Question about Medicare Supplemental and "Open Enrollment"

[Lonestarblue]

3. Before you switch, do a comparison of total costs. A lower premium is not always less costly.

I too have UHC plan F, which is no longer available to new enrollees. If you switch to a different insurer, you will need to choose a less generous plan. If you stay with UHC but choose a plan with a lower premium, your savings might be eaten up with copays and more expenses for routine tests. I had surgery last year, with many x-rays and tests beforehand and paid zero. I don't know what I would have paid under a different plan, but it would not have been zero. I'm also in my 70s and healthy, but the possibility of serious illness gets more likely, and potentially costly, every year.

Medicare has a useful online tool that allows you to compare costs of different plans in your area.
https://www.medicare.gov/medigap-supplemental-insurance-plans/#/m/?year=2026&lang=en

Also be wary of switching to an Advantage plan. Those plans require prior approval from the insurance company, which often rejects treatment. UHC Advantage plans are notorious for rejecting coverage of needed medical treatment.