AARP/UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage Review
AARP/UnitedHealthcare has a wide range of high-quality Medicare Advantage plan options at affordable prices.
Editor's Rating
AARP/UnitedHealthcare is a good choice for Medicare Advantage plans because it offers high-quality coverage at low rates. There are many $0 plans available, and the average cost of $17 per month is cheap for a plan with drug coverage.
AARP/UHC: Cheap and popular for Medicare Advantage
Medicare Advantage plans from AARP/UnitedHealthcare are cheap and have good overall ratings. UnitedHealthcare (UHC) is also the most popular Medicare Advantage company, selling more than a quarter of all plans nationally.
UnitedHealthcare is a good choice if you want a plan with extra perks like dental care and vision coverage. The company has a large network of doctors, which can make finding covered medical care easier. But if you want some coverage for out-of-network doctors, you can also get a cheap PPO plan from UnitedHealthcare.
Cost of AARP/UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage
An AARP/UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plan is a good deal, costing an average of $17 per month.
UnitedHealthcare's average cost is cheaper than the national average of $27 per month. The average rates are for plans that include prescription drug coverage.
However, UnitedHealthcare isn't the cheapest overall provider. Companies like Wellcare and Cigna have lower overall rates and a higher percentage of $0 plans.
Medicare Advantage plan cost by company
Company | Monthly cost |
|---|---|
| Cigna | $7 |
| Wellcare | $9 |
| Aetna | $17 |
| AARP/UnitedHealthcare | $17 |
| Humana | $31 |
Despite the low rates, UnitedHealthcare is sometimes thought of as an expensive company. UnitedHealthcare does have a reputation for expensive individual health insurance plans. But the company's Medicare Advantage plans are cheaper than most.
Medicare Advantage cost by plan type
PPO plans from AARP/UnitedHealthcare cost less than half the national average.
AARP/UnitedHealthcare's PPO plans are a very good deal, with average prices that are far below the industry. Not only are the PPO plans affordable, but they're also a good choice for coverage. PPO plans give you more flexibility to choose which doctors you use because they cover both in-network and out-of-network health care.
Medicare Advantage monthly costs
Plan type | AARP/UHC plans | All Medicare Advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Local HMO | $14 | $18 |
| Local PPO | $13 | $27 |
| Regional PPO | $55 | $72 |
AARP/UnitedHealthcare is a poor choice for PFFS plans.
PFFS plans aren't a popular choice since they are usually expensive and can limit your choice of doctors. For these plans, UnitedHealthcare has high prices, low ratings and limited availability.
Number of plan choices
On average, you'll have 19 UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans to choose from. Availability depends on where you live. But in total, UnitedHealthcare offers 482 Medicare Advantage plans with prescription drug coverage. This provides a broad range of coverage options.
UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage brands
UnitedHealthcare sells plans through four different brand names: AARP, Erickson Advantage, Rocky Mountain Health Plans and UnitedHealthcare.
AARP Medicare Advantage plans are the most commonly offered option — they're even more common than UnitedHealthcare-branded plans. You do not need to be an AARP member to enroll in an AARP/UHC Medicare Advantage plan.
Medical benefits with UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage
UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans typically have good coverage, including coverage for prescription medications and extra perks like dental coverage and fitness benefits.
Coverage for prescriptions
Most AARP/UnitedHealthcare plans provide good, comprehensive prescription drug benefits, especially for generic drugs.
On average, plans have a $79 annual deductible for prescription drugs. But many plans have no drug deductible or have generic drugs excluded from the deductible.
And nearly all of UnitedHealthcare's plans provide prescription benefits during what's called the donut hole, when coverage dips after you've spent a certain amount on drugs. If you take expensive medications, this can help lower your total cost. Even if you don't take medications, having a plan that gives you good coverage can be a good idea. It can give you peace of mind in case you need prescriptions in the future.
Extra perks
Medicare Advantage plans from AARP/UnitedHealthcare offer a long list of extra perks.
- Dental care: AARP/UnitedHealthcare has some of the best Medicare Advantage plans for dental coverage. Plans usually include basic dental benefits such as routine cleanings and X-rays. Some plans include more comprehensive coverage for fillings, root canals, crowns, dentures and implants.
- Vision care: Many plans have vision benefits that include a free routine eye exam every year or two if you go to an in-network provider. You might also have coverage for lenses, glasses frames or contacts.
- Hearing: Plans usually cover a free hearing exam. There is usually some coverage for hearing aids. Your copay could be $375 to $2,075 for each hearing aid, with a limit of two hearing aids per year.
- Telehealth: Most plans include free virtual visits for nonemergency care for both medical and mental health needs.
- Health care at home: UnitedHealthcare's HouseCalls program provides a free physical exam and health screening at home. This perk isn't available everywhere.
- Fitness: Plans include benefits through a program called Renew Active. Depending on your plan, you might get a gym membership, access to online fitness videos and access to the Fitbit Community to connect with other enrollees.
- Healthy living rewards: Some plans give you cash back for activities like an annual checkup or tracking your steps. The program is called Renew Rewards.
- Mental sharpness: The AARP Staying Sharp program provides activities and brain exercises to help you stay sharp as you age.
- Allowance toward groceries: If you are eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid, your plan might have a Food, OTC and Utility Bill Credit that provides gift cards for things like vitamins, cough drops, vegetables, meat and more.
Erickson and Rocky Mountain Health Plans offer a different collection of benefits. No matter what UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plan you buy, the benefits will be specific to your plan.
AARP/UHC and medical test approvals
UnitedHealthcare often requires prior authorization for many medical services.
For example, if you need a lab test, your doctor often needs to get approval from UnitedHealthcare before you can have the test done. Even though you don't have to get the approval yourself, the process can affect how quickly you can get care. It can also add extra paperwork if the request is denied.
The health services that require prior authorization vary by plan, but some common tests that require approval are:
- Specialist visits
- Diagnostic tests
- Lab services
- X-rays and MRIs
- Hospital care
- Skilled nursing facilities
- Physical therapy
- Hearing exams
- Nonroutine dental
- Eye exams
How do AARP/UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans work?
Medicare Advantage plans, also called Medicare Part C plans, bundle together your Medicare coverage into one plan. That means one plan covers doctor visits, hospital care and usually prescription medications.
When you get health care, the medical office will file a claim with your Medicare Advantage plan just like it would with any other health insurance plan. AARP/UnitedHealthcare will pay based on the coverage you have. You may have to pay some of your bill, especially if you haven't reached your deductible yet.
Customer reviews and complaints
Overall ratings of AARP/UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans are good.
The company has an average rating of 4 out of 5 stars from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). That's similar to other large companies including Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS), Humana and Cigna, which average between 3.5 and 4.2 stars.
UnitedHealthcare also has a low rate of official customer complaints. UHC gets roughly half as many complaints as a typical similar-sized insurance company, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). However, customer satisfaction is middle of the road.
Medicare Advantage customers ranked UnitedHealthcare as about average compared to other large insurance companies, according to a 2023 J.D. Power survey. While this is not a red flag, these lackluster customer reviews are not as strong as the reviews for a top-rated company like Humana or some regional brands like Baylor Scott & White in Texas.
Availability and popularity
UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans are available in 48 states and the District of Columbia. In each of these states, there's at least one $0-per-month plan available. UnitedHealthcare doesn't sell Medicare Advantage plans in Alaska or Louisiana.
Keep in mind that Medicare Advantage options vary depending on what county you live in. For example, in California, UnitedHealthcare plans are only offered in about two-thirds of the state.
UnitedHealthcare is the most popular Medicare Advantage provider, selling 29% of all policies.
For many shoppers, UnitedHealthcare plans are in the sweet spot for balancing good benefits at reasonable prices. This contributes to the company's overall popularity.
Frequently asked questions
Is a Medicare Advantage plan from UnitedHealthcare good?
Yes, AARP/UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans have good coverage and an average overall rating of 4 stars. The company stands out for cheap PPO plans that cost $13 per month on average. The downside is overall customer satisfaction trails behind other companies such as Humana and Anthem.
Does UnitedHealthcare offer Medicare?
Yes, UnitedHealthcare is the most popular provider of Medicare Advantage plans (also called Part C plans), which bundle coverage together as a single plan. It also offers Medicare Part D plans for stand-alone prescription drug coverage and Medicare Supplement plans to reduce medical costs for those who are enrolled in the government-administered Medicare plan.
What type of insurance is AARP/UnitedHealthcare?
AARP/UnitedHealthcare offers Medicare plans where AARP endorses insurance provided by UnitedHealthcare.
Why does AARP recommend UnitedHealthcare?
AARP partners with UnitedHealthcare as part of a marketing agreement between the two companies. For each plan sold, AARP gets a royalty payment from UnitedHealthcare. However, AARP/UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans generally provide good coverage at affordable prices.
Sources and methodology
Medicare plan costs and star ratings are sourced from the public use files from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Average costs are based on nationwide data for Medicare Advantage plans that include prescription drug coverage and are sold under any of UnitedHealthcare's brand names. Calculations exclude employer-sponsored plans and Special Needs Plans. Other rating data was sourced from J.D. Power.
Our review considers all of UnitedHealthcare's Medicare Advantage plans, regardless of the advertised brand. For example, even when the plan name says AARP, the insurance is through UnitedHealthcare.
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