medicare SUPPLEMENT plan broker needed

Does anyone know of a broker for the medicare supplement plans (not the advantage plans).  This is for a friend.  He will be getting medicare a/b/d with a supplement -specifically plan G.

I do know the AARP/United plan does have some discounts for hearing/vision with their better plan.  I've heard otherwise that the other plans offer the same coverage, just have different prices.  Many of the companies don't make their exact coverage readily available online.  They keep it secret until you give them your contact info

I did find last years price list published April 2023.

If your friend lives in NJ, I would strongly recommend SHIP, State Health Insurance Assistance Program Counseling, administered by the New Jersey Department of Human Services.  They will advise your friend on the best  Medicare plan to meet your friend's needs.  800-792-8820 (NJ Office)  973-637-1717 (Essex County SHIP Counselor)  Service is free.   

I sent you a private message

Latest update at SHIP for NJ males - Feb. 2024

https://www.nj.gov/humanservices/doas/documents/1%2030%202024%20Male%20at%20Age%2065%20Chart.pdf

You referred to “exact coverage” (distinguished from “extras”).  All G’s (regardless of insurer) have exactly the same coverage. That coverage is clearly spelled out multiple places, including Medicare’s own site.

When I turned 65, I had a fantastic supplement plan broker, we got to be friends, but he has relocated to Florida.  He set me up with Bankers Life as my provider and after 5 years I'm still very pleased with the coverage, the service and the rate. 

Nancy Schwartz

Nancy@smartmedicare.com

Good Advice!

rcarter31 said:

Nancy Schwartz

Nancy@smartmedicare.com

Good Advice!

https://www.facebook.com/YourSmartMedicare/

dickf3 said:

Latest update at SHIP for NJ males - Feb. 2024

https://www.nj.gov/humanservices/doas/documents/1%2030%202024%20Male%20at%20Age%2065%20Chart.pdf

You referred to “exact coverage” (distinguished from “extras”).  All G’s (regardless of insurer) have exactly the same coverage. That coverage is clearly spelled out multiple places, including Medicare’s own site.

Coverage may be the same but rates differ.  

joan_crystal said:

If your friend lives in NJ, I would strongly recommend SHIP, State Health Insurance Assistance Program Counseling, administered by the New Jersey Department of Human Services.  They will advise your friend on the best  Medicare plan to meet your friend's needs.  800-792-8820 (NJ Office)  973-637-1717 (Essex County SHIP Counselor)  Service is free.   

SHIP is available in all states. I thank joan for recommending my NJ SHIP counselor. He rocks. They all do. Just Google SHIP for your state/county.

I am currently switching from my private insurance to Medicare (costs have sky rocketed even with a generous firm contribution) and am so grateful for my SHIP counselor who has walked me through this. DO NOT USE A PRIVATE BROKER. DM me if you want.

jmitw said:

Does anyone know of a broker for the medicare supplement plans (not the advantage plans).  This is for a friend.  He will be getting medicare a/b/d with a supplement -specifically plan G.

I do know the AARP/United plan does have some discounts for hearing/vision with their better plan.  I've heard otherwise that the other plans offer the same coverage, just have different prices.  Many of the companies don't make their exact coverage readily available online.  They keep it secret until you give them your contact info

I did find last years price list published April 2023.

I received all rates from my SHIP counselor as should your friend. If he's in NJ he will get those rates. The UHC rate is  unique in that the rate based on his current age will NOT with age. Learned this from my SHIP counselor. As I said all states will have a SHIP program.

joan_crystal said:

dickf3 said:

Latest update at SHIP for NJ males - Feb. 2024

https://www.nj.gov/humanservices/doas/documents/1%2030%202024%20Male%20at%20Age%2065%20Chart.pdf

You referred to “exact coverage” (distinguished from “extras”).  All G’s (regardless of insurer) have exactly the same coverage. That coverage is clearly spelled out multiple places, including Medicare’s own site.

Coverage may be the same but rates differ.  

Joan is correct which is why you want someone to guide you and someone who is not a for profit broker. Thus Google SHIP for your state. 

wendy said:

The UHC rate is  unique in that the rate based on his current age will NOT with age. 

??

dickf3 said:

??

UHC = United Health Care which is advertised by AARP.   

I went with regular Medicare, Omaha plan G, and with Horizon for part D prescriptions.    Perhaps not the least expensive, but I have had no trouble with seeing doctors, additional medical plan G coverage, or needed prescriptions.  It can get confusing with all the choices.  

dickf3 said:

wendy said:

The UHC rate is  unique in that the rate based on his current age will NOT with age. 

??

I was not clear sorry. This is why I am going with the United Health Care plan from AARP per my amazing SHIP counselor who sent me the full list of plans/prices for New Jersey. I am going with the plan G but UHC has a less expensive version as I don't need some of the perks like gyms, etc.

"The UHC plans are “community based”, which means that they don’t change with age like all the other plans. But they do change rates in general from time to time."

Wendy:   Did you have to join AARP to get this United Health Care Plan from AARP? 

And what exactly is the advantage of this plan being “community based”?

rcarter31 said:

rcarter31 said:

Nancy Schwartz

Nancy@smartmedicare.com

Good Advice!

https://www.facebook.com/YourSmartMedicare/

Another vote for Nancy Schwartz. 

dickf3 said:

Wendy:   Did you have to join AARP to get this United Health Care Plan from AARP? 

And what exactly is the advantage of this plan being “community based”?

Yes I will have to join AARP once I do this plan.

based on the lists I received from my SHIP counselor it was the best plan for my age, etc. No need for more details. Info is there.

As to the drug plan once we enroll based on our drugs neither of us will have a premium and all my husband's drugs are free and I have a little bit to pay each year. The Drug plan which this is Well Care. Something you find once you have just Medicare Part A.

Thank you Wendy (re: need to join AARP). 

wendy said:

"The UHC plans are “community based”, which means that they don’t change with age like all the other plans. But they do change rates in general from time to time."

What doesn’t change with age like all the other plans? 
What you wrote reads: Community based plans don’t change with age like all the other plans. 
Did you really mean to write that?

dickf3 said:

Thank you Wendy (re: need to join AARP). 

wendy said:

"The UHC plans are “community based”, which means that they don’t change with age like all the other plans. But they do change rates in general from time to time."

What doesn’t change with age like all the other plans? 
What you wrote reads: Community based plans don’t change with age like all the other plans. 
Did you really mean to write that?

Yes I did. That quote is from my excellent SHIP counselor a retired smart man who trained for this and lives in New Jersey. If you sign up with a non-community based plan your rate will increase with age. The UHC plan does not. If you need further information or clarification I can help a bit but I am not a trained SHIP counselor. Please DM and we can chat. Weekend are best as I work during the week.

Edited to clarify that the UHN plan I choose at my current age will be different than another female at a different age but once I choose that plan it does not increase each year as do the other plans which are NOT community based plans.

Edited down to the Cliff Notes version:

Medicare’s own site says: “Community pricing: premiums are the same no matter how old you are. Premiums may go up because of inflation and other factors.”

For AARP-UHC: Not true, and obsfucating.

AARP-UHC premiums are higher if you older, contrary to what Medicare says. Just use Medicare’s site for initial Medigap enrollment and enter different ages - initial premium for AARP-UHC goes up as the entered age rises.

https://www.medicare.gov/medigap-supplemental-insurance-plans/#/m

AARP-UHC Plan G in 07040 for female single non-smoker “no discount” initial enrollment:
Age 65 $146 Age75 $189

And once enrolled, your monthly premium will rise each year, even if inflation is zero and UHC yearly expenditures on members’ claims increase not one cent - because you are 1 year older.

UHC’s view on this yearly increase is that it’s not because you are 1 year older, but rather because: “you received an “Enrollment Discount” of “36% off the “Base rate” Year 1 of your enrollment, and Year 2 of your enrollment that discount drops to 33%. Year 3 it drops to 30%. And so on.”

It’s understandable that your SHIP rep may not have known this, especially if Medicare’s site was relied on as the definitive word.

Interestingly, nowhere at UHC’s sites is “community pricing” or “premiums are the same no matter how old you are” mentioned. What remains unexplained is why Medicare makes the “premiums are the same no matter how old you are” claim for AARP-UHC’s Medicare Supplement plans.  It certainly drives more business UHC’s way. I imagine UHC isn’t in any rush to have CMS correct/clarify this.

Sorry about all those questions - my reading comprehension has improved in recent decades, but it still needs work.

Very very helpful information. Thank you. It was weird you asked the question of me however knowing all you did. I will take this info back to my SHIP counselor and discuss as well as ask UHC when/if I call to actually enroll. As to my SHIP counselor, etc. you can now have a list of all plans in NJ organized by price, etc. If you don't have that, just ask that it be sent to you. And yes, the plan G as it currently exists for me and spouse at our respective ages/conditions is the best. I'll follow up further within a week when the Part B is official for us. Thanks again but I wish you were a bit more transparent when you asked that initial question as if you didn't understand it at all. Ah well.

wendy said:

Yes I will have to join AARP once I do this plan.

based on the lists I received from my SHIP counselor it was the best plan for my age, etc. No need for more details. Info is there.

I do not believe that you must join AARP We didn't but have an AARP UHC Medicare Replacement Plan and love it!

For a UHC supplement plan you do. A Medicare Replacement plan - aka an Advantage plan - is not what I am referring to nor am I interested in that. By the way membership is only about $15 a year per person.

@dickf3 After getting info from you UHC will be sending me via email the break down of the discount reductions until I turn 85. 
What supplement plan if I may ask are you on and are you in New Jersey. I am still researching things since my Part B is not going into effect (per my instructions until May 1 and it is still in process). Still leaning towards the lower and new Plan G by AARP where they got rid of some of the bells and whistles I don't need. thanks for any answer and feel free to DM me if you prefer.

What bells and whistles don't you need?  Are you sure you won't need them later?

joan_crystal said:

What bells and whistles don't you need?  Are you sure you won't need them later?

Yes. I have done my research. But thank you.