How AARP Shills for UnitedHealthcare

[Passages]

Today on TAP: Why does the supposed advocate for the elderly steer them to the industry’s worst insurer?

by Robert Kuttner December 11, 2024


We still don’t know quite why the assassin of Brian Thompson targeted the CEO of UnitedHealthcare. But it’s hardly a secret that UnitedHealthcare has the worst record among all large insurers in denying necessary medical care to its subscribers.

The data confirm what far too many patients experience. In 2023, UnitedHealth’s denial rate of claims was 32 percent, compared to an industry average of 16 percent. Nonprofits had a far better record than for-profits.

I had assumed that UnitedHealth’s business model was to lowball premiums and then more than make up the profit by denying claims. But it’s even worse than that.

SNIP

Why on earth would consumers buy such a flawed insurance product? It helps if they are captive customers, steered to UnitedHealth by a trusted source.

That would be AARP.
https://prospect.org/blogs-and-newsletters/tap/2024-12-11-how-aarp-shills-for-unitedhealthcare/

Shameful

[Hugin]

1. The shilling started under Dub...

There was a big brouhaha at the time. Now, largely forgotten.

[JohnSJ]

2. That is more due to their Advantage Care plans, because their Medigap supplemental plans do not have that issue.

and it isn't just UHC. Atena and others were denying claims also.

The fact is if the basic Medicare covers it, then the supplemental will cover it.

With an advantage plan the insurance company takes over the basic Medicare coverage, and that is where the denial problems occur.

This has been going on for sometime, and because the initial upfront premium cost for an advantage plan appears to be cheaper, unless you have no health issues, it could end up costing you significantly more.

[EYESORE 9001]

3. Does AARP steer any customers toward UHC's medigap plans?

Nah. It’s all about Medicare advantage plans.

[JohnSJ]

5. In reality, that's it. The Advantage plans take over Medicare basic coverage, and that is where they have full control

over denying claims.

If one has a supplemental plan under any insurance company not just UHC, if basic Medicare covers it, then the supplemental plan will also.

Too many people are enticed by the low premiums and other coverage included with advantage plans that they don't fully understand the implications.

and to directly answer your question, AARP does not try to steer people toward Advantage plans, though ALL health insurance providers themselves try to do that. You see it on their commercials constantly when open enrollment comes due.

[allegorical oracle]

15. Yep...all those part B premium $$ (auto-deducted from Social Security checks) stop being held by the

U. S. Treasury and are paid out to the private insurance carriers. The 2025 amount is $185/mo. per Medicare recipient. That's how the companies can afford to spend zillions on those Advantage plan commercials every Fall.

[JohnSJ]

16. and with Oz head of Medicare, everyone on Medicare, no matter whether they have a supplemental or not is threatened.

[Passages]

4. Yes. More seniors will hopefully learn that before they sign with UnitedHealthcare.

According to AARP’s audited financial report, AARP made $289.3 million from member dues, but $1.134 billion from kickbacks from insurers, of which the lion’s share, $905 million, was from health insurers. AARP delicately refers to these as royalties.

And somehow, because it is a nonprofit, AARP manages to avoid income taxes on this kickback income. Despite Congress’s efforts over the years to make nonprofits pay taxes on commercial income, AARP paid only about $3 million in federal income taxes on “royalties” of well over a billion.

[JohnSJ]

6. It isn't UHC per se. It is because they sign up for an UHC Advantage Plan. That is where they give all control to the

insurance company.

If they just sign up for a supplemental plan, they won't have that problem, because anything that basic Medicare Covers, the Supplemental will also, and this applies to all health insurance companies under medicare.

The most dangerous threat coming down the line though is if Oz takes over Medicare, all the rules can change, and it can be a disaster to anybody on Medicare.

[Passages]

8. The issue is they do sign up UHC and they are then denied care.

The Medigap plans are not all affordable for many seniors, so Americans remain vulnerable on many levels.

For profit healthcare is a disaster.

[JohnSJ]

9. If affordability is an issue for some then they need to see if they qualify for Medicaid. All Advantage Plans make the

consumer vulnerable to the insurance company, and it isn't just UHC. Atena and others have also been accused of denial of claims.

In perspective though, for an older person, the Medicare supplemental premiums are not excessive though.

That does not mean that healthcare does not need reform in this country though, it does, and it isn't just the insurance companies.

Hospitals and Medical facilities are notorious for "padding the bill", along with other issues that need to be addressed.

[Passages]

10. I am aware of the scope of culprits and I agree reform is necessary.

https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/eligibility-policy/index.html

Medicaid Income Eligibility Levels
https://www.nyc.gov/assets/ochia/downloads/pdf/all_populations_medicaid.pdf




Universal healthcare once and for all is our remedy. There is no sound reason not to fight for it.

An American tragedy that took place on the streets of NYC unique to our society has pulled back the rawness of what many people suffer due to a corrupt system.

I want Democrats to be the remedy.

[JohnSJ]

12. Unless something radically changes, unfortunately, November 5 has made that unlikely for the foreseeable future.

[Passages]

17. A nightmare is coming.

I dread January 20th.

[JohnSJ]

20. I agree.

[Ms. Toad]

18. UHC offers Medicare Advantage plans, Medicare Supplement plans, and Medicare Part D plans

So saying "they sign up UHC" is relatively meaningless.

The UHC Medicare Supplement plans were, by far, the cheapest supplement plans available - in Nebraska 30 years ago, again in Ohio around 15 years ago when my father had the opportunity to switch, and again 2 years ago when I shopped plans in Ohio.

I didn't even look at the Medicare Advantage plans.

I've recently looked at Part D plans, and UHC is among the most expensive.

While I agree for profit healthcare is a disaster, UHC is not uniformly evil.

[dalton99a]

23. +1. Part D you can shop around and change every year

[Passages]

24. You have to go back 30 years to suggest they don't rank as uniformly evil.

UnitedHealthcare Denies More Claims Than Other Insurers

Forbes
https://www.forbes.com › Innovation
7 days ago — ... UHC is perhaps the country's worst offender. When it ... But according to one of the firm's reports on insurance claim denial rates, UHC ...

[Celerity]

7. 'Royalties', because they are the King of the Scamsters skimming off the pensioner crowd.

[dalton99a]

11. +1. Humana Medicare Advantage is just as bad.

My neighbor signed up for it instead of a supplement. She now regrets that decision. I have seen the denials and letters written by her doctors. It's insane.

[JohnSJ]

13. They all are, which is why Advantage Plans are not a good deal. As some have pointed out that for some affordability is

a problem for supplemental plans, and the only alternative today for those in that position need to see if they qualify for Medicaid, otherwise they have no choice.

[JohnSJ]

14. and no matter what they may tell you, it is not easy to change back, where the insurance company can refuse it.

Last edited Thu Dec 12, 2024, 12:40 PM - Edit history (1)

The danger is now that the sociopath is in control, things are unlikely to get better, and with Oz as head of Medicare, EVERYONE on Medicare is at risk, including those on a supplemental plan.

[dalton99a]

21. Yep. Her only hope is for Humana to discontinue her plan

and give her a guaranteed-issue rights letter so she can buy a supplement without underwriting. Right now nobody wants to sell her a supplement because of her medical issues.

Oz is big insurance industry whore and will make everything worse

[JohnSJ]

22. Yes he is dalton, and my big concern is he may try to force anyone on a supplemental plan to an Advantage Plan.

[mucifer]

19. I wonder if there are ANY good health insurance plans in the USA.