Medigap Quandary

[lucebill]

I have about 45 days until I need to make some decisions about Medigap Coverage. Does anyone have any first hand experience with the AARP Plan from United Health or the Blue Cross/ Blue Shield Senior Gold plans? I am having a hard time getting my arms around what level of coverage to go with as well as whether some plans are more user friendly. I would appreciate hearing any stories, good or bad, about how some of you made your decisions on Medigap coverage. Thanks!

[mendomann]

My wife and I both have Medigap policies with Mutual of Omaha, Plan F, which is one of the most popular plans. I have not had any problems with M. of O. They have paid all our claims in a timely basis.

All the plans offered by insurance companies are the same since they are controlled by Medicare. So the only difference is the premium costs.
I did look at AARP, but did not like the idea that it is run by United Healthcare. When my wife had the Traditional Indemnity with them, before she went on Medicare, I had problems with them paying claims when she had a hip replacement. And the premiums were less expensive with M. of O. than AARP. The home page of this website has a link to check out other insurance alternatives. Check it out.

[info2]

I found that AARP Plan F Medigap is higher priced for the same coverage than Blue Cross/BlueShield.

Note that AARP is an affiliate of many insurance companies like United Health Care. AARP receives monetary compensation for every new member they sign up for any insurance program.In many cases,going with AARP sponsored plans of any kind,will cost you more in the longer term.I had been with AARP Supplement Plan F until this year,and I saved $30/mo going with Blue Cross/Blue Shield Plan F. I now pay $138/mo and am age 67.

AARP spends a fortune advertising insurance plans of all kinds and they recoup all of it and then some on the commissions they are paid by the actual insurer.

It is my opinion that AARP is playing us for suckers and stabbing us in the back if they can make more money from selling their products.AARP is NOT the insurer,only the beneficiary of a sale,like any car salesman,who cares about nothing more than making a buck.