AARP Consumer Reviews - Page 7

Seniors need to be aware of the high cost of doing business with AARP. I became an AARP Member 14 years ago and had auto insurance through them (Hartford) for about seven years. Every year the cost went up, even though I didn't have any claims. And, when I called them they just shrugged it off as "costs are going up by other companies as well". When I checked out other (major) insurance companies, I found that I had been paying 30%-40% more for the same coverage. I switched and have not used them since.

I checked AARP for life insurance and found they were much higher than some other reputable companies. Again, AARP is taking advantage of seniors who believe they are getting a good deal because it is AARP. Recently, in looking for a Medicare Advantage Plan, I found AARP's prices much higher than other reputable companies. So, the lesson here is do your homework and check other reputable companies. You will save a lot of money. AARP is not what it used to be many years ago - a friend of seniors.

FENTON, MO -- I work in an internal medicine office with 2 physicians. This plan is an absolute nightmare. Originally, we did not accept the HMO plan. As of 01/09, we started to accept it. BIG mistake! I do coding/billing and am also the referral coordinator. Everything that the patient has to do outside of their internist's office, whether it be see a specialist or having surgery, has to be called in by your internal medicine physician. It's what is known as a "gatekeeper plan".

On numerous occasions, I have a specialist office call and say, Patient X is going to have surgery tomorrow and I need it authorized. I tried to do it, but they said that the PCP has to call and get it authorized. Are you kidding me? Such a HUGE hassle. They have to call and give us the CPT and ICD-9 codes that they are using. If SecureHorizons has a question like, have they had a such and such test done, I most likely don't have that information. I have to hang up with them, call the specialist back and see, then call SecureHorizons to let them know.

Stick with plain Medicare and get a secondary insurance such as Anthem or straight UHC. You will benefit so much more in the long run. I just get so sick and tired of our elderly patients getting manipulated by the Medicare replacement plans. It all sounds great initially, but when it comes down to it, they are full of… well you get the gist.

I tried to use my Member ID to obtain a forgotten user name and password. After several attempts, I tried to use my Medicare number (it said I could use either my member ID or my Medicare number). That was also unsuccessful. Then I tried to email them @ aarpmedicareplans. I got the address from an AARP Rep on the phone who previously told me that any info regarding my AARP Medicare Complete account could be obtained at that site.

This is the site that wouldn't accept my Member ID and wouldn't accept emails. I couldn't find any customer contact sites. Incidentally, I had to give my ID number on the phone before I could speak to a Rep. I may have done something in error but I don't think so. Something should be done to make customer communication more simpler and easier.

I used my Bank of America Master Card for the first time in almost three years to renew my AARP membership. The next day there were hundreds of dollars of fraudulent charges on my credit card. I am lucky that Bank of America has a good fraud protection unit and I was notified immediately. I sent an email to AARP last week and got no response whatsoever. My credit card was in my possession and was not used for anything other than the membership renewal. BEWARE when using a credit card with AARP. They preach about protecting yourself and then they have security issues.

What do I have to do in order to get AARP to stop sending me offers? AARP and their partners "in crime" (Insurance Companies, etc.) keep sending me offers. I get 2-3 a day for life insurance, car insurance, medicare insurance and offers to join AARP.

My husband and I are already on a "do not contact" list for credit and life insurance offers and yet they still come daily. We do NOT believe in what AARP stands for and really just want to be left alone. They are wasting trees, stamps, and whatever else by contacting us. In the future, I intend to return anything they send in their postage paid envelope. If they got enough of these back, they may quit sending things to people who don't want their crap!!!

Our home was burglarized in July. We have our homeowner's insurance through the AARP/Hartford. The claim adjustment person was less than pleasant, to say the least. He never got back to us unless we called several times and left countless messages on his voicemail. When he did respond, he was rude and "talked down" to us. They also were trying to talk us into accepting less than replacement cost for our BRAND NEW TV. We finally had to contact his supervisor (twice) and finally got the claim settled. We felt like we were being burglarized not once, but twice. Consumer beware!!!

GILBERT, ARIZONA -- Does AARP know the service offered by SecureHorizons/MedicareComplete is not what they claim to be? I doubt it. I changed my provider last November and have had NOTHING but problems since the very beginning. They enrolled me in the wrong plan. Insisted my primary care physician would not see me as he was not taking new patients. Made no difference to them that I was an established patient. After MANY phone calls and speaking to many different Customer Service people (who all promised) they would take care of the problem I still kept getting insurance cards with wrong PC name.

It took several more calls to get the problem taken care of. I then went to a specialist this AM who is listed in my plan book, and has been my doctor for over a year, to only find out they do not take my insurance and never have. I need this physicians service as I am a recovering cancer patient. He did see me today and only charged me what my co-payment would have been. However, he will not see me again unless I get the insurance problem taken care of.

Since I cannot change Medicare provider until next November I can only pray my cancer stays in remission until I can change insurance carriers. I have NEVER had so many problems with insurance in all my life. I would not recommend MedicareComplete/SecureHorizons to my worst enemy.

GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN -- Let the buyer beware! Realize how huge Hartford has become while holding hands with AARP. The premiums are questionable - lower rates for better insurance exist. Just do a little research. Hidden fees such as the 10% fee exist that will rip you off should you cancel your policy. Whenever you call this out-of-state insurance giant you get someone different each time.

Some of these reps are snippy, unprofessional, and have no idea what you may be talking about because they lack the smarts to access their computer data files...or just don't get it! Ever wonder who pays for all those AARP generated ad that junk up your mailbox. I have stopped paying membership fees and will not bother with anything AARP related. They are in business for themselves.

HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT -- On Sept. 13th, 2006 a full page newspaper ad from AARP, Hartford Insurance Company promised a Free Pedometer, for agreeing to an Automobile Insurance Quote. I 'clicked' for free quote and received it about 1 week later. It did not beat my existing insurance company. So I awaited my Free Pedometer. 4 or 5 weeks later I called to explain my Pedometer did not arrive. They said they'd send another one.

End of November I called again and they said they would sent one right out. I called again in December and I still have not received a pedometer. Last week in our paper the full page ad appeared again with the same come on. If you want a quote you will receive it. If you want the Free Pedometer for allowing the quote. FORGET IT!

AARP is continuing to allow The Hartford to advertise when they are not giving service to customers and in fact are across the board ripping off customers with group rate rip offs to block seniors from affordable rates by huge unjustified category rated based on turning age 60 and not basing coverage on driving record. As AARP is supposed to protect seniors I wonder whose pocket is being lined as they aren't doing a thing to keep The Hartford from ripping off its customers and allowing them to advertise a outright lie is causes me to question why they continue to let them rip off member and why the fox has the keys to the hen house.