Since I retired in 2016 I have had the United Healthcare AARP Medicare Advantage policy. In past years they have sent out a payment book in May for payments for the following 12 months. This year they announced they would be sending out monthly statements instead, thus representing a change to their accounts receivable process. The statement they sent out dated May 6, shows me as delinquent for my May payment, despite my bank having CLEARED their payment on May 6. In looking at my account over the net, it shows me as current with nothing overdue. The statement I received showed my 2024 and beyond payment would be $264 and change. The statement also 'offered' a pay for the year figure, that was supposedly a $2/month saving over paying monthly. When you apply the calculator to the number it works out to be in the neighborhood of $9/month HIGHER than 12 times the stated monthly figure. I have subsequently been attempting to call United Healthcare's 'customer service' line and all I get is 'We cannot connect your call account the high volume of calls'! Is anyone else dealing with United Healthcare and having similar issues?
AARP/United Health changed most of their Medicare supplement plans at the beginning of this year. My hospital and many others cancelled dealing with AARP/United Health as a result of those changes. However, I have had AARP/United Health's Medicare Supplement, Plan J since 2000. That is the one United Health plan that my hospital still accepts. I have no idea what the difference is, but I hope this condition lasts. I suggest calling AARP/United Heath customer service and discussing what options may be available. I wish you a good outcome.
I have an Advantage Plan with Aetna, but I pay the (quarterly) bill directly to CMS, the Federal agency that administers Medicare. I'm guessing you're not Social Security eligible, but are instead on Railroad Retirement?
As noted in my penultimate paragraph - their 'customer service' number is overloaded and rejects my calls. Called 5 different times yesterday 5/17 and 3 more today. Until this kerfufle I have not had any issues with the United Healthcare policy that I have had since I retired in December of 2016. United did announce that they were changing the payment system - and it is looking like they have totally bolixed it to the point that it can't accurately add, subtract, multiply and divide. To err is human, the really foul things up requires a computer and a faulty program/application.
Got through today 5/20 - of course getting through was having to deal with over 6 minutes of computer questions that lead to ultimately saying 'Representative' and then being told the wait time to talk to a human being is in excess of 26 minute.
And the recording always assures the caller that "Your call is important to us ..." to which I think to myself, "No it's not, else I'd be talking to someone right now."
Was finally able to make contact with United Healthcare After the Customer Service application answered, I had to wade through 6+ minutes of computer posed questioned until I got to the one where you request to talk to a human. Upon answering 'Representative' I was told that the wait time was 26 minutes and the representative would call me back. TWO HOURS later a representative did call be back. After we get through the 'who are you' formalities. I state my issues - I submitted my payment on a check dated May 1, which my bank says it payed on May 6. Calling up my history of payments at UH it showed my March & April payments having been made and credited to 'Lockbox'. The May payment was shown against THREE different entries of varying amounts and credited to 'Payment Coupon'. The amounts credited to Payment Coupon total $37.40 MORE than my payment. ??????? My UH statement also offered the opportunity for a Yearly payment in the amount of $3349.10 with the monthly payment being $264.75. I will be celebrating my 60th Graduation from High School in the near future and the mathematics I learned way back then says $264.75 x 12 = $3177.00. The Representative had no answers for the error. Overall 18+ minutes of the 'representative' being out of her depth. Several years ago, I got dinged with a $25 late payment charge for an account where the amount of my check was THREE CENTS less than the amount I was billed. Ever since my checks are for a whole dollar amount in excess of the amount billed. Once may payments are processed - the entity the processed the payment OWES ME for the difference. I do not allow any parties to withdraw payments from my bank account, the automatic payments I have all go to a credit card. The only organizations that get direct access to my bank account are those depositing funds in the account, Railroad Retirement and a Company Pension. To err is human, to really foul up takes a computer that hasn't been properly programmed to add, subtract, multiply and divide, let alone handle Boolean Algebra.
Smart move. Although there is probably someone out there could still key in some incorrect instructions, and.....
Note that you initially sign up for Medicare by contacting the Social Security Administration, not Medicare. If you'll be collecting social security by then, you should be notified automatically. Sign up as soon as possible, which is three months before your 65th birthday, so that the transition between your existing coverage and Medicare is seamless. That will get you parts A and B (in-patient and out-patient). Then, from private insurers, you can also get a prescription drug plan; a "medi-gap" supplemental plan to cover the 20% that Medicare doesn't; and a plan for dental and vision coverage. IMO, avoid the so-called Medicare "Advantage" plans. I was able to quickly narrow down which supplemental plans to (and not to) get by surveying my primary care physician and other providers. The universal response was to get the plans offered by Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield.
Also, if you currently have a preferred primary care physician, and wish to keep that resource, be certain your clinic accepts Medicare patients. Many do not. Mine does not....
One thing I will mention - there are TWO Medicare organizations. There is 'regular' Medicare that applies to everyone EXCEPT retirees covered by Railroad Retirement Board.
The end of April I had 8 days in the hospital tracking down a GI Bleed. The hospital sent me a 'invoice' of charges that are being billed to RR B Medicare and United Health. The invoice was less than $22K for 8 days that included ER, Regular Room and ICU room. Of course, this invoice DOES NOT include and Doctor or Anesthetists charges which I don't have a clue to their amounts as of yet. All in all, I am surprised the Hospital charges are 'so low'. In 1996 I was in a hospital in Jacksonville for 10 days with my bout with Colon Cancer, which included two trips to the Operating Room - The bill that got presented was in excess of $46K, out of the 11+ pages of the itemized bill - the only thing I could actually verify with my memory - was getting some 'Mylanta' anti-acid that was administered through the tube through my nose into my stomach to keep matter from proceeding through the rest of the intestinal path to exit the body. I attempting to restart the peristalsis movement of the stomach contents after the Doctor wanted the intestinal track put back in action - for most of a day after the stomach pump was stopped I could feel contents of my stomach getting full and subsequently starting to 'back up' my esophagus to the point I had a involuntary wretch and exhaled about a third of the stomach tube which set off the worst case of esophageal heartburn in my life. There is no modesty in a hospital - you are the 'animal' the medical community is trying to save and every part of you is involved, one way or another.
The first tranche of 'doctor bills' has been processed through Medicare and United Healthcare A little less than $12K in doctor charges was billed to Medicare, Medicare authorized payment of approximately 12% of the amount billed and actually paid approximately 10% of the amount billed with United Healthcare picking up the difference. Medical charges/Medicare/Insurance - is a Black Hole that to me is undecipherable to my simple 2+2=4 logic. YMMV
I've been dealing with a chronic health problem that my specialist Doctor can't figure out. It's been making me feel pretty miserable for quite a long time. As such, he said he'd refer me to a medical facility in another state that might be able to help, but I've found that they do not accept Medicare Advantage Plans, even one like mine that allows me to go out of network! The medical facility does however accept "Original Medicare". I am thinking about changing my 2026 coverage to Original Medicare (with added Medigap policies) so that I can go there next year. How ridiculous is this? Good grief.
RRB Medicare and United Healthcare have done their thing on the $21+K hospital bill Medicare paid a little over $17K leaving a 'balance of $1696 which United Healthcare paid the whole thing. Surprisingly!
It looks like all the Doctors and Specialist bills have been processed by RR Medicare Total for Hospital and all the Doctor bills was a little over $36K. Medicare in total authorized payment for slightly over $19K and actually paid a little over $17K with United Healthcare paying all the difference. I am amazed that this point in time I have paid ZERO directly to any of the involved parties, and according to all the statements from RR Medicare and United Healthcare I should not expect to. Medical billing and Medical Insurance, to me, is a Black Hole that is no decipherable from anyone outside the Black Hole.
Same here for me so far too. I amset up same as you. Almost makes all those all nighters worth it huh?
