Aetna Medicare Supplement Insurance Review
Aetna is a healthcare insurance provider with a widely extended presence in the Medicare marketplace, offering Medicare Supplement Insurance plans and Medicare Advantage policies. Already a well-established company, the acquisition by CVS Health contributed further to Aetna’s progress toward improving health through a value-based care model, which focuses on quality services and health outcomes.
Key Features of Aetna Medicare Supplement Plans
- Medigap is offered in most states, but not all ten standardized plans are offered.
- Enhanced 7% total household discount.
- Vision & hearing discounts.
- Medigap has no network restrictions, so you can see any doctor who accepts Medicare.
- Eliminating or minimizing deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments can simplify health care.
Pros and Cons of Aetna Medicare Supplement Plans
An Aetna Medicare Supplement review of the pros and cons may help you decide if Aetna Medicare Supplement plans are the right choice.
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Pros
- Aetna holds an 11% market share.
- Accessible in most states: In 43 states, residents can get a Medigap plan through Aetna.
- AM Best, a global credit rating agency, awarded Aetna Health & Life Group a rating of excellent (“A”) for financial strength and long-term creditworthiness.
- The rating reflects its sound balance sheet and “strong operating performance, favorable business profile, and appropriate enterprise risk.”
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Cons
- Aetna does not offer Medicare Supplement plans in Alaska, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maine, Massachusetts, New York, Washington, or the District of Columbia.
- You must call for a quote if you live in Colorado, Florida, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, or Oregon because online pricing is not offered.
- Aetna doesn’t provide plans C, D, K, L, or M.
Customer Reviews and Complaints
An Aetna Medicare Supplement review by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) revealed a national complaint index of 2.36. For comparison purposes, a complaint index can be a useful reference point when looking across competitive companies. For example, an index exceeding 2.0 indicates twice the number of complaints the NAIC would expect to see.
Another perspective is customer satisfaction across the entire health insurance industry. The Aetna/CVS Health satisfaction index was 73 in 2021, a 3% increase from 2020 and in line with the health industry on average. The highest index earned by the competition was 75, and the lowest was 68.
Aetna Medicare Supplement Plan Options
Aetna Medicare Supplement Plans include A, B, D, G, N, C, and F. Plans A and B cover the basic benefits. Plans G and N offer the most coverage for Medicare beneficiaries newly eligible on or after January 1, 2020, when Plans C and F began to phase out.
Aetna Medicare Supplement Plan F
If you were Medicare-eligible before January 1, 2020, but have not yet enrolled, Plan F may be an option.
Here’s What Plan F Covers:
- Medicare Part A coinsurance and costs incurred after your Original Medicare hospital inpatient benefits have run out, up to 365 days
- Part B coinsurance or copays
- Cost of the first three pints of blood should a provider need to purchase blood for you.
- Coinsurance or copay for hospice care
- Coinsurance charged by a skilled nursing facility
- Part A deductible
- Part B deductible ($226 in 2023)
- Part B excess charges billed by providers (if excess charges are allowable in your state)
- 80% of covered emergency healthcare charges while traveling with Medicare
Aetna Medicare Supplement Plan G
Medicare Supplement Plan G offers the same coverage as Medicare Supplement Plan F, with one exception. Plan G does not cover the deductible for Medicare Part B. As of January 1, 2020, Aetna and other insurance carriers are prohibited from selling Medigap policies with Part B deductible coverage to newly eligible Medicare beneficiaries.
If you like the features of Plan G but the monthly premium is too high for your budget, a high-deductible version is available in some states. The trade-off for a lower monthly premium is a high deductible ($2,700 in 2023), which you need to cover at your own expense before the plan pays benefits. Some states also offer Plan F with a high deductible for those eligible.
Aetna Medicare Supplement Plan N
Medigap Plan N covers neither the Part B deductible nor the Part B excess charges. If you buy Plan N, you must pay copays for your doctor and emergency room visits. If hospital stays follow your emergency room visits, the copays are waived. This plan is a good value because the benefits are broad, and the pricing is lower than Plan F and Plan G.
Aetna Medigap plans are one of the few supplement plans offering a household discount. To qualify for an Aetna Medicare Supplement Insurance discount, apply for one of the Aetna Medigap plans simultaneously with a Medicare-eligible adult household member. This requirement can also be satisfied if the other person already has one of the Aetna Medigap plans. The individual must be either a spouse, a partner in a civil union, or an adult living permanently in your home.
While the cost of Aetna Medigap plans varies by location, the coverage for the same plan across states will be consistent.
Aetna Medigap Plan Benefits
Medigap policies are standardized, so your Medigap plan will provide the same coverage in one state as another, regardless of the health insurance company you use. However, three states have different standardization: Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.
With Medicare Supplement insurance plans, you can:
- Use any healthcare provider in the U.S. that accepts Medicare
- Tap into an expansive Medicare-participating provider network
- Avoid the disruption of having to renew your plan membership year after year
- Enjoy consistent benefits as long as you stay with the same plan
- See Medicare-participating specialists without the need for a referral
Medicare Supplement Cost
| Plan F | $195.09 | Male age 70 | TX |
| Plan G | $105.62 | Female age 65 | OH |
| Plan N | $91.46 | Female age 65 | PA |
| High G | n/a | n/a | FL |
| Plan A | $185.93 | Male age 65 | CA |
Aetna Medicare Supplement Rate Increase History
Increases can range from 3% to 15%. Rate increase factors include location & age.
They will not increase your rates based on individual plan usage; they will raise the premium for all policies like yours in your state.
When Can I Enroll?
Enrolling in Aetna Medicare Supplement plans during the Medigap Open Enrollment Period is best. You have six months from the first day of the month of your 65th birthday.
Before buying any Medicare Supplement insurance plan, enrollees must have Part B Medicare benefits. When you sign up for Original Medicare, register with a Medicare drug plan (Part D) too. Medigap policies do not include prescription drug coverage.
Ready to Learn More?
To continue your Aetna Medicare Supplement review, consult a licensed insurance agent to identify Aetna Medigap plans available in your area. Once you confirm your access to Aetna Medicare Supplement insurance, compare the plans available based on your healthcare needs, budget, and personal preferences. Finding the right plan is about getting the benefits you need now and the coverage you expect to need in the future.
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