UnitedHealth drops 1 million seniors, the biggest Medicare purge in two decades.
Source: Penny Gem
UnitedHealth, which dominates the Medicare Advantage market, told investors last month it plans to shrink its enrollment by about 1 million people in 2026, reversing years of relentless growth.
The reduction equals roughly 12 percent of its Medicare Advantage membership, a contraction that analysts say is unprecedented for a company of this size in the program’s two‑decade expansion era.
Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/article/unitedhealth-drops-1-million-seniors-biggest-medicare-purge-in-two-decades/vi-AA1ThHei?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=HCTS&cvid=6955242b30484cd18b985c95560e4c76&ei=14
I work in the healthcare field with geriatric patients, and I can tell you firsthand that UnitedHealthcare is the devil and has been for decades.
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gab13by13
(31,131 posts)United Health is a private insurance company that overbills Medicare.
ClaudetteCC
(138 posts)Many of the scam calls I get are from overseas call centers trying to push 'medicare advantage plans.' Anything that needs such heavy efforts to sell must not be a good deal.
ret5hd
(22,161 posts)(seems you forgot to finish your sentence)
paleotn
(21,458 posts)Applies to this context and all others. If they’ve got to sell you hard there’s a reason for that and it isn’t good for you. Good deals sell themselves. Bad deals need lots of help. The harder they try to sell me, the higher the probability i call bullshit and walk away. In this case, it’s total bullshit.
global1
(26,365 posts)I don't get it? Why would they throw all that money into getting people to enroll in their Advantage Plan - if they knew they were going to initiate this purge?
InstantGratification
(415 posts)The open enrollment signed up the younger, healthier cohort of medicare eligible seniors. The purge is going to drop the ones who are about to need more frequent care and that cuts into profits.....
Ms. Toad
(38,142 posts)If you offer a plan, it is available to everyone in the geographical region where it is marketed.
More likely, they are just not going to offer the plan in regions where it is less popular.
ChicagoTeamster
(412 posts)Didn't the DOGE cuts slash funding for Medicaid and Medicare causing a lot of rural hospitals, pharmacies, and nursing homes to close?
Medicare Advantage leeches money off of traditional Medicare so if that's getting cut (I bet the insurance executives were told by the Trump administration that the upcoming government shutdown was going to be used to force program cuts) then those insurance products won't be profitable in those areas.
LogDog75
(1,077 posts)Seniors who are younger and healthier than older seniors means UnitedHealth doesn't have to pay out as much in healthcare to cover what Medicare doesn't pay for. For them, it's not about the needs of the people they insure but about the needs of their shareholders and company executives.
thesquanderer
(12,899 posts)
ratchiweenie
(8,157 posts)longer offered which covers pretty much everything. My husband had a quadruple bi-pass and aortic valve replacement and it cost us about $80. They are getting rid of that plan and I'm sure several others.
FakeNoose
(40,084 posts)They have to offer you something, I would think. When you've been paying premiums for several years, and they took the money, they owe you a policy of some kind.
Ruby the Liberal
(26,598 posts)The blood sucking leeches at these MA scams along with the GOP legislators that are encouraging this.
OldBaldy1701E
(10,089 posts)
Lonestarblue
(13,209 posts)Advantage plans are a scam. Given Trump’s corruption and Republucans’ dislike of any government program that benefits average Americans instead of the wealthy, my fear is that original Medicare users will be forced into substandard Advantage plans. The administration has already started changing Medicare with several medical treatments now requiring pre-clearance in some states.
SCantiGOP
(14,659 posts)#34 below.
Medicare Advantage plans are scams like extended car warranties.
intheflow
(29,981 posts)I mean, I don't condone violence in any way shape or form. However, the magnitude of deaths caused by this action is also an act of violence, a mass attack instead of a targeted one. You'd think they would have learned something from their CEO being assassinated, but nooooo.
lonely bird
(2,741 posts)Economic violence IS violence. In the case of physical violence done against you there is recourse via the state. Recourse to economic violence is limited to the courts which may frag out for years or to “the market” which is the source of economic violence.
Seinan Sensei
(1,345 posts)The amount UnitedHealth CEO Andrew Witty received in 2024
Trueblue Texan
(4,182 posts)
Auggie
(32,846 posts)it was in conjunction with a local physicians group with whom she really liked. Our options were to re-sign with United Healthcare MA but find nearly all new specialists, or get a Medicare supplement.
Because UH dropped the plan, we could get an original Plan F without underwriting. It's the law. The premium was sky-high, but with her first doctor's visit my mom was flabbergasted there was no co-pay required. Welcome to Plan F, Mom.
In two months, under California's birthday rule, we were able to switch to the more moderately-priced Plan G. We DID NOT sign with UnitedHealth. Screw them.
Auggie
(32,846 posts)and without underwriting. It's the law, at least in California.
Botany
(76,319 posts)I wonder what the C.E.O. of United Healthcare makes?
“They” want people to die end of story.
Ruby the Liberal
(26,598 posts)Botany
(76,319 posts)…. only be taxed on any money he takes out of it, and that through trusts along with other vehicles his
estate and family will inherit the funds with little or no taxes.
America is just a great country.
Ms. Toad
(38,142 posts)But in much of the country, it's supplement (Medical) plan is the best (cheapest) available.
Unlike MA, providers of supplement plans don't get to pick and choose which bills to pay.
PCB66
(67 posts)Part F Medigap
Wonder if we will be affected?
Ms. Toad
(38,142 posts)If they vanish altogether, you'll get another special enrollment period to pick a new one - but in not worried about that. They are also my supplement provider - and my parents'
jmbar2
(7,574 posts)
radical noodle
(10,475 posts)Every year the premiums rise a bit... at least that's the case for Plan F Anthem Blue Cross. We've had it now for 13 years as our Medicare supplement and the only thing I've had to pay out of pocket is $45 for a tetanus shot my doctor advised after I had a deep puncture wound. My husband has paid nothing at all. Bills are promptly paid with no questions, and there is no referral required for a specialist. Again, mine is Anthem and I'm in Florida so someone else may have a different experience with Plan F. We each will pay $432.36 approx per month in 2026, the year we turn 79. I'm afraid to ever switch to anything else as this is so hassle free (even though expensive).
jmbar2
(7,574 posts)Thanks for sharing.
Akakoji
(474 posts)Or anyone is total BS. Their Plan F, which they’ve been trying to throw me off of since 2010 is amazing. They don’t even offer it anymore. The plans they offer now, outside of Medicare Advantage, are incredibly expensive though. It’s up to us to get involved in every GOP members campaign to make them pay for destroying the little support we got from the subsidies however. Every Senate race. Every House race. Every Governors race. Every state legislative race.
AverageOldGuy
(3,299 posts)That if you drop standard Medicare and sign up for Medicare Advantage, you CANNOT go back to standard Medicare?
Emile
(40,450 posts)face underwriting for a Medigap policy.
snowybirdie
(6,553 posts)You'll get back in somewhere, but premiums are outrageous.
Soul_of_Wit
(3 posts)You can go back to Medicare, but... Medicare (the true, vanilla kind) has no pre-existing conditions. This is true as long as you maintain Medicare coverage. Having Medicare Advantage changes that. If you then go back to Medicare then your premium can be higher, due to any pre-existing conditions. It will be higher for the rest of your life.
Why might you have to go back to Medicare? The obvious reason is that you aren't as healthy as you once were. Folks get older. Your private insurer (remember, it is not Medicare) may refuse to cover something which costs them too much. The reason Advantage plans can offer perks is precisely because they avoid paying for expensive care. The other reason Advantage plans can offer perks is because they cost the federal government more than Medicare does.
EDIT: To clarify, the cost of the pre-existing conditions will be an increased cost for a Medigap policy. These are typically purchased as supplements to vanilla Medicare. They assist with coverage for the 20% co-pay inherent in vanilla Medicare. These increased costs are on top of any late enrollment penalties.
NGeorgian
(130 posts)dlk
(13,107 posts)This gives the enrollee an SEP (special enrollment period) of 1 month before and 2 months after the plan terminates where they can enroll with another Advantage plan or supplement plan, with guaranteed issue (no medical underwriting). If they do nothing, they will be enrolled with Original Medicare.
Enrollment in a new plan should be done before the plan terminates to avoid a coverage gap and possible enrollment penalties.
It’s also important to remember, Medicare requires creditable prescription drug coverage, either as part of an Advantage plan or with a standalone PDP (prescription drug plan), or there is a lifetime LEP (late enrollment penalty.
When insurance companies terminate Advantage plans, they generally add new ones.
All Advantage plans are available to view, with enrollment options, on the Medicare.gov website.
As long as a Medicare enrollment is completed by the last day of the month, coverage can be effective on the first day of the following month. If someone enrolls today, 12/31/25, their coverage can be effective 01/01/2026.
IbogaProject
(5,580 posts)dlk
(13,107 posts)This is for Part A and Part B services.
Medicare also has a Part D (prescription drugs) enrollment requirement. Otherwise there are lifetime, late enrollment penalties.
Soul_of_Wit
(3 posts)See my post 44. Vanilla Medicare can consider pre-existing conditions, but only in situations where you were 65+ and had no vanilla Medicare for a while.
TNNurse
(7,485 posts)when that UnitedHealthcare (not medicare) nurse called and cheerily informed that SHE had approved my mastectomy for breast cancer with metastasis. I was too shocked to ask how could she not approve it. They later drug out approving my total knee surgery and I had to wait until I retired. Guess my cancer cost them too much, so I had to wait.
TBF
(35,555 posts)they have a regime in office that will let them get away with anything & they will take full advantage.
Excellent OP.
joanbarnes
(2,073 posts)SCantiGOP
(14,659 posts)Regular Medicare with a Medigap plan and a Part D prescription plan are the best options.
I worked for over 30 years for a nationwide system of non-profits, and their annual notice to their retirees ( they still reimburse us for Medigap and Part D premiums ) says to be very cautious about Medicare Advantage plans. Out HR rep will tell you not to be suckered in on them.
Grins
(9,236 posts)UnitedHealth has been recommended by the AARP as their choice for AARP for DECADES.
AARP recommends only UnitedHealth for health insurance to their members.
Has AARP ever solicited other insurers to compete for AARP's 38-million members? Not that I know of. Thirty years is a LONG time to hold a contract like this.
And why should they? UnitedHealth kicks back 4.95% of premium income from AARP subscribers to AARP. Of the approximately $1.1 BILLION AARP gets from ALL insurers, about $900 million came from health insurers. And who got the lion's share of that $900-million...?
AARP masquerades as an advocacy group for the elderly. In reality, it is a UnitedHealth marketing scam.
Sessuch
(226 posts)
Rebl2
(17,353 posts)had united healthcare for years (not advantage plan) and it usually picked up all the cost that Medicare didn’t pay. After reading more about it since they have passed, I would never buy it for myself.
LittleGirl
(8,944 posts)I have a Prescription plan D but it doesn't cover my thyroid medication because it's made in Switzerland. It's the only medication that doesn't have "fillers" in the dose so it works for me for 15 years now. They refuse to cover it. In Switzerland, it cost 40 bucks for 100 pills. Here they want several hundred for a 28 day supply. I take it daily but for some reason, they think they are birth control so only distribute 28 pills at a time. It's just b.s.
I don't have an advantage plan at all so I pay the 20%. if you ask nicely, some doctors will lower their rates for that extra.
I do not have a dental plan but I pay mine with cash and get a discount. I asked the dental clerks which plan is the best and they just shook their heads. None of them are worth the paper they are written on.
I'm in CA.
1WorldHope
(1,846 posts)It has worked out for me. However, I am thrilled to be able to drop it and go on regular Medicare with ChampVA as my supplement and drug plan. My husband is a VN vet and we are so grateful for what the VA has done for him. He has been awarded 100% (if that is the correct word) disability. That comes with so many wonderful benefits that I feel a little guilty. Our homestead exemption is now 100%. I get to use ChampVA and get out of the managed care scam. Healthcare should be free for all. The Oligarchs just want us eaters to die. What a fucked up world they are trying to create.