Congress Finds Evidence of Deceptive Marketing of AARP's Health Insurance Products
A Senate inquiry has found evidence that AARP’s health insurance products were deceptively marketed to its members. At issue are insurance plans that were sold by UnitedHealth Group and carry the AARP brand. According to the New York Times, more than a million people have bought the policies, which have names like AARP Medical Advantage, Essential Plus and Hospital Indemnity Plan. The Senate Finance Committee found the marketing of these health insurance policies misleading because it suggested that they offered comprehensive coverage. In fact, the policies pay fixed cash benefits for selected services, often times much less than consumers had been promised or expected.
For example, AARP’s Medical Advantage plan pays a maximum of $5,000 for surgical procedures that usually cost many times that amount. A consumer guide to this plan issued by AARP states that a Medical Advantage insurance policy “can be a real lifesaver for early retirees, part-time workers or people who just need to supplement their current health insurance.” Thus, uninsured members of AARP have purchased these policies thinking that they provide comprehensive medical coverage, when in fact they do not.
In response to the Congressional inquiry, AARP has suspended sales of the health insurance policies and has hired an outside investigator to look into sales of these policies.
If you have a purchased a limited-benefit health insurance policy through AARP, please contact us to discuss your legal options.
In viewing the AARP / United Healthcare television commercial, I find it to be very misleading.
I sent a letter to Ovations Appeals and Grievances, P.O. Box 6106, Mail Stop: 124-0157. Cypress, CA 90630 as instructed by Secure Horizons to question them about this advertised statement as follows:
July 23, 2010
Being a member of AARP Secure Horizons / United Healthcare Medicare Complete Plan 3 (HMO), I have a question:
The television advertisement for AARP Secure Horizons / United Healthcare states amongst other things that you do not have to have a referral. This is untrue, as I have to have a referral for any doctor I need to see.
I stated that this statement should be eliminated from their commercial.
It is now 9/3/2010 and I have never received a response.
In addition, since I signed up with this insurance company, effective 3/2010, I am receiving many telephone solicitations. Is AARP / United Healtcare selling their customer base telephone numbers to solicitors?
I'm on the Do Not Call List.
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