Editor's Rating
Aetna Medicare Supplement offers excellent coverage at a cheap price for those that are interested in buying a Medigap policy. The company is one of the largest Medicare suppliers on the market and is currently owned by CVS Health.
Our thoughts on Aetna Medicare Supplement
Medicare Supplement plans through Aetna are a cheap choice for people who are looking for a Medigap policy to fill in coverage gaps in their Original Medicare plans. Customer complaint ratings, on the other hand, are not excellent for the company when compared to other competitors that offer Supplement policies.
Combining costs and customer service still puts Aetna within our best Medigap plans available on the market, and the company should be considered when you shop for coverage. But if you are looking for a specific Medigap policy such as C, D, K, L or M, then you will need to shop with a different company since these plans are not available through Aetna.
Aetna plan options and costs
Aetna offers a select number of Medicare Supplement plans. Although the company does not have the full suite of Medigap policies, its prices are extremely competitive when looking at the market as a whole. It is important to note that what each Supplement plan covers is the same across the nation and across each company. This means, for example, that Medicare Supplement Plan A from Aetna will cover the same services as Plan A from AARP/UnitedHealthcare.
Aetna Medicare Supplement coverage by plan
Plan A | Plan B | Plan F | Plan G | Plan N | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part A coinsurance | |||||
| Part B coinsurance | |||||
| Blood (3 pints) | |||||
| Hospice care | |||||
| Skilled nursing facility | |||||
| Part A deductible | |||||
| Part B deductible | |||||
| Part B excess charges | |||||
| Foreign travel emergency | 80% | 80% | 80% |
Aetna Medicare plan costs will vary widely depending on your age and where you currently live. This is mainly due to differences in how states price Medicare Supplement plans, but you might find that your costs are close to the average costs we have presented below:
You'll notice that Aetna only offers plans A, B, F, G and N for Medicare Supplement. This means that if you are looking for one of the other policies available (C, D, K, L or M), then you will need to find a different Medigap insurance company. This is especially important to notice since Plan F is no longer available to new Medicare members, making Plan G a great overall choice for most people that want complete coverage.
Aetna Medicare Supplement vs. competitors
Aetna Medigap policies are cheaper when compared with Medicare Supplement plans from other health insurance companies. As you can see below, for all age groups, Aetna Medicare Supplement Plan G is the cheapest available on the market.
The savings is greatest for those close to the age of 75 years old, where Aetna's policy is $14 cheaper per month compared to the closest competitor Humana). On the other hand, the most expensive Plan G policies are offered through Cigna (for ages 65 and 85) and AARP (for age 75).
Member benefits and extras
Aetna has several overall member benefits that it offers to its customers. These benefits include:
- Ask a Nurse: This is a 24-hour nurse line that allows you to contact a registered nurse if you are feeling sick or have questions about your policy.
- Over-the-counter health solutions: This allows you to get select items such as vitamins and medicines over the counter with no added costs.
- Meal-at-home program: This is a program that brings meals to your home after a hospital stay.
However, some other benefits are only for Medicare Advantage plans, and Aetna is considered one of the best cheap Advantage options in the marketplace. Examples of such benefits include:
- Dental, vision and hearing: Medicare Advantage policies through Aetna usually offer coverage for dental, vision and hearing expenses. This can include exams and even surgery in these areas.
- Fitness memberships: The SilverSneakers program and exclusive gym discounts throughout the nation are offered to Advantage members.
- Prescription mail order: Since Aetna is partnered with CVS Health, Advantage members have the option to have their prescription drugs mailed directly to their homes.
Customer reviews and complaints
Customer reviews for Aetna are well above average compared to other Medicare Supplement companies. Many customers remark that the website is easy to use and navigate while also offering features such as online quotes and live chatting with an expert. Other positive notes for Aetna include:
- Better Business Bureau (BBB) rating of A+
- Moody's financial rating of A2
- AM Best financial rating of A
Aetna falls short based on its customer complaint index from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). The company scored a 1.57 for its Medicare Supplement product, meaning its complaint performance was much worse than the average of 1.00 across the industry.
Frequently asked questions
Is Aetna supplemental insurance good?
A supplemental insurance plan from Aetna is a great choice for people that are looking for a cheap Medicare Supplement option. The company's policies are consistently the cheapest when compared with its main competitors.
Does Aetna pay the Medicare deductible?
Deductible coverage will vary depending on the Medicare Supplement plan that you decide to buy. Medicare Part A deductibles are fully covered by Plans B, D, G and N but only partly covered by other Supplement policies.
Why can I not buy Medicare Plan F?
Medicare Supplement Plan F is a Supplement plan that offers coverage for almost every gap that exists within Original Medicare. For this reason, it had extremely high enrollment rates. Due to these factors, the plan was banned from being sold starting in 2020, meaning that any new Medicare members could no longer get Plan F unless they were grandfathered in.
Sources and methodology
The above comparisons are based on plan coverage levels, policy details, third-party rankings and sample cost data for 2021. Price quotes for a female nonsmoker were studied based on age, location and company. Sources include Medicare.gov, AARP, UnitedHealthcare, Humana, Cigna, the Better Business Bureau, J.D. Power and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.
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Invitations for application for insurance may be made through QW Insurance Solutions, LLC ("QWIS"), a subsidiary of QuoteWizard.com, LLC ("QuoteWizard"), a LendingTree subsidiary, or through its designated agents, only where licensed and appointed. Licensing information for QWIS can be found here. QWIS is a non-government licensed health insurance agency. Not affiliated with or endorsed by any government agency.
Callers to QWIS will be directed to a licensed and certified representative of Medicare Supplement insurance and/or Medicare Advantage HMO, HMO SNP, PPO, PPO SNP and PFFS organizations. Calls to QWIS will be routed to a licensed agent who can provide you with further information about the insurance plans offered by one or more third-party partners of QWIS. Each of the organizations they represent has a Medicare contract. Enrollment in any plan depends on contract renewal.
Availability of benefits and plans varies by carrier and location and may be limited to certain times of the year unless you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period. QWIS does not offer every plan available in your area. Any information provided is limited to those plans offered in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options.
Deductibles, copays, coinsurance, limitations, and exclusions may apply.
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Editorial Note: The content of this article is based on the author’s opinions and recommendations alone. It has not been previewed, commissioned or otherwise endorsed by any of our network partners.