Illinois
UNDERWRITING/RATES
15This information applies for plan effective dates of April 1, 2013 - December 1, 2013
Underwriting Information
• Who needs to be underwritten? Applicants
outside of their open enrollment period and who do
not qualify for guaranteed issue are underwritten to
determine eligibility and rate (depending on the time
since their 65th birthday or Medicare Part B effective
date, if later).
• Does underwriting vary for different AARP
Medicare Supplement Plans? No.
• Can applicants be denied for coverage? If
applicants need to be underwritten, the only medical
reasons for denial are:
– End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD)
– Dialysis is required
– Applicants have been admitted to a hospital within
the past 90 days
– Within the past two years a medical professional has
recommended or discussed as a treatment option
any of the following that has not been completed:
• Hospital admittance as an inpatient
• Organ transplant
• Back or spine surgery
• Joint replacement
• Surgery for cancer
• Heart surgery
• Vascular surgery
The above medical reasons can be found on Section 5
of the application. If applicants answer “yes” to either
question in Section 5, they will be denied coverage.
Everyone has the right to apply. Applicants can continue
the application process even if they may not qualify.
• If an applicant was in the hospital overnight for
“observation,” is this considered “inpatient”? The
applicant should contact the hospital and ask if they
were admitted as an inpatient.
• If a doctor recommended or discussed one
of the surgeries listed on the application and
the surgery hasn’t been completed, does it
matter where the surgery will be done? No. The
application does not ask where the surgery will be
done. If a doctor recommended or discussed one of
the surgeries in the two years prior to applying, the
applicant is ineligible for coverage.
• When do applicants need to complete other
medical questions in Section 6 of the
application? If their effective date is 3 or more years
since their 65th birthday (or Medicare Part B effective
date, if it is later) and they do not qualify for guaranteed
issue, applicants must complete the other medical
questions on the application. This information is necessary
to determine their rate.
• What about the applicant’s health history more
than two years ago? The application asks if the
applicant had, was diagnosed or treated for the medical
conditions listed during the past two years only.
• What if additional medical information is
needed? The underwriter may contact applicants or their
physician to clarify the information before reaching a
decision.
• What if the applicant’s medical condition isn’t
listed on the application? A limited number of
medical conditions (not all medical conditions) are
listed on the application. Only medical conditions
listed on the application are used to determine the
applicant’s rate. If the applicant is unsure if their
condition relates to a condition on the application,
they should check with their doctor.
• What if applicants are unsure about their
medical conditions? If applicants are unsure about
their medical conditions, their uncertainty should be noted
on the application and submitted to underwriting for review
along with available information.
Note that Appendix I includes a glossary with short
definitions of the medical conditions listed on the
application. This may assist you if applicants are
unsure about a listed medical condition.
• Can an insured applicant change to a different
AARP Medicare Supplement Plan?
– A change from an AARP Medicare Supplement Plan
with an effective date of 6/1/2010 and later to
another is usually permitted without underwriting.
The new plan must be available at the applicant’s
current age and area of residence.
– A change from an AARP Medicare Supplement
Plan with an effective date of 5/1/2010 or prior
will require new rating and underwriting (same
requirements as new sales).
UnitedHealthcare reserves the right to deny a plan
change request at any time. If applicants are denied
a plan change request, they can remain with their
current plan, with no effect to their current rates.
Please ensure that the application has been completed in full. Material mistakes or incomplete
responses on applications may subject applicants to re-evaluation of their rate or loss of coverage.