AARP Medicare and Health Review • Benzinga – Benzinga
AARP offers the following types of programs to its members:
AARP Long-Term Care Options from New York Life
Medicare Supplemental Insurance for Medicare Parts A and B beneficiaries.
Medigap plans: Most Medicare Advantage plans contain Part A, B and D coverage. In addition, these plans include extra advantages, including hearing and exercise.
Medicare Supplemental Security Income (SSI) plans: Special requirements plans aid people with special financial or healthcare needs.
Medigap plans: Medicare supplemental insurance helps with some of the costs that Original Medicare doesn’t cover. It doesn’t require referrals and has no network restrictions. A Part D prescription drug plan may be added if your doctor accepts Medicare patients.
Drug plans for Medicare: Part D plans to assist seniors in paying for some Medicare-covered prescription medicines. Both Original Medicare and Medicare Supplement plans can use this plan.
AARP® Dental Insurance Plan administered by Delta Dental Insurance Co.
The Delta Dental Insurance Co. administers the AARP® Dental Insurance Plan, covering the most frequent dental services for individuals and families. State-specific plan options and pricing vary. Many dental insurance plans include the following:
Preferred provider organization (PPO) A: The most comprehensive coverage with a moderate rate. Annual deductible with a typical rate of $40 for the yearly deductible and a $1,500 annual maximum. Members can choose any licensed dentist inside or outside the preferred provider network.
PPO B: This plan offers lower monthly rates with slightly less coverage than the PPO A plan. Typical rates include an annual deductible of $90 with a yearly maximum of $1,000. As with PPO A, you can visit any licensed dentist.
AARP® MyVision Care provided through EyeMed
Members have access to three different vision plans starting at $4.38 per month. Comprehensive eye exams with a $10 cost are included in all plans, as are savings for people with diabetes and anyone who has lost their vision, among other things. Coverage and cost varies by state. However, out-of-network benefits, diabetic vision assistance and blindness benefits are all commonplace in most plans. Comprehensive eye exams are also included in many of these plans.
AARP® Short-Term Care Insurance from Medico®
Short-term care insurance helps pay for these five distinct forms of care outside of a hospital or doctor’s office, including home healthcare. To match your individual needs, you can tailor your plan by benefit length, benefit amount and elimination period.
Home health services: Medical services recommended by your doctor are performed in the comfort of your own home with the assistance of a home health organization.
Adult daycare: A daily program for a group of six or more persons that incorporates social and health-related services.
Assisted living: Individuals who cannot care for themselves at home but do not require the expert care provided by a nursing home facility are provided with room, board and personal care.
Nursing facility: A licensed healthcare facility that provides skilled nursing, intermediate nursing or custodial care 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Hospice Care: Compassionate treatment for terminally sick patients with a six-month life expectancy or less.
Even though the AARP association is not an accredited business with the Better Business Bureau (BBB), it has an A+ customer service rating. Although there is a high overall rating from the BBB, numerous customer complaints are listed, and the average customer review is a 1.2 star out of a possible five-star rating.
Regarding health and life insurance, AARP may not be the most affordable option if you’re in good health. Health insurance for the elderly and life insurance for retirees is cheaper outside of the organization. Still, you may find the tradeoff worth the extra cost for insurance to enjoy all of the other retirement benefits AARP offers. Over three years, 209 customer complaints were filed, with 76 complaints resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
AARP provides a mobile app for members compatible with iPhone, iPad and Android devices.
The mobile app provides access to:
Digital card membershipAccount managementAARP rewardsNewsEventsMember DiscountsAARP magazine and bulletinOther AARP publications
Members who own an Amazon Echo, Tap or Dot can also get AARP news updates via Alexa Flash Briefing. In addition, the AARP mobile app is available through Google Play or by download through the App Store.
One-stop shopping for several insurance policies is available to U.S. citizens older than 50, and discounts are offered for multiple policy lines. Additionally, the AARP Mastercard Rewards Card gives members the opportunity to collect reward points that may be used toward travel perks as well as discounts on entertainment, retail and financial goods. Only $9 a year with auto-renewal is required for membership, and a free spouse or partner membership is included.
Overall, AARP’s user experience rating is above average. Most difficulties — obtaining new cards, updating address and checking account status — can be handled online through the member website. A handy mobile app makes accessing services easy. On third-party consumer review sites, AARP has an average number of complaints. The BBB gives AARP an A+ rating.
AARP vs Competitors
AARP is unique when it comes to offering health insurance to seniors because it not only offers members health insurance but is a one-stop shop for all your retirement needs, including insurance, travel benefits, banking and investments, financial planning and other retirement resources. Here is how AARP compares to other retirement membership services.
Best For
Retired seniors older than 50
Best For
Retired seniors older than 50
1 Minute Review
AARP is not an insurance company. It is a nonprofit retirement membership club. AARP does not write insurance coverage, but it does provide retirees with a one-stop shop for all their insurance needs.
Multiline discounts are available for U.S. citizens older than 50. For example, the AARP Mastercard rewards card allows members to collect points for travel rewards. In addition, membership is only $9 per year with automatic renewal and includes a free spouse or partner membership.
Best For
Retired seniors older than 50
Seniors seeking policy perks
Those who plan to purchase multiple lines of coverage
Pros
Multiple lines of coverage available
Policy perks like discounts for entertainment and travel
Low membership fees, which include membership for a spouse
Cons
Members may receive unsolicited advertising materials
Health insurance may not be the least expensive, especially for seniors in good health
Best For
Nationwide coverage
get started
securely through Blue Cross Blue Shield’s
website
# of Healthcare Providers
28k+
1 Minute Review
Blue Cross Blue Shield is an established health insurance company that can offer you a number of coverages. Its provider network is expansive, which means you can likely find a doctor who accepts insurance near you. There are no annual maximum limits on any level of BCBS’s health insurance policies and its reviews are mostly favorable all across the country.
Best For
Comprehensive coverage options
Exclusive discounts and partnerships
Pros
Coverage in all 50 states and outside the country
Covers both generic and brand-name drugs
Wide network of doctors, hospitals and specialists
Cons
Plans offered through regional companies, meaning you must look to your regional company for specific policies
Main customer service helpline may be difficult to reach
Best For
Travelers needing global coverage
# of Healthcare Providers
875k+
1 Minute Review
Cigna provides end-to-end assistance and provides plenty of member benefits at no extra cost. Get comprehensive health coverage and search for other types of plans with Cigna.
Pros
Home delivery for prescriptions
Health management mobile apps
Easy ID card replacement
Cons
Potentially high deductibles
get started
securely through Mutual of Omaha – Health Insurance’s
website
Best For
No-cost virtual and preventive care
get started
securely through Oscar Health Insurance’s
website
# of Healthcare Providers
N/A
1 Minute Review
Here’s a quick Oscar Health Insurance Review: Oscar Health offers Exclusive Provider Organization (EPO) plans. EPOs are similar to Preferred Provider Organization plans, however, if you visit a specialist, doctor, lab, or hospital that’s not in its network, you’ll have to pay 100% of the costs unless it’s an emergency.
Oscar Health Insurance is a relative newcomer to the health insurance scene. It was founded in 2012 and operates in 18 U.S. states. Some of the perks include no-cost virtual care and preventative care visits and financial rewards of up to $100 per year for meeting walking goals.
The company offers Medicare Advantage Plans, health insurance plans for individuals and families and business health insurance plans, along with a variety of health insurance plans to meet many levels of healthcare requirements.
Best For
Individuals who need basic medical care
Free preventive care including annual physicals and most vaccines
Virtual medical care visits
Pros
Up to $100 per year is available for reaching walking goals
No referrals needed for any plan
24/7 doctor on call online visits available
Variety of plans to fit any level of healthcare needs or budget
Cons
Coverage is only available in 18 states
Lower deductible or no deductible plans are expensive
No dental or vision coverage
Best For
Same day coverage available
# of Healthcare Providers
855k+
1 Minute Review
UnitedHealthcare is an insurance company that is dedicated to making the health care system work better for everyone. Its plans can serve customers of all ages, starting in childhood and continuing all the way through the retirement years. The company partners with more than 1.3 million health care professionals and over 6,500 hospitals to give customers the freedom to access healthcare wherever they are. This insurance provider has a strong financial standing and good ratings, making it a reliable option for just about anybody.
Best For
People who want flexibility in their health care coverage
People who want supplemental insurance coverage
People who qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid
Pros
Offers a wide variety of plans
Strong financial and customer service ratings
ACA and non ACA plans available
Cons
Not all plans ACA-compliant
The website can make it difficult to get a quote
AARP is a nonprofit membership organization for retired people that offers insurance and a slew of other benefits, such as travel discounts, restaurant discounts, entertainment, shopping, auto services and more. Many retirees come from employment environments in which healthcare benefits were supplied by their employers. As a result of their retirement, these individuals must now seek cheap insurance solutions and may turn to AARP for the information and resources they need to live well and enjoy their retirement years.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I apply for AARP Health Insurance and Member Benefits?
1
How do I apply for AARP Health Insurance and Member Benefits?
asked 2022-03-04
Janet Hunt, Insurance Agent
1
To be eligible for coverage under AARP’s insurance policies, you must first become a member of the organization. The AARP membership application can be completed entirely online. AARP can be reached toll-free, or you can visit the assistance center for further information.
Answer Link
answered 2022-03-04
Benzinga
Can I buy life insurance through AARP?
1
Can I buy life insurance through AARP?
asked 2022-03-04
Janet Hunt, Insurance Agent
1
Members can apply for up to $100,000 in term life insurance to help safeguard their families, and they can also get free life insurance information by filling out an online application. A variety of other life insurance options also are available.
Answer Link
answered 2022-03-04
Benzinga
