AARP Health and Prescription Insurance

AARP Membership

Through AARP membership, people who are 50-years-old or more are eligible to take advantage of great benefits for a low membership fee of only $12.50 per year. If you have a spouse or partner, there's more good news because they are covered at no extra cost when you join.

AARP makes signing up easy. You can apply for membership online where the process is fast and easy. Once you do, you'll get a membership number which instantly opens the way to the many benefits AARP offers including access to AARP health and prescription insurance. Additional benefits include access the following and more:

• Automobile insurance
• Homeowners insurance
• Life insurance
• Travel discounts
• Credit card services through Chase
• Discounted online services
• Discounted phone services
• AARP Magazine

Be sure to visit the AARP website for not only information, but services and tools like a glossary of insurance terms to help people 50 and older to understand their coverage.

AARP Health and Prescription Insurance

AARP Medicare Advantage Health Plan

AARP Medicare Advantage health plan is the only health plan that carries the AARP name -- AARP MedicareComplete. This plan is offered through Secure Horizons by United Healthcare and makes available all the benefits covered under Original Medicare and more.

Medicare Rx Plans

To find out what specific prescription plans are available in your area, the AARP website provides an information page where you input your zip code or state to learn what is offered. Plans provide a list of drugs which are covered to make it easy to know if it is the plan for to meet your needs. Current plans include:

• AARP MedicareRx Saver - Includes every brand-name prescription drug (or generic counterpart) covered by Medicare Part D. Low monthly premium and low co-pays.
• AARP MedicareRx Preferred – Protects those covered from unexpected changes in the cost of your prescription drugs and covers 100 percent of the drugs covered by Medicare Part D.
• AARP MedicareRx Enhanced - Gives additional coverage for what they call "Tier 1" generic drugs. This provides coverage to include an expanded list of frequently prescribed drugs not covered by Medicare Part D plans. AARP MedicareRX Enhanced covers 100 percent of the drugs covered by Medicare Part D along with drugs normally not covered by Medicare Part D plans.

Eligibility

AARP MedicareRx Plans are open to everyone who's eligible for Medicare in the 50 states, D.C., and five U.S. territories. Individuals who are eligible for this plan include:

• Those entitled to Medicare benefits under Part A or who are enrolled in Medicare Part B
• Those who live in the service area of the Medicare Prescription Drug Plan
• Everyone who is eligible Medicare beneficiaries, including members and non-members of AARP

If you are learning about AARP health and prescription insurance for the first time, it's important to note that if you are currently enrolled in a Medicare prescription drug plan, but are not really happy with it for some reason, then you can submit an application for the AARP MedicareRx Plans between November 15th and December 31st.

Enrollment

AARP makes the enrollment process as painless as possible. One thing they recommend before you start is to gather all of the information you need. They provide a handy checklist to help make sure you are prepared. This should include all the drugs you are currently taking along with dosages and frequency.

Enrollment in one of the AARP MedicareRx Plans is available during the annual enrollment period of November 15 - December 31. Enrollment is allowed outside this time period if individuals meet the following:

• They qualify for low-income subsidy
• Are eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid and are interested in switching plans
• They qualify for a special election period
• Are turning 65-years-old

More Topics for Those over 50

Be sure to visit AARP's website for more information on topics that include:

• AARP's public policies
• Answers to financial planning questions
• Guidance on health and wellness
• Tips for coping with difficult life transitions
• Opportunities to contact government officials

The AARP website also has forums where you'll be invited to participate in discussion groups. Forums provide a great way to interact with others throughout the country.