AARP Medicare Supplement Plans: Costs, Coverage and Honest Review

Who Underwrites AARP Medicare Supplement Plans?

AARP itself is not an insurance company. Instead, AARP licenses its brand to UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company, which actually underwrites, prices, and pays claims for AARP Medicare Supplement plans. UnitedHealthcare is the largest Medigap insurer in the country and sells AARP-branded plans in every state plus Washington, D.C.

There are actually two "books of business" that consumers should understand. Newer AARP Medigap policies are typically written through UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company of America (UHICA), which often has lower starting premiums. Older policies sit with the original UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company (UHC) book and tend to start at higher rates. On August 28, 2025, AM Best downgraded the Financial Strength Rating (FSR) to A (Excellent) from A+ (Superior) and the Long-Term ICRs to "a+" (Excellent) from "aa-" (Superior) of the health and dental insurance subsidiaries of UnitedHealth Group, collectively referred to as UnitedHealthcare, and as of August 2026 that rating remains in place with a stable outlook and no subsequent rating action. The A (Excellent) rating still reflects strong balance sheet strength and a very favorable business profile, but it is a notch below where UHC sat for years and below A+ (Superior) rivals like Mutual of Omaha. For context on how UnitedHealthcare's ratings stack up, see our ranking of the best Medigap insurance companies for 2026.

Which AARP Medigap Plans Are Available in 2026?

Because Medigap is federally standardized, the benefits inside each plan letter are identical no matter which company sells them. AARP/UnitedHealthcare offers up to eight of the ten standardized plans (A, B, C, F, G, K, L, and N), which is broader than most competitors. Each state has at least one AARP Medigap plan available, but not every state offers all eight letters. The typical lineup includes:

Plans C and F are only available to people who became Medicare-eligible before January 1, 2020, under the MACRA law. Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Wisconsin use their own state-specific Medigap standardization, and AARP/UHC offers alternative AARP-branded designs in those states. For a deeper look at the standardized lineup, see our guide to the best Medicare Supplement plans of 2026 or our full side-by-side comparison chart of all 10 plan letters.

What Do AARP Medicare Supplement Plans Cost?

Pricing for AARP/UnitedHealthcare Medigap is set by age, gender, ZIP code, tobacco status, and rating method. UnitedHealthcare uses community-rating in 43 states, meaning your premium does not increase simply because you get older, though the base rate for everyone in your area can still rise. In the remaining states, AARP/UHC uses issue-age or attained-age pricing with a tiered enrollment discount. The discount is roughly 39% off the standard rate at ages 65 to 68, then reduced by 3 percentage points per year from age 69 through 81, at which point the discount disappears and you pay the standard rate.

Plan G average premiums

Plan N average premiums

Real-world 2026 quotes show wide variation by market. New Jersey filings for January 2026 show AARP/UHICA Plan G at about $167.13 and Plan N at $113.53 for a 65-year-old female, while high-cost New York markets like Long Island now sit near $372.50/month for Plan G and $299.00/month for Plan N after the state's 17.8% increase. AARP/UHC often prices near the middle of the market at age 65 thanks to the tiered discount, but premiums step up faster than community-rated carriers as the discount phases out. For full pricing detail on the most popular plan, see our Plan G coverage and costs breakdown, or read our broader guide on how much a Medicare Supplement plan costs in 2026.

AARP Membership Requirement and Discounts

To enroll in any AARP-branded Medigap plan, you must join AARP. Membership is open to anyone 18 or older. The standard rate is $20 per year, with promotional first-year pricing of $15 when you enroll in Automatic Renewal (a 25% discount off the standard rate). AARP also offers multi-year membership plans, saving 8% off annual rate if you sign up for three years and 21% if you enroll in a five-year membership, and a spouse or household member gets a free secondary membership.

What you get on top of the Medigap policy:

• Wellness and fitness program access (varies by state)
• Discounts on hearing aids, vision, and dental services
• Nurse line and 24/7 digital tools
• Optional dental and vision add-ons in many states
• Travel, entertainment, and retail discounts unrelated to Medicare

AARP/UnitedHealthcare Rate Increase History

Rate stability is one of the most important and least-discussed factors in choosing Medigap. Independent reviews of AARP Medigap have found premiums rose at the high end of the market over the past two years, with some books hit much harder than others.

Specific 2026 examples:

• Plan G premium increases filed with state insurance commissioners in early 2026 range from 12% to 26% across Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Humana, Mutual of Omaha, and UnitedHealthcare, according to actuarial consulting firm Telos Actuarial.
• State-level 2026 AARP/UHC Plan G filings include roughly +17.8% in New York (the largest single-year DFS-approved increase in recent memory) and up to +25.7% for AARP/UnitedHealthcare in New Jersey effective August 1, 2026.
• AARP - UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company has filed Medigap rate changes in 27 states, with increases up to 30.5%.
• AARP/United Healthcare and Aetna Supplements went up 15% to 18% effective June 1st on Plans N and G on the newer UHICA book.
• For AARP Plan F group coverage under the Chicago Teachers' Pension Fund, June 1, 2026 monthly increases pushed the 70-71 age band from $194.19 to $211.78, ages 72-74 from $211.97 to $227.59, and age 75+ from $228.65 to $249.97, roughly 7-9% year over year.

A frequently cited driver is UHC's tiered enrollment discount, which starts as high as 39% at age 65 and phases out at roughly 3 percentage points per year, stacking on top of any base rate filing.

The 2026 Part B premium jumped to $202.90 per month, an increase of $17.90 from $185.00 in 2025. The annual deductible for all Medicare Part B beneficiaries will be $283 in 2026, an increase of $26 from the annual deductible of $257 in 2025. The Part A hospital inpatient deductible now sits at $1,736 per benefit period. These CMS increases put upward pressure on Medigap rates across the board. For context on how this compares to other carriers, our Medigap vs Medicare Advantage guide explains how to factor rate growth into a long-term cost projection.

Pros and Cons of AARP Medicare Supplement Plans

AARP vs Mutual of Omaha, HealthSpring, and Aetna

Because Plan G from AARP is identical to Plan G from Mutual of Omaha, HealthSpring (formerly Cigna), or Aetna in terms of medical benefits, the real comparison comes down to price, discounts, rate stability, and service.

Mutual of Omaha often beats AARP on long-term cost once household discounts and rate stability are factored in, especially for couples, and holds an A+ (Superior) rating a notch above UnitedHealthcare's post-downgrade A. Our full Mutual of Omaha review breaks down the carrier in more detail. HealthSpring, the Cigna Medigap brand now under HCSC ownership after the March 19, 2025 acquisition and January 1, 2026 brand transition, frequently offers competitive Plan G premiums in many ZIP codes thanks to a spousal/household discount of up to 20% (excluded in HI, ID, MN, VT) stackable with a 5% online application discount for total savings of up to 25%. Aetna is competitive on Plan N with a typical 5-7% household discount, though Aetna has reduced its Medigap footprint for 2026. For a broader look, our Humana Medicare Supplement review covers another major competitor.

If you are weighing carriers for your situation, our deep dive on Plan N coverage and costs walks through which company tends to win for the Plan N buyer in 2026.

Is AARP's Plan G a Good Value?

For most new Medicare enrollees in 2026, Plan G is the right plan letter because it covers everything Plan F covered (minus the $283 Part B deductible) at a much lower premium. The harder question is whether AARP is the right carrier for that Plan G.

You are likely a good fit for AARP/UHC Plan G if:

• You value brand recognition and a large national company
• You live in a community-rated state where age will not raise your premium
• You want wellness extras and AARP discounts beyond insurance
• You are new to Medicare and can capture the full 39% enrollment discount early

You should probably shop other carriers first if:

• You qualify for a household discount with a spouse (favor Mutual of Omaha or HealthSpring)
• You are price-shopping and HealthSpring operates in your ZIP code
• You expect to hold the policy 15+ years and want lower projected rate growth
• You want a lower-premium catastrophic option (look at High-Deductible Plan G)

For an apples-to-apples comparison of why most new enrollees should choose G over F, see our complete guide to Plan F coverage and eligibility.

How to Enroll and Get an AARP Medigap Quote

The cleanest path is to apply during your six-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period, which begins the month you turn 65 and have Part B. During this window, AARP/UHC cannot use medical underwriting and cannot deny you or charge more for health reasons. For tips on requesting and comparing offers, see our shopper's guide to Medigap quotes.

Steps to enroll:

1. Join AARP ($15 first year with Automatic Renewal, $20 standard)
2. Get a personalized quote at aarpmedicareplans.com or through a licensed agent
3. Compare against at least 2-3 competing carriers
4. Submit your application before your Open Enrollment Period ends

Frequently Asked Questions

Is AARP Medicare Supplement Insurance the same as UnitedHealthcare?

Yes, the policies you buy under the AARP brand are underwritten by UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company or UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company of America. AARP licenses its name and endorsement to UnitedHealthcare but does not handle claims or pricing. From a coverage standpoint, an AARP Medigap plan is a UnitedHealthcare Medigap plan.

Do I have to be an AARP member to buy these plans?

Yes, AARP membership is required to enroll in any AARP-branded Medicare Supplement plan. The standard rate is $20 per year, with $15 first-year pricing for those who enroll in Automatic Renewal, plus multi-year discounts of 8% (three-year) and 21% (five-year). If you do not want to pay AARP dues, you can buy a Medigap plan with identical benefits from another insurer.

Is AARP Plan G cheaper than Mutual of Omaha Plan G?

At age 65 with the full enrollment discount, AARP/UHC Plan G is often competitive or even cheaper than Mutual of Omaha in many markets. However, Mutual of Omaha's household discount of 7% to 12% (depending on state) often offsets that gap for couples, and its A+ (Superior) rating reaffirmed April 2, 2026 sits a notch above UHC's post-downgrade A. HealthSpring is often the cheapest option for single shoppers in markets where it stacks discounts up to 25%.

How often do AARP Medicare Supplement premiums increase?

AARP/UnitedHealthcare Medigap premiums saw notably large increases in 2026, with Plans G and N in the UHICA book up 15% to 18% effective June 1 and state filings ranging from about 12% to more than 26% depending on plan and geography. New York Plan G rose 17.8%, and New Jersey filings hit up to 25.7%. Increases are usually filed and approved by your state insurance department once per year, though the older UHC book can reprice mid-year, and built-in enrollment discounts that phase out at roughly 3 percentage points per year can push your effective increase higher than the filed base rate.

Can I switch from AARP Medigap to another carrier later?

Yes, but it gets harder over time. You can apply to switch carriers at any point, but outside of Open Enrollment or a guaranteed-issue situation, the new carrier will use medical underwriting and may decline you. As of August 2026, 15 states have an active Birthday Rule or comparable birthday-based Medicare Supplement switching protection: California, Delaware, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming. New Mexico is set to join January 1, 2027. See our state-by-state Medigap guide for the rules where you live, and always get fully approved by the new carrier before canceling your AARP policy.