AARP Health Insurance Reviews

Its issue is that when you call usually after 45 minutes you are told to try XYZ drug which if promptly refused so you wind up going through a list of different drugs. You are never given to anyone who has any authority and told to use a different form which is not available. So it is a technique that has been used by as number of sleazy insurance companies in the past to make it so difficult that you give up trying. The issue I have is that a company like AARP which is known support active retirement. I would think that AAPR would encourage the use of HRT in the men and women who otherwise have no contraindications. My physician who works at Mayo clinic tells me that they have not had one prescription for Hormone replacement therapy or ED drugs approved by OptumRx this year.

I recently attended a Post Graduate Review course on Endocrinology at Harvard University and we review the indication and contraindication for HRT for individuals over 65. There are no contraindications just because you are 65. I guess I am disappointed a company such as AARP who engage a PBP who had this attitude about HRT in the over 65 age group.

WE DO NOT GET TO VOTE FOR THE HEAD OF LOCAL AARP OR THE NATIONAL AARP. THE organization is run by ** liberals who back liberal issues, take money from phony companies who prey on the elderly and donate our money to political persons that don't represent us. My out of pocket for medical has increased 15,000 with Obamacare and doctors do note want Medicare patients.

Just read the con job of AARP **. The company does not have its own cell towers and rents bandwidth from AT&T. The cellular carrier with the worst infrastructure. If the elderly do not use the phone except for brief few emergencies ** is fine, except I can get a better deal from Verizon. I get unlimited talk and 30 gig for 70 per month. This would cost me 1500 from **. The insurance companies are a rip off. The dumb AARP management could not understand that Obamacare was going to hurt the elderly by less money for medicare, extremely higher secondary insurance, a shot age of doctors.

When I have the card from the insurance there was no Doctor on. It said you need to pick a doctor. Call the service office they gave a Doctor I can see and where he was. I went there pick him as my Doctor and I find out that he gave me a shot that day and he was suppose to call first to see if the insurance authorise it. Now I end up paying $328.00 for the shot he gave me and for the visit. I have $5.00 copay. But they still charged me $328.00 Copay. What kind of insurance is this? I have made the worst mistake of my life by having an insurance that not. Here is My MEMBER ID **.

They said I needed a prior authorization for the medications, and they denied an appeal because they said they did not receive adequate information from my physician about why I needed these medications, and did my doc to try other medications. Long story short my physicians don't have the time to sit down and write in detail all the medication that they had tried prior to this one! I actually did have one of my doctors call while I was sitting right there, and the person from Optmum, that he spoke to was absolutely useless! She said they were waiting on a decision about whether or not they will cover this medication! Why did I even need a prior authorization for medications that I've been taking for years, and why did they not listen to my doctor when he called to give them whatever information they needed?

That's because they do not care! I am locked in to their insurance until the next period where I can switch my Insurance Carrier, and they know that but they just don't care! What I am describing here is not a misunderstanding, and I am describing something that this company is doing that should be illegal, because it is unethical, and they signed me up with misleading information! I actually figured - let me pay $45 a month extra so I can get the best coverage possible, and this is worse coverage and insurance that I have ever had! This is very stressful for me, and I am on disability and I am 61 years old, and this company has no intention of doing the right thing by me or their customers! They only care about their bottom line!

It's hard to believe that a company like this, who in their advertising speak about how important their customers are to them, and how they want to be helpful, and they have been outright irresponsible, not helpful, and unethical! I will drop this insurance the first minute I have the opportunity to do so without some kind of penalty! I strongly suggest that you stay away from this company, because all you will get from it is grief! Read all the testimonies here, and you will see that what I'm saying is done over and over to other people, and they get away with it because the insurance companies have big money! I called again to speak with a supervisor and I asked her when will this decision, I was told, and my doctor was told, was needed, before anything can be done, and she told me 30 to 60 days, and it's already been a month and a half since I have gotten my last prescription!

I pay $262 a month for my F Medigap-United Healthcare-AARP plan, and an additional $45 for my part D-prescription drug plan-Optum, and I can't believe this is the way they treat someone that is paying $305 a month out of the pocket to them for this ridiculous-sub quality-healthcare! I paid into Medicare for decades and they are not doing me any favors! I have spent many hours on the phone trying to speak to someone that knows what they're doing, because that is another issue when it comes to their prescription plan! The people working in that department do not know what they are doing! I am so stressed, I even found my way here to complain about this major headache! I'm actually grateful that I have a forum that I can put this information out there, and if it helps somebody else great! Buyer Beware!

Fresh start again this month... Failure. Member ID does not exist. Customer Service says, "Try Registering." So I try again, same thing. Got sent instead of Web Services to another Customer Service rep that contradicted the first one. Finally got a Web person and got nowhere except to tell me the site was down!! REALLY? If the site is down how does it have the ability to respond as it did a month ago. I still do not have access to my records and account. Somehow or another I feel as if that service is part of what I pay for. Not getting my money's worth at all.

When I talked to them again and told them what I had been told, they said I had been misinformed by the enrollment department. I am not happy to say the least and I can assure you, if I have to stay with them for 2016 (which I am afraid I will have to) I will tell everyone I know about the untrained employees that give out the wrong information and will certainly change carriers in the new year. I have twenty years of health insurance, even serving on health insurance boards and this is uncalled for.

Fast forward to 2015 open enrollment period. We again deemed the deductible plan might be more appropriate so contacted customer service to switch the plan starting 1/1/2016. Rep gave up cost of $36.70/month with a $360 deductible AND informed us his premiums would go towards the deductible, which I was delighted to hear. He also said since we had previously been on EFT for our payments, that would continue with the new plan. In Dec. 2015, we received a letter stating we needed to send a check along with the EFT authorization form by 1/1/16 for our payments to be automatically withdrawn. When I called 12/12/15, I was told we were already set up and to ignore the letter that it was standard protocol to be sent out. Checked my bank account yesterday and saw only our supplemental insurance was withdrawn on 1/5/16, not the prescription plan payment so called again.

This time rep told me 9 out of 10 times it works but in my case it didn't. I was advised to go online and set it up. Attempted to do that but there is no option to set up EFT payments online so called AGAIN. This rep apologized for all the other lies I was told and confusion but said she could take a one-time payment from me over the phone but neither she nor their website had any way of setting up the automatic EFT withdrawals and the only way it could be done was by physically mailing a check with the EFT Authorization Form.

Seems to me this company has an antiquated system and is definitely not user-friendly. They seem to have gone backwards as their system worked better 8 years ago. Also, their reps have no idea what they are doing. Seems like they just pulled some high school dropouts in off the street and put them on the phones. Now I have to mail a check hoping it doesn't get lost in the mail or worse, stolen! Informed them I will be changing to a more progressive company next enrollment period. AARP should not be endorsing this company!!!

It doesn't make any sense to try and describe it but I ended up paying more than the high part of my coverage gap copay and they ended up combining the two charges to charge me about 50$ too much. I tried to talk to a manager, but I end up getting disconnected every time. The worst company defending dumb policies by hanging up!! I am a polite person, but this tries my patience..

Had the test done and they only covered 60%. Having to appeal right now. Never speak to the same person twice, calls go unanswered (I'm away from my desk or on another line is their favorite recording, leave your name and number and will call you back promptly) never to be heard from again. Left my name and number to one lady for 30 straight days with no return call. Wrote their Hot Springs, AR office for a written approval and got no response, even though their booklet and Medicare rules require a determination and response within 14 days. It's a shame that the largest Insurance company in the USA operates this way. Shame on them. Changing to Humana for 2016, they can't be any worse for sure.

I tried to have it reconsidered with help from the SSA but not even the SSA rep could get it through to Medicare what was going on. So now I am left with no rx coverage. Paid $688 for only two of my prescriptions, And now going without needed medication that I have taken for years. AARP PRESCRIPTION COVERAGE INSURED THROUGH UNITED HEALTHCARE IS NOT GOOD DRUG COVERAGE and I've wasted all this time paid them all the premium money for years but if you try and ask them to do their job forget it. They won't. I'm sure Ill have better coverage in 2016!

Just like another user commented, the company will not cover his blood thinner for a recently formed DVT blood clot that developed while waiting for his approval to be treated. Since they won't cover, we had to pay out of pocket & use a coupon. He needs this medicine for at least 3 months to prevent P.E. & possibly death. We currently could only afford a 7-day supply at $180 with a coupon, which was better than the almost $600 it would have cost with insurance. After over 10 years of paying premiums on time, the company doesn't have a problem telling us that this is just the way it is.

They have denied the claim because they said it was "self-administered". It was given intravenously! Then they said he didn't get preauthorization. It was given to him in the hospital and under emergency status! Do we stop a doctor from giving a medicine and say "WAIT"! you must get preauthorization? Lastly, they deny receiving the explanation/justification from the doctor and tell us now we have to file an appeal. It's been over 30 days since we requested the reimbursement of over $900. Now we have to file an appeal which will take who knows how long.

I complained again and was given the same story, "all is OK and things would be taken care of." THEN the next month I was charged over $247! I halted my automatic draft! Long story short, I spoke to three (3) supervisors who said they would find out about the problem and get back to me. No one ever contacted me. Each supervisor "promised me" that they would personally take care of this. No one took care of the problem until I reached a supervisor who got to the bottom of the problem in May.

I have NEVER had such poor service from a company ever! As soon as I can, I am leaving United Health Care and going to another company. It is now Sept. and am just now back on track with my regular charges. They owed me money and now we are back on the right track. The website accounting of my billing is still not up to date. I don't trust this company. The safest thing about all this is I don't even take any drugs!!!

The book says all correspondence should go to Montgomeryville, PA. Not true! I have TWICE sent my Power of Attorney papers to that address for handling my 87 year old mother's affairs and they still claim they have not received it. When I called about this, the rep gave me a DIFFERENT ADDRESS for the P.O.A. And, lots of luck in trying to change an address with them. They did, of course, send us a bill, but they NEVER sent her an insurance ID card for the insurance.

I PAID the bill and they WILL NOT CONFIRM whether or not they have received the payment! This is considered "confidential." And, no one ever mentions the fact that you need a different card for the insurance and another card for drug coverage. I asked them to send HER an insurance identification card and they would not do it because I was asking them to do this instead of her asking for one. I requested a coupon payment book to be sent to her to keep up with her payments. NO DICE! SHE has to request it, not me! She is 87 years old and she CANNOT handle these things.

I cannot handle them now since they just can't seem to find the TWO Power of Attorney forms I have sent them. And these are the SMALLER problems I have had with them. The big problems I have had with them would fill a few chapters in a book and they are too complex to document here. It is SO OBVIOUS that AARP DOES NOT care who they associated themselves with. United Healthcare is a NIGHTMARE to deal with. Open enrollment cannot come fast enough for me so I can get rid of United Healthcare so I can sign my mother up with a company that doesn't LIE and where the employees KNOW what they are talking about. STAY AWAY FROM THIS COMPANY!

I did complain about this and did received a new card for the closest medical region to me; but his name was removed from my card, assigning a new doctor to replace him. I am still on HMO and when I've asked to be put on PPOs so that I can have my former doctors who are familiar with my condition back - I am refused and told to just wait until October to change my contract. I am now getting bills from my former doctors for work done in 2014 (before the change over), all to be paid for now, along with medical treatment for this current plan from my live on retiree social security pay. Now I feel like a person who will never ever get better and must live in pain until I can get out of AARP UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage in October. I am so painfully dissatisfied and poorer. The "My Spending Acct" thing sticks, too!

Called in 30 days. They said no claim was filed so my dentist refiled and sent me a copy which I also filed by fax after a complicated process to get a FAX number. After I faxed it to them, I called them to confirm receipt. They would not even confirm that they received the fax of the claim from me. Dishonest scam artists who take your premium payments and refuse claims.

On 3/16/15 I still have not heard anything and received a bill for $238.94 with no correction. I called 1-877-968-9675 and had to leave a msg. No return call so I called again on 3/18/15 and left another message so I called cs explained the problem to the 6th person who transferred me to ** on the mgmt team who also agreed there was an error and sent it to accounting for correction. On 4/7/15 I still did not get a response so I called and left a message on the mgmt vm again and called cs. ** took time to recalculate and she and her supervisor agreed at that point that a payment of $70.45 for April would bring me current. ** from the mgmt team I explained the problem and that I had worked it out with **. ** gave me her extension ** if I had any further problem. I have received a bill for $238.94 due for May 2015 coverage. I called ** and left a vm on 4/22/15 no call back by 4/25/15. Next step complaint to AARP and the California Insurance Commission.

So I call the next day, they had no idea of who said that to me... Caused me so much stress cause this woman was a angel to tell me this great news, now she's a nightmare cause no one know, and no one is educated enough to help me. I have talk to supervisor "I had 5 x-ray" and they said it was covered but I found out I am not... what lies to people dreams to be shattered... They must be something out there cause I am screaming what I need to do or if I am responsible to pay. I want to cry... One Indian said this and the other 2 don't know what was said... fire this company please. Sincerely this place to be hit with a big fine... ASAP.

I got caught this year because I didn't receive any notice of the price increase, until they sent me the new bill on Dec. 12, after it was too late to change. I did make an appeal to Medicare, but it was denied. AARP claimed they sent me the info, however I did not receive it. I believe that a reputable company should send out several notifications, just to make sure that the information had been received in a timely manner. Obviously they don't want to do this.

When I tried to call them I ended up on hold for long periods of time, since they do not have enough customer service reps. Eventually they sent me a letter with supposed instructions to disenroll or switch, but it was denied. So why bother sending me that? It was just a runaround.

Since when is a drug that enables him to not pee every 35 minutes a life style choice. ** is considered necessary and the ability to pee properly is not? I waited so long on our land line phone (40 minutes) that the batteries on two extensions died on several different days and I cannot get through to AARP. And when the batteries re-charge I'll have to hope I can get through before the batteries go dead again. I am so stressed and distressed I'll probably just keel over with a stroke. It seems we've simply gotten too old for them to care about anymore.

I have the most expensive Medicare Plan D plan. You would think they would be happy that members get the vaccine so that they wouldn't have to pay thousands of dollars if a person actually gets the shingles virus! I am very disappointed with AARP MedicareRX PLan D. It is very expensive and by requiring a doctor pre-authorization and charging a very high copay they are obviously discouraging patients from getting a vaccine that can prevent a dreadful illness. Even if you get the illness after the vaccine, it will be much milder, according to my doctor.

What Happen: 12/15/2014 - I received a bill dated 12/6/2014, with an increase in premium the post mark is 12/15/2014. I did not receive any information/notification from AARP United Health Care of an increase in 2014 as I did in 2013 of an increase.

Consequence: As a result of no notification by AARP United Heath Care in 2014 in the allotted government time frame I'm “robbed” off my right to cancel the policy without a penalty and forced to pay the higher premium. This can't be legal. The premiums have increase 21% from October 2013 to 2015.

Summary of Events: 12/15/2014 - I called AARP United Health Care RX at 1:50 PM MST- on hold 30 minutes, spoke with Keilon. I explained United has caused a problem by not notifying me in the government allotted time frame so I could compare and evaluate cost and premiums. The time has elapsed to cancel this policy without a penalty. He could not give me any information as to any notification only that everyone got an increase. I asked for the premium to be same as last year. He said no, I asked to speak to his supervisor.

1:55PM spoke with Brittany, Supervisor, same conversation, she could not do anything nor give me any information about any notification, I asked to speak to her supervisor. She said I could apply for (if I qualified as low income) for aid to help pay for my prescriptions. I said this was a problem caused by United and I needed someone to fix it. This was not a problem caused by me.

2:10 PM (Approximately), Another Supervisor, Patricia, same conversation, said AARP United Heath Care RX sent booklet and packet with increase and explanation in September 2014. I did not received anything. I asked to speak to her supervisor/manager, she said no. I would have cancelled and joined another plan at this increase from October 2013 there has been a 21% increase in premium. After some insistence on my part she said she would send the packet with a letter stating the date it was sent with the information. I asked her if she was a direct employee, i.e. worked directly for United Health Care RX or if she was employed by another company contracted with United Health Care RX; she said she is an employee for United Health Care Rx, located in Harlingen, TX 78550.

Meanwhile, they are making money, as listed in their 2013 financial report. But I gain nothing for my added $55, and since I am on a fixed income, I cannot afford this. I have contacted my state senators; sent letter to AARP protesting the use of their name to this company, and sent letter to Medicare director asking why they are allowing this to happen.

I will not stay with them, will go back to traditional medicare if no other plan is available, even having to get Part D it will still be cheaper for me. In fact, paying the 20% co-pay for an office visit to a specialist will be cheaper for me than the $50 I have to pay now. Don't sign up for this plan, look for other options, you should not have to pay more than your medicare deduction for coverage. Or, just stay with Medicare.

The first factor was satisfied with my primary care physician continuing to provide medical services to me moving forward. The second factor regarding approved formulary medications has been completely altered by AARP/United Healthcare since acceptance into the plan. During my initial interview process with the AARP/United Healthcare representative, I specifically asked if certain medications that I have been taking for medical issues were covered by the AARP/United Healthcare Pharmacy Formulary list. I was told that the two medications I requested were on the approved formulary listing. The only caveat was that an upcoming set of changes from AARP/United Healthcare due in September may impact the current formulary list and that a notice would be forwarded to a patients defining the changes. However, at the time of my interview process, both medications would be approved.

My first prescription refill request for both medications in August were approved without incident. When the prescription was due for refill in September, my pharmacy notified me that one medication had been approved but the other medication was denied. When I contacted member services to question why the second medication was denied, I was told that a pre-authorization from my doctor was required. When I expressed my concern based on having been informed during my initial application process that both medications were on the approved formulary list, I was told that AARP/United Healthcare forwarded a notification in July to all patients that pre-authorizations were now required on certain medications.

Unfortunately, this notification was never mailed to me. The representative went through a lengthy process attempting to identify whether the right contact information was entered into their system. After an exhaustive search, it was confirmed that my contact information was indeed correct and that it was likely that the notification was never forwarded to me since my new member application was "in the transition phase" of their database entry process. As a result, I was told that my doctor was now required to complete a formulary exception form and "fax" it into the expedite line for approval consideration.

I was told the window for the expedite process would be 24 hours (keeping in mind that 48 hours had passed since the denial with no medication). When I called my doctor to confirm his completion and faxing of the formulary exception form, he stated it was sent to the expedite line as requested the night before. When I called the member services line to confirm receipt of the form by the pre-authorization group, they stated it was being processed and could not tell me how long the approval process would take at that point. I chose to call the pharmacy pre-authorization group directly and was then told that the preauthorization form had been denied due to a question that was not answered on the form.

This is the real point of contention for me in this entire process. Given all the circumstances involved with this request, I was adamant with the pre-authorization team that a simple phone call to the doctor asking for the answer to the unanswered question would have been the right thing to do rather than denying the request. A denial then requires an appeal that takes up to 30 days to process. This is absurd. Rather than trying to simplify the process for the patient and provide applicable solutions for both the patient and doctor, AARP/United Healthcare made the process much more difficult and time-consuming. Now we are in day 5 of the process and no medication has been approved nor will it be for another 30 days.

It is clear that AARP/United Healthcare is not concerned with patient needs. Since they began their austerity program in late 2013 to help increase their profitability at the expense of patient care, many services have been significantly reduced with access to available decision-makers empowered to address patient concerns in a timely manner no longer available to members. Now, the goal of the people answering the phone is to basically listen to the patient needs, concerns and problems and then tell you that "we take your needs and concerns very seriously." I have filed over 20 complaints since I began with AARP/United Healthcare and have received a response back on one.

When I have requested to speak with supervisors, I am told that they read all of the concerns/complaints that are raised with the phone people and respond back via mail. This is also absurd. I should be able to speak to a decision-maker of a company that takes my money each month without question. To run a business with phone individuals who perform patient interference for you and then eventually forward you a "canned" response about why they can't help is absolutely incredulous. After this baptism by fire over the past two months, I will be doing everything I can to leave AARP/United Healthcare and return to Medicare. I will not longer pay for "value-added services" that truly have no value and no service.

Went for my cleaning and exam and needed to get a cap done. The office provided me with an estimate of what the insurance would pay and what my portion of the procedure would be. I had the cap done in June and a couple weeks ago I was sent a statement from United Healthcare that they weren't covering their portion of the procedure.

After calling the dental office they couldn't understand why, so I contacted United Healthcare. They began to tell me that the dentist was not in the network. Upon further review of the 2013 directory and a check of the dental providers listed on their website I again saw the dental address and phone number listed as a network dentist. When I asked the dental office about the name which was listed in the directory and on the website, she informed me that the dentist name was a dentist who died 2 years ago! The current dentist moved up to take over the practice after that dentist passed away. So I went back to United Healthcare and they could care less that the dentist they have listed died 2 years ago while the office and phone number is still listed as a covered dentist. They blamed the office for not notifying them of the change and continue to refuse payment on their covered portion which is over $300.

The AARP United Healthcare is the worst plan possible. The 2013 directory contained other outdated and wrong information in addition to my dental issue. They had doctors at addresses that moved several years ago, doctors classified as specialists when they were only family practice, and dead doctors listed as accepting new patients. Stay away from AARP United Healthcare at all costs!

UHCare claims to have nothing to do with dental implant treatment - I took it to mean the bone graft I need - so the dentist suggested I wait until I get Delta Dental and go to the oral surgeon - it took me five dentists to find this one. This time I paid the monthly $33 dollar premium but did not have any work done until July - and with the $100 yearly premium I was charged the insurance did not pay. I will be dropping them.

I have been on the phone for hours trying to get them to understand that my life is at stake and that the doctor called in the prescription to my pharmacy, but they won't budge. I could end up in the hospital emergency room, which will cost them a lot more than the cost of the drug, but they won't budge. The worst mistake I made was going with this terrible company. I will not be using them in 2014, but in the meantime, if I live through this fiasco, I have to deal with it. In the meantime, my blood pressure is going up and I'm nervous that a pill that can save me has to go through hoops.

My mother has received a bill for 01/13 and 02/13. I called to inquire why she received a bill for the dental insurance. I was told they had no record of my call requesting termination of services. However, they do have a record of me calling 01/13 confirming her insurance was terminated. I know we are all human and capable of making mistakes. The call was made requesting termination of dental insurance. I think the rep just forgot to update their notes regarding termination request. Can someone please contact me regarding this issue? Thanks.

In my application to the AARP Rx Plan, I provided EPIC information. To ensure that EPIC and the UHC got info about each other, I called UHC and asked whether they documented my EPIC participation. The customer service representative said that they never heard of EPIC and don't work with them at all. I called EPIC, who said they have thousands of people who have UHC Rx insurance. They suggested calling UHC again. The second call was similar to the first one. They knew nothing about EPIC, but told me that that they instructed Social Security to automatically withdraw my monthly premium for the Rx Plan from my monthly check, beginning 01/01/2013.

I requested to speak to the supervisor, who told me that I have to call another phone number, not the one indicated on the insurance card. I called that number and the customer representative apparently knew about EPIC. He checked my original application and promised to enter EPIC info into my file. A couple of weeks later, the EPIC info was not in the file. I called again and requested to enter my EPIC info and remove request to the Social Security for the premium withdrawal. Nothing happened again. I called several more times. They told me they can do nothing about requesting premium from EPIC.

I spoke to the supervisor, who promised to look into the issue. Then I spoke again to another supervisor, who said he removed request to the Social Security for the automatic withdrawal in early February 2013, but said he can do nothing about requesting premium from EPIC. The only option is that I pay premium myself or my membership will be suspended. I asked how I can complain and he gave me the address, saying that the complaints department cannot do a thing, because they have no executive power to enact anything. Meanwhile, EPIC sent them a letter, which UHC denied receiving. Later, EPIC launched investigation with UHC and the Social Security, but no reply was received. Today, they launched a new investigation with UHC and Social Security.

Meanwhile, I received a letter from UHC, which said that according to their information, I have another primary health insurance form my employer. I have not been working for about 5 years and I do not have any other insurance. I sent them a letter and filled out a form, confirming that I do not have other insurance. I also spoke to Medicare, who also launched a complaint against UHC.

Yesterday, I received a letter from UHC, which said that since the Social Security is not going to withdraw my premium for Rx Plan any longer, I have to pay full premium as of 01/01/2013, which is long overdue. They know that the Social Security has already withdrawn my premium from my SS check for January and February, but still demand that I pay again for those months, while saying they won't do anything to start getting premium from EPIC.

This sounds surreal. I cannot believe that employees of a private health insurance company can be so careless, negligent and lazy. EPIC employee said that if UHC dumps me out of Rx insurance and I won't be able to buy prescription drugs (which is exactly what is going to happen) and if a damage to my health occurs, I can sue them and AARP for damages. I hope for your help to request UHC to be reasonable, no more than that and to have less contempt for their members.

Over the next 8 months, I paid for all medical care and pharmacy for those pre-exisiting problems out of pocket. The bill was hefty - almost $4k. During this time, I developed worsening problems with my feet and consulted a foot doctor who advised surgery on both feet. I had to wait until the pre-existing period expired before I could schedule surgery. At the one-year renewal period, another 10% rate increase. At that point, I was ready to deal with the foot surgery and hoped to schedule procedures on each foot, 8 weeks apart so as to get them over with in 2012 without having two deductibles to deal with. Saves a lot of money that way when you have a $3K annual and $5K coinsurance, right?

To try to minimize the out of pocket cost, I shopped around for surgical centers with better rates. Then, I submitted all of the doctor bills that I had paid to Aetna for processing and application to my deductible. Aetna stalled on every claim by first denying them as "not a covered member". Then, they resubmit and delayed by "under review" then nothing.

Fast forward to October 2012. First surgery scheduled. Aetna precertified the procedure. Get pre-operative physical, lab work, EKG as ordered. Have pre-op consult with surgeon, xrays, and MRI as ordered. Have pre-op consult with anesthesiologist, as ordered. Have surgery in outpatient surgery center. Get supplies for after care, medications. Have post op visit, another xray. Have another follow up visit with primary doctor for review of lab results from the pre-op physical. Then the bills start to come in by the bushel. Of the approximately $27K total for the surgery, Aetna paid nothing. Only $2400 applied to deductible. Most claims denied. Now comes the clincher. I spent 2 hours on the phone with the claims manager who advised me that my policy does not cover services rendered in a doctor's office! The face page of my policy says "Aetna PREMIER health Plan." What the hell?

I am now being dunned by the primary care doctor who did the required physical, the lab that did the pre-op lab work (which was ordered by the primary doctor), the surgeon who has not been paid for the pre-op consults, xrays, or post-op visit, the medical supply company for the special boot, the anesthesiologist for the pre-op consult, and the radiology center for the MRI. None of these are paid because Aetna believes that anything billed as a result of an in-office visit with a physician (even if pre or post-op) is not covered under this policy. Again, what the hell?

I am astounded. The claims department says that the policy is only for "catastrophic" and "preventive" services and doesn't cover routine medical care. It does cover the surgery itself and the doctors and anesthesia for the surgery, but that is all. This is not the policy I discussed with the sales person and not what I thought I was getting. I am disgusted and feeling like I have been raped by Aetna. Never do business with this company. Ripoff.

Complaint #2: By calling in last week, they told me that my rate for "Plan F" would be almost $40 cheaper than they have been charging me (I was "grandfathered" into that plan). Please tell me why my rates went up rather than down just because the company discontinued my plan and put me in Plan F (similar to what I had), but did not adjust my rates to Plan F. That also was true for my husband, so we have been paying nearly $80 per month more than we should have been paying for 2 years! And since my husband just passed his 71st birthday (I will be 71 in February), his rate will be $30 more than my rate since we are asking to change to Plan N. It will continue to be that different from now on because we are changing plans. We are very healthy so one would think they might want to keep us. This is crazy. I will be checking out other companies.

I asked United to electronically replace the funds into my mother’s or my joint account. They refused. I requested a replacement check. United requested copies of mother's will, etc., naming me as Executor and I submitted these summer of 2011. Last written communication from United regarding claim ** was a 9/29/2010 EOB stating, "We received the correspondence you sent. Because you did not send a claim, no benefits are payable. This applies to the last debts statement. We sent the note attached to our correspondence area. You will hear from them shortly."

United has sent no other communication. I called them on 12/31/2011. The customer service rep asked if I received the check sent in October. I repeated that this 9/29/2011 communication was the last I had received. The CSR (Linda) checked the records and saw no check had been cashed. She said she was sending out a new check, and we should receive it within 7 to 10 business days. No check has arrived. Not only have 10 business days passed, it is now more than one year since my mother's death and 9 to 12 months that UnitedHealth has wrongly withheld these funds.

Because I could not afford the cost to purchase them at the time, and due to lack of insurance upon applying for disability, I had to count on those free samples. There were no records of actual prescriptions written, and filled to back up any future claims, because I had the free samples to use. That lack of insurance would be because of the 25 month waiting period, during which time, I still paid my monthly Medicare premiums, but without any benefit to me by way of any services, especially for prescriptions.

Once that 25 month period had passed, I begged AARP Humana, my insurer at that time (May 2007), and through 2009, and now for the past two years AARP Secure Horizons through United Healthcare, to remove my remaining severely damaged teeth, which were then and are still continuing to cause so many additional problems for me due to my weakened immune system. I have begged AARP Secure Horizons to rebuild my deteriorating jawbone, again as a result of all of the above mentioned maladies. I have also begged them to replace the missing teeth, once they were finally pulled, with a denture. This is in order for me to eat the proper foods, as prescribed by my physician, and supported by medical research, in order to maintain as healthy an immune system as possible.

I have been repeatedly declined, despite the systemic damages, such as through my kidney, and gastrointestinal health problems, being caused from their denial, and the medical research that proves the damage, that will be done by not having these teeth removed, and the dentures put in place. Only after appealing to my local congressman, who in turn sent a letter of investigation, did AARP Secure Horizons agree to remove the teeth, and rebuild the jawbone through a two year stint of bone grafting. You see, my jawbone is now so wasted away, because of all of this delay, and the lack of any viable healthy teeth, that my face is now losing it's natural shape.

AARP Secure Horizons is even required by Medicare to cover dental implants, with the actual manual labor of preparing the jaw for the implants, after the bone grafting is complete, being the only eligible covered event. They are not, however, required to provide the implants themselves. They just make the room for them. Still, Secure Horizons refuses to provide the dentures that I will need, while all of this work is being done. These dentures must be molded in my mouth, prior to removal of the teeth, therefore the insurance company is claiming that procedure to be the primary event. Instead of the removal of the teeth being the primary, and being medically necessary at that.This is how the insurer can say that the dentures are the primary reason for the medical procedure, and are therefore not covered.

The dentures have been quoted by one of their own approved providers at $2,880. This must be a customized denture, due to the ongoing bone grafting taking place over the estimated two years. All of this work, will also change the shape of my jawbone's contour, and the denture must be periodically adjusted to accommodate these changes. I can't afford any of this, and that is because I am only receiving enough income to set me, just over the poverty level.

In addition, any money that I do receive, goes to all of the medications that I need each month, because I don't qualify for any of the medically needy assistance, or share of cost programs, food stamps, or any other programs, normally available to the poor. I have so many other extenuating health circumstances, that I can no longer afford the medications that I need, just to stay alive, not to mention food and clothing.

I currently received a net of $1,430 per month. Many people would scoff at that, and tell me to stop whining, but when they look at what I have going out, and yet still need because of all of my medical costs, they might have a different attitude. You see, I don't qualify for food stamps, or medicaid (which by the way covers dentures and dental work). I don't get assistance with anything at all, so don't think for a second that I have it made. I am slowly dying on the vine, and that huge monster conglomerate, that I actually feed each month with my medicare premiums, is letting me do just that.

My point is this, if AARP would only "do the right thing" as it were, and finish the job, that they are required to start by Medicare, by providing those dentures, then I could begin to heal in so many ways. I suffer from one infection after another due to these remaining teeth, but they are all that I have, with which to eat food, despite the risks of keeping them in my mouth. My physician has literally screamed at me, to have these teeth pulled, because in his words, all it will take is one abscess, and I'm finished.

Oh, please keep in mind, that I am also a depressant, and now AARP Secure Horizons has raised the cost of my generic medicines from $6 to $45, which I can not afford, so I am also writing this through many tears of utter frustration, and disbelief that I could be treated so callously by a company that only thinks of their bottom line, and not the lives of their intrusted patients.

I have appealed their decision all the way up the line, and those so called mediators or unbiased parties (hired by United Healthcare no less), have always denied me without so much as a phone call to discuss, or allowing me to provide any information to support my case, before they closed my case out for good. If there is a better alternative out there, I wish that I had known about it. As it is, I am now stuck with a worthless insurance company, a mediating experience that left no doubt, as to who's pocket they were in, continued damaged teeth, infections, and no dentures, plus no anti-depressants with which to somewhat deal with this situation. I have never felt more victimized by this, than from the day that I was first diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Please, if there is any information out there that may help, please, please let me know. Otherwise, please let your family, friends, and associates know that this can, and will happen to them.

I called to check on a supplement plan and the premium would be way to expensive for me till I turn 65. So I called back to cancel the drug plan and found out that come Dec 1, I wouldn't have anything but a drug plan. Trying to get these morons to fix it correctly was like pulling teeth. Was assured it had been fixed. Well not feeling very secure with the service so far, I called back and found out it still hadn't been done. I will never recommend this company for anything. The reps are either new and don't know crap or they just don't care. AARP UHC insurance has a terrible customer service. They are either being trained or they don't listen. They are also are rude and interrupt you constantly. I will be looking at other companies if this one doesn't work out any better soon.

He was still within the 35 day time frame, and we already had sent a payment, which they signed for, but no payment was posted, and they refused to work with us on the phone.

When I contacted AARP to discuss the matter, I was told "we are not at liberty to discuss another's plan with you." I also informed them that I was having trouble getting a medical provider or facility to accept the plan and I was simply advised "to keep trying." This was in addition to using AARP for my auto insurance. After the medical incident, I decided to call other insurance companies for quotes and discovered that I could get a lesser rate outside of AARP. I then cancelled both Auto and Medical.

I feel that AARP is a rip-off to the consumers and that all of the money I paid into AARP for both insurances was a rip-off--the Hartford for Auto and United Health Care for Medical. I am a single female over the age of fifty and had no other financial means of obtaining the care. This was a huge disappointing setback as I was informed by AARP that I would not be reimbursed all of the money I had paid out. And not having medical coverage via my employer, I was left trying to treat myself.

AARP still sends information and member cards to me to which I, without hesitation, discard as I will let anyone know my experience with AARP and that they are not for the seniors as they claim to be. Due to this experience, I am still without medical coverage as the rates get higher as you age. I was with AARP for a couple of years so by the time I discovered the rip-off, I was a couple of years older and the premiums elsewhere were outside of what I could pay.

Now, I am locked out of my AARP accounts online and find them useless. The staff is useless and they are not knowledgeable on their products. They were very polite, but very stupid about my questions, some tried looking it up. Some had no idea. Nothing worked. Why am I paying this company to handle my health affairs? When I need them, they are not there for me.

I'm changing plans and company when I'm allowed to. Just the way our government is wasting money, now my own insurance company is wasting money on hiring incompetents. I'm disgusted!

Here is my email to them:

"I have mentioned before, to no avail, that your phoned recordings telling customers that their "mail order" has shipped doesn't distinguish between actual mail orders, online prescription re-orders, or doctors' phone-in or faxed orders. Thus your customers may often not know what orders you're talking about. Clearly your "one-size-fits-all" recording does not.

You waste a great deal of money mailing superfluous, duplicated materials. Why not take some of the considerable funds you waste in sending 4-color brochures on heavy stock with every delivery and use that money to have differentiated recordings? And why is the "important information" regarding drugs printed in inverse order using only one side per page. Don't you care that doing that ultimately wastes perhaps millions of pieces of paper? Or don't you care because ultimately, your customers will pay the cost?

Your web site neglects to give relevant information. An on-screen picture is attached."

In the last year, I have had prescriptions filled for this drug in two dosages; in the last couple of years, in at least four. Why can't you provide such basic information? The same holds true for other drugs in both my wife's and my accounts. I doubt we are the only customers who have to deal with this seemingly needless rigmarole.

It took five phone call to order 10 Clonazepam pills not covered by your policy; they would have been $8 at my local pharmacy. These urgently needed drugs prescribed by my epileptologist to stop seizures as they're taking place took an extra five days to receive, as a result. Had I had a seizure, the resultant 911 ambulance call and ER visit could have cost Medicare thousands. Why the hassle over a recognized generic drug?

We are often badgered by information asking us to reorder drugs by robotic phone calls, mail, and email, although we regularly log on to your web site to be certain that our drug orders are up to date. Frequently these "reminders" arrive even after drugs have been ordered and delivered! Is carpet bombing really a necessary way to communicate specific information. Why don't you try harder to coordinate online activity with your shipping and mailing information?

Their whole process is so old and outdated. We did not get any email confirmation that our application was in the system. I called their 800 number the next day. Then throughout the process, it just says "in review". No calls or anything or checking with our doctor. We do not have cancer, high blood pressure, diabetes or other high risk problems. We are not covered with healthcare insurance. We were covered in December and ended on 12/31 with our Cigna Cobra. How do old people get insurance with AARP, they must not be insuring anyone! We are 62 years (my husband) and 58 (me) and our daughter is 21. We are active and healthy! We compared rates and felt this was the best plan for us. I think it's discrimination.

Today, I called 866-299-3690 a second time and talked to Alice who connected me to George, a specialist at reinstating insurance. No one ever connected me to Christian **. Apparently from talking to all these people, there is $460 sitting in a credit to my account from October and November. Check 2023 and 2076 sent in June and September were never found, so here is $920. I hope this does not get lost or embezzled. This is extremely poor customer service. No one on your end ever contacts me. I send checks and documents overnight express and priority mail and you lose them. So when is my insurance reinstated? No one ever lets me know anything unless I call.

This program will cut the provided care to all of those members by billions of dollars in medical care for the people that need and deserve it most. The new slogan for the government health care program by Obama is; if you are too old to work, then you are too old to get medical treatment. Join me in ending your membership with the AARP who only does one job well, and that is undercutting their members, they are leading the old to slaughter.

She said there were two options. She told me the insurance could be started again or reinstated, but if I felt I had paid, I would have to give her a check over the phone for $647.89 to pay it up to date. If the insurance had been started again, I would have had no coverage for the hospitalization. I knew I had paid so I insisted on reinstatement. I gave her a check ** for that amount. I asked about my back payment and current payments. She said I would have to prove I paid for December and they would refund it. The current payment would be refunded as soon as it was received. I had not received any letter to confirm there was no insurance. She insisted they hadn't received December check. Now I have to pay $5.00 to prove that the check was presented and taken payment.

I'm a senior and luckily, I have that money; otherwise, I would have to be responsible for that hospitalization of about 20%. Could this be happening all over the country? The doctor's office knew that I only had medicate and asked about my supplemental insurance. I had to explain all the details in front of the other patients. This is very embarrassing. This is so unfair. I knew I had paid, so reinstated was justified in my opinion. But I still had to come up the funds. I have contacted my bank and they are forwarding me copies of the front and back of the check as it was presented to my bank for payment. I checked my checkbook and found I had paid in December. It was presented to my bank for payment. Check ** for $102.25 and appeared on my statement dated 11/7 to 12/5/08.