AARP UHC Medicare Supplement Renew Active Benefit

[cf3613]

 United Healthcare Supplement Renew Active Benefit premium gym memberships are dropping popular services such as Orange Theory, Exercise Coach, Stretch Lab, etc. and did not have the courtesy to send letters informing members of the change. This is a huge takeaway and shows UHC and AARP is not concerned about Medicare recipients wellness and physical health.  This benefit needs to be restored for 2025 until such time as proper notice is given to all participants during open enrollment period so that other Medicare supplement plans can be considered that may offer better auxiliary benefits.  It is very unprofessional and tone deaf for UHC and AARP not to communicate this material change.  Where is AARP in advocating for this benefit for their membership?

[AlexD604365]

Access to these gyms was the primary reason I joined United Healthcare and have now I've opted to go go elsewhere.  My understanding is that too many AARP members accessed this benefit and rather than expanding this extremely popular program, UHC decided to unilaterally and shortsightedly, eliminate the benefit for reasons that were never explained. Though one can imagine that it was likely part of some sort of a cost slashing effort undertaken to increase the profitability of an already HIGHLY successful organization. 

As far as I can tell, AARP's response to the elimination of this wonderful benefit for it's membership has been, at best, ambivalent. And please don't respond to me with a "we're listening" comment, it's not enough.

As an aside: This benefit is available through certain Silver&Fit programs when accessed through health insurance carriers other than UHC.  HOWEVER, if you access the Silver&Fit program through AARP's portal the list of participating gyms does not include the premium gyms that were available through the UHC's Renew Active program.  I'm sure AARP can easily have these gyms included and allow it's membership to gain, at the very least, discounted access. Very frustrating!

[m825995g]

 I'm new to Medicare and had been enjoying the benefits at Stretch Lab and The Bar Method and was looked forward to trying Club Pilates. when I went to schedule my next stretch today I saw that the Stretch Lab benefit is no longer available, nor is Club Pilates.  I'm VERY disappointed and also upset that we were never informed of these changes! 

[AARPConsumerCare]

Hello @m825995g, I can understand how disappointing that can be. We are listening and would like the chance to help as soon as possible. Please visit https://help.aarp.org/s/article/contact-aarp to chat, text, or speak with a representative who can get you in touch with our Member Relations team. Thank you. - Daniela R. 

[GailL1]

As long as you're enrolled in Original Medicare, Part A and Part B, you can apply for a Medicare Supplement insurance plan anytime.  Now if you have extra Medigap protection coverage as to the need for underwriting or when you have more freedoms and rights to change Medigap plans, your state rules may give you extra protections over the Federal rules.

Buying or switching Medigap coverage doesn’t have a Federally legislated rule outside of the initial enrollment period.

Check your state law (usually under the Dept of Insurance or Finance) as to any special rights you have to switch your Medigap policy otherwise you may have to go thru underwriting to change plans - may or may not be a big deal depending on your current health or any pre-existing conditions.

Actual Medigap coverage is based on Federal law - each of the plans are described as to how they work with Traditional Medicare - Parts A & B.  A Medigap policy is not health insurance, it is financial protection insurance that works with Traditional Medicare and covers some or most all of your out of pocket cost that Traditional Medicare does no cover - nor is there an annual or lifetime limit to these out of pocket cost under Traditional Medicare.  A Medigap policy will prevent a Traditional Medicare beneficiary from experiencing a financial catastrophic medical event up to the limits of the Medigap policy which they have chosen to protect them.

Auxilliary benefits may be offered by the insurer of the plan but they are not contractual and the disclosure in each policy that contains them should be read very carefully.  These auxiliary benefits could include some dental, vision or hearing benefits or health and wellness like gym memberships and usage.  The AARP/UHC Medicare Supplemental Plan contains the following language:

DISCLOSURES

AARP commercial member benefits are provided by third parties, not by AARP or its affiliates. Providers pay a royalty fee to AARP for the use of its intellectual property. These fees are used for the general purposes of AARP. Some provider offers are subject to change and may have restrictions.

These offers are only available to insured members covered under an AARP Medicare Supplement Plan from UnitedHealthcare. These are additional insured member services apart from the AARP Medicare Supplement Plan benefits, are not insurance programs, are subject to geographical availability and may be discontinued at any time.

[cf3613]

Unfortunately, your response does not address my question and comment.  AARP is paid a large royalty and therefore has the ability to find out from UHC about their decision to exclude certain benefits.  Why didn't I receive formal notification of the change in coverage?

[AARPConsumerCare]

We're sorry to hear United Healthcare didn't notify you about the change on your coverage, @cf3613. We are listening and would like the chance to help as soon as possible. Please visit https://help.aarp.org/s/article/contact-aarp to chat, text, or speak with a representative who can get you in touch with our Member Relations team. - Diana G.

[GailL1]

@cf3613 wrote

“This benefit needs to be restored for 2025 until such time as proper notice is given to all participants during open enrollment period so that other Medicare supplement plans can be considered that may offer better auxiliary benefits.”

—————————————

I was addressing this part of your comment.  Medigap plans, past the initial enrollment period, don’t have another “open enrollment” period.  The Annual Enrollment Period that just passed was ONLY for changing a Medicare Advantage plan with or without drug coverage OR for Medicare Part D free-standing plans.  

Your state would be the source to find out if you can switch your Medigap plan to another insurer or switch plans WITHOUT UNDERWRITING.  

So the notice really had no time cut off for you to select another Medigap carrier or plan - just don’t cancel the one you have until you have the next one in hand and you have paid at least a month’s premium - just in case underwriting or a pre-existing condition delay is necessary and you agree to the new premium amount which could also be higher if underwriting is necessary.

[cf3613]

As you state, you only answered one part of my question  When will I receive a complete answer?

[GailL1]

I guess when AARP.org wants to give you one.