplement Plan F
AARP provides standardized supplement plans, but do not provide all 10. Instead, they only offer the most common plans, including Plan N, Plan G, and Plan F.
When enrolling in the AARP Plan F coverage, you get the peace of mind that you are receiving the same standardized benefits from all other insurance company’s Plan F offers. The government has required all plans to include the same standard coverage.
The Plan F policy offers full-coverage protection against both outpatient and hospital deductibles. The 20% coinsurance payments for Part B are covered as well. The reason Plan F is so popular is that it’s a ‘first-dollar coverage’ plan, this means you will not pay any out of pocket expenses for services covered by Medicare.
AARP Medicare Supplement Plan G
In 2017, ARRP Medicare Supplement Plan G policy was introduced. Available in many states, this is comparable to Plan F with lower monthly premiums. The key difference is, you are responsible for the Part B deductible each year. Therefore, you will be out of pocket for the first service(s) received each year, but covered for the remaining calendar year.
We can assist you in comparing the benefits and premiums for Plan G and F if needed. In some situations, Plan G may be more cost-effective.
AARP Medicare Supplement Plan N
For seniors looking for a policy that covers some back-end costs with a lower premium, Plan N may be the optimal choice. For instance, with Plan G, you are responsible for the Part B deductible. Meanwhile, with Plan N you also have copay expenses, $20 for doctor visits and $50 for emergency rooms.
In addition, excess charges are not covered by Plan N. An excess charge is an additional amount billed for services over that Medicare agreed to pay. However, the excess amount cannot exceed 15% by law. In certain states, excess charges are not allowed.
You should ask your provider if Medicare assignment rates are accepted prior to enrolling if you choose an AARP Medicare Supplement Plan N. If they say no, this will let you know that you could be stuck with paying the excess charges out of pocket.
AARP Medicare Advantage Plans
You can qualify for AARP Advantage Plans in most states. An Advantage plan is different from a supplement plan. Here’s how they work…
When enrolling within a Medicare Advantage plan with any insurer, the healthcare you receive will usually need to be by an in-network provider. Therefore, before choosing a plan, you will need to question if your doctor or other physicians are part of the Plan’s network. Most states provide both an HMO and PPO based Advantage Plan.
An HMO plan is focused more on in-network providers, it will only cover those expenses. Whereas, if you need to see an out of network provider, you are stuck with 100% of the expense. However, a PPO plan covers in-network providers and covers part of the expense for out of network services. A PPO offers more coverage and comes with a higher premium.
Many Medicare beneficiaries have started purchasing Medicare Advantage plans fo supplement plans instead due to them usually having lower premiums. The lower premium comes with the exchange of having more out of pocket expenses, such as copays. People who do not have frequent doctor visits or have limited budgets may find Advantage plans more suitable. Of course, some prefer Advantage plans from AARP as it’s more of a ‘pay as you go’ approach.
Furthermore, many AARP Advantage plans combine Part D drug coverage. You can find plans that also include preventive services for vision or dental too.
AARP Silver Sneakers Benefits
We receive many questions about the AARP Silver Sneakers’ benefits. This is an added perk offered by AARP to help keep seniors active and healthy.
Silver Sneakers offers free gym membership to seniors. The membership is for participating gyms in the area. Silver Sneakers often sponsors activities that help keep the older community more active. There could be many gyms around your local area that accept Silver Sneaker memberships.
We have a long-time history working with AARP Medicare Supplement plans. Our agents are familiar with all the plan options offered throughout the United States. If you need assistance or have questions, we can help.
