Well, well, our buddies at AARP/Aetna changed our policy/group numbers on our cards recently without telling us.  I ordered new cards.  Had 'em sent to our mailing address in Livingston, which is our permanent residence through Escapees.

Today's mail had three envelopes from Aetna.  One with my card, one with Dave's and one with a letter saying our monthly premium had gone up $250.00 due to address change.  This brings our monthly premium well over $600.  (I guess they just now recorded in their system the Livingston address rather than the Cedar Park, TX address.)

Not only am I reeling from premium shock, but the fact that this took place effective April 1, 2011.   I paid the usual amount for April prior to April 1.  The letter informing us about the premium increase is dated March 30, 2011.

Whatever happened to 30 days advance notice?  Now I will be looking for a less expensive alternative, which may include taking Dave off coverage, but wondering if our coverage is still in effect for this month.

Consider me royally .   I will also pose this question to the Texas Health Insurance Board if there is such a thing and I can find contact info.

Good freakin' grief!

Irritated beyond irritation,

Betty

You think I'm irritated; you should hear Dave.  Remember he's from the UK.

UPDATE:  The representative at the TDI (Texas Department of Insurance) I spoke with told me to contact Aetna and pay any balance due this month and then file a complaint.  Of course, so far when I have gone through all the automated #@$_$)*$ on the Aetna number, I get a recording that states they are temporarily not available.  Really.  How convenient.

You know me and the saga of our Montana.  Here we go again, folks, just a different industry! 

-- Edited by TxYellowRose on Thursday 14th of April 2011 02:47:07 PM

We studied the heck out of costs when we went full time and kept our Colorado residency. The cost to be a Texan is not the good deal it's made out to be sometimes.

Like Racerguy, we did a TON of research on ALL insurance.  We lived in Illinois, about 6 miles from Springfield, the state capital.   But when we changed our address to our daughter's, which is a rural area, they live on a farm, about 20 miles from any large town, all of our insurance premiums decreased.  We are on Medicare with a supplemental insurance and don't have any chronic health issues, so we really shop around for our supplemental insurance.  We changed from Blue Cross/Blue Shield to Mutual of Omaha this year and changed the plan and are saving about $50 per month for each of us.

You really have to do your homework when it comes to insurance. 

I checked out Texas several years ago and decided NO WAY. 

And since we'll be visiting our daughter from time to time, we can renew our license as we pass through.

Sure hoping you can get some resolution to this.  Best of luck.

Gail

We were already residents of TX, so just remained that way.  The rate hike came with changing counties in TX.  To me, this is another example of what's ailing our country.  So now I'm shopping insurance again.

Betty,

I've seen rates change to lower prices when we moved from a county with a large metropolitan city (Oklahoma City) to one of the surrounding counties with more rural and agricultural bases.  So, your experience doesn't really come as a surprise.  While Jo and I are currently Oklahoma residents, when it comes time for us to start traveling, I'll be doing more research.

Another state with advantages for full-timers is South Dakota.  Now, it that ain't "rural" I don't know what would be.  However, I have no clue as to what their rates would be.

Also, look into a group called Generation America.  There is not any minimum age with them, but they claim to offer about the same as AARP.  For my way of thinking, AARP no longer represents the older class as they do represent themselves as an insurance company.  I think that is one of the reasons they really supported the health care bill.  They saw it as a way to open up a whole new customer base.

Good luck with it all.

Terry

Dan and Gail...I would venture a guess that you changed to Mutual of Omaha's Medigap plan N to get your premium down $50/mo...a good choice.

And, yes, it is true that health insurance premiums trend lower in rural areas and states. Medicare supplement plans are about 30% lower in SD than they are in more populated states. Livingston, TX rates are lower than average  as well, though.

But, it doesn't sound like Betty is talking about Medicare supplement insurance. Unfortunately, Aetna is within their rights to change premiums based on residency changes. Why don't you look into changing companies, Betty? You might find a better rate with another carrier now that you have a new address. 

This has been very interesting for me to read. I am going to have to get an additional policy in July along with medicare. I am so confused about how to get started. I live in south Florida and have been told that I should go with AARP. 

I will be out of the state when I apply, so I guess I can do all of this by phone. 

Linda,

I would be happy to run some comparison quotes for you if you want to contact me. I have access to a nationwide "quote engine" for Medicare supplement insurance. You can send me a Private Message with your FL zipcode if you like or you can call me at 1-866-591-4909. "53 Merc" is right that you need an agent that can give you unbiased comparisons...which is what I do.

I will do this without any expectation of being your agent. I am on here as an RVer first and foremost. It just so happens my business fits in with many folks who full time.

Kyle

Here is my ; we get AARP ads and I dump them.  I know a lot of you are members, and I know that "politics" is frowned upon here. So, without pointing fingers....AARP is a business, the day they supported healthcare reform, I knew I NEVER wanted to be associated with AARP.  Years ago my mother was discussing with me what she had to cover the "gap" in her coverage.  Yeah, I paid attention to my mom.....that gave me the insight that nothing good was going to come from healthcare reform.  Even Federal employees/annuitants are not exempt.  I had to switch from Kaiser when we retired and moved.  THANK GOD! Kaiser is through the roof.  But I had to change plans and I think if you want to keep your costs down for now you're going to have to "shop" plans.

I don't care "what" AARP says they do, the bottom line is they are a "business" and they are going to make money off of you.  Any business who, through smoke and mirrors, benefits from the healthcare debacle to me is comparible to an insider trading violator.  

If you want to see premiums come down, then tell your Senator to revise the law to allow for accross state purchases.  Personally, I hate "Obamacare", mostly, because of the way it was handled.  I endured the 7-hour televised "lovefest" (debate), it was Bovine Excrement!  I say take from it what works and is revenue neutral, and build it into a new law and scrap this one.  Nobody is going to go without healthcare.  Costs HAVE TO come down.

Just my .......

Fred,

My comment was aimed at AARP's professional ethics or lack thereof.  Advising members to contact their legislator to voice their issues on how any healthcare program is affecting them is not political, it is everyone's right to share concerns to their elected officials.  If that came though as political to this forum, then I apoligize.

I will stop at that, anything else I have to say would be getting too "political".