AARP offers eight Medicare supplement (Medigap) plans to AARP members, although members cannot purchase every plan in every state or county.
You may be eligible to purchase an AARP Medicare plan if you’re an AARP member. AARP is a nonprofit membership organization that offers Medigap plans through the UnitedHealthcare insurance company.
Medigap plans are supplemental insurance sold by private insurers that you can purchase to cover some of the gaps in healthcare costs that Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) doesn’t cover. These include out-of-pocket expenses such as:
- copays
- coinsurance
- deductibles
This article will explain coverage and costs for AARP Medicare supplement plans.
Medicare standardizes the basic coverage of each Medigap plan, regardless of the private insurer. However, insurance companies decide which plans to sell.
The table below provides an overview of each AARP plan’s coverage of plans for people who are newly eligible for Medicare.
| Coverage | Plan A | Plan B | Plan G | Plan K | Plan L | Plan N |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part A deductible | no | yes | yes | 50% | 75% | yes |
| Part A coinsurance | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Part A hospice care coinsurance or copayment | yes | yes | yes | 50% | 75% | yes |
| Part A hospital costs for an additional 365 days | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Part B deductible | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Part B excess charges | no | no | yes | no | no | no |
| Part B coinsurance or copayments | yes | yes | yes | 50% | 75% | yes* |
| skilled nursing facility care coinsurance | no | no | yes | 50% | 75% | yes |
| foreign travel coverage | no | no | 80% | no | no | 80% |
| first 3 pints of blood | yes | yes | yes | 50% | 75% | yes |
Plan K has an annual out-of-pocket limit of $7,060, and Plan L has a limit of $3,530. After you meet these limits and pay your annual Part B deductible, the plan will pay 100% of your covered services for the rest of the calendar year.
Plan C and Plan F are no longer available for people who are newly eligible for Medicare as of January 1, 2020. If you already have one of these plans, you can keep it. If you were eligible for Medicare before 2020, you can still purchase these plans. Coverage under these plans includes:
| Coverage | Part C | Part F |
|---|---|---|
| Part A deductible | yes | yes |
| Part A coinsurance | yes | yes |
| Part A hospice care coinsurance or copayment | yes | yes |
| Part A hospital costs for an additional 365 days | yes | yes |
| Part B deductible | yes | yes |
| Part B excess charges | no | yes |
| Part B coinsurance or copayments | yes | yes |
| skilled nursing facility care coinsurance | yes | yes |
| foreign travel coverage | 80% | 80% |
| first 3 pints of blood | yes | yes |
Medigap is not the same as Medicare Advantage (Part C). Medigap doesn’t pay for services that Original Medicare doesn’t cover, but it does fill in the gaps in your existing coverage. You can’t get a Medigap plan if you have Medicare Advantage.
UnitedHealthcare offers eight standardized Medigap plans to AARP members:
- Medicare Supplement Plan A: Plan A mainly helps pay for hospital and hospice coverage.
- Medicare Supplement Plan B: Plan B offers the same coverage as Plan A but also covers your Part A deductible.
- Medicare Supplement Plan C: Plan C is a very robust plan. It covers the Medicare Part B deductible, skilled nursing facility care, and foreign travel. This plan is available only to people who were eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020.
- Medicare Supplement Plan F: Plan F is the most comprehensive plan, covering the Part B excess charges in addition to all of the benefits of Plan C. This plan is also only available to those new to Medicare prior to 2020.
- Medicare Supplement Plan G: This plan offers coverage for Part B excess charges and foreign emergency care. It is a popular plan for those not eligible for plans C or F.
- Medicare Supplement Plan K: Plan K pays up to 50% of your costs after you meet your deductible. It also offers low monthly premiums.
- Medicare Supplement Plan L: This plan pays up to 75% of your costs after you meet the deductible and has low monthly premiums.
- Medicare Supplement Plan N: With this plan, you’ll still have copays for Part B services, but they’ll be much lower than what you’d pay without the plan. You’ll also have coverage for hospital care, foreign travel, and more.
AARP Medigap plans allow you to use any Medicare-approved doctor or supplier without a referral from your primary care physician. Your plan will give you coverage for medical services you need anywhere in the United States.
Not every plan is available everywhere. The costs of these plans also vary from state to state.
AARP Medicare supplement plans have varying costs and discounts, which may be determined by your state, county, or ZIP code. The table below shows some examples of rates in different areas of the country.
| Brooklyn, NY | Los Angeles, CA | New Orleans, LA | Missoula, MT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plans offered | A, B, C, G, K, L, N | A, B, C, F, G, K, L, N | A, B, C, F, G, K, L, N | A, B, C, G, F K, L, N |
| Average monthly premium | $99–$370.25 | $58.84–$197.50 | $56.77–$169.73 | $50.29–$170.71 |
AARP is a nonprofit organization that offers its members Medigap plans through UnitedHealthcare.
Eight AARP Medigap plans are available, although members cannot purchase each plan in every state or ZIP code.
Like all Medigap plans, AARP plans are designed to cover some of the gaps in Medicare coverage, such as copays, coinsurance, and deductibles.
Each plan varies in terms of coverage and cost. Your location may determine the price you pay.
AARP offers Medicare Advantage and Medicare supplement (Medigap) plans through the UnitedHealthcare insurance company.