I am a member of AARP, have been for over 25 years, and I was shocked with the recent article, "How AARP Shills for UnitedHealthcare." It comes from The American Prospect, whose founders include Robert Reich, Former United States Secretary of Labor, American professor, author, lawyer, and political commentator. With that credibility I can proceed to point out just how AARP, a non-profit organization, forces profit-centered UnitedHealthcare on its 58 million members, knowing full-well it is the industry’s worst insurer.
Robert Kuttner, author of the article, and co-founder and co-editor of The American Prospect, and professor at Brandeis University’s Heller School. who lives in Massachusetts says...
"where I live, a supplemental Medicare policy from UnitedHealth costs $251 a month. An identical policy from Blue Cross, which has the state’s best record in not denying care, costs $212."
Kuttner asks, "Why on earth would consumers buy such a flawed insurance product?" It's obvious, we are forced to do so by AARP, have no choice, and AARP doesn't seem to care that its members are the losers. Data confirms...
"In 2023, UnitedHealth’s denial rate of claims was 32 percent, compared to an industry average of 16 percent. Nonprofits had a far better record than for-profits."
I have trusted AARP for the 25 years I have been a member, as I am sure the 58 million members have. But I am seriously searching for new coverage, but time is limited. This is what HealthCare.gov says...
"You can change your plan during the yearly open enrollment period, which is
November 1–January 15. You can also change your plan outside of open enrollment if you experience a life event that qualifies you for a Special Enrollment Period."
AARP has been a huckster for UnitedHealthcare for 27 years receiving a kick back of 4.95 percent of premium income from AARP subscribers. Here's the scenario...
"According to AARP’s audited financial report, AARP made $289.3 million from member dues, but $1.134 billion from kickbacks from insurers, of which the lion’s share, $905 million, was from health insurers. AARP delicately refers to these as royalties.
There's more...
"In its role as supposed advocate for the elderly, in 2003 AARP lobbied heavily in favor of George W. Bush’s misbranded and badly flawed “Medicare Part D”—the private insurance company drug insurance policies blessed by the federal government. Part D was mainly a way for UnitedHealth and others to make even more money and AARP to reap more kickbacks."AARP is a non-profit but has been able to avoid taxes paying only about $3 million in federal income taxes on “royalties” of well over a billion. AARP has been sued by members but you won't believe the court decision...
"Credulous judges have thrown out the suits on the grounds that the premium rates had been duly approved by regulators, that premiums would not necessarily have been lower, and that the purchasers were consenting adults."Kuttner says AARP won't talk to him but comments that in their "Online Community, the comments are thick with scathing accounts of UnitedHealth claims denials and bewilderment that AARP would sponsor such a product. Now, one can only hope that the bad publicity (but not condoning the murder of Brian Thompson) could cause AARP to change carriers; are they willing to lose the income? Donald Trump and Elon Musk must be stopped in their tracks to radically change Medicare.
