Aetna sometimes offers rates among the market’s lowest for certain Medigap plans, but its complaint rates are high.
Jul 24, 2024 Written by Alex Rosenberg Lead Writer Alex Rosenberg
Lead Writer | Medicare, health care, legislation
Alex Rosenberg is a NerdWallet writer focusing on Medicare and information technology. He has more than 10 years of experience researching and writing about health care, insurance, technology, data privacy and public policy. His research has supported lawmakers in the Wisconsin State Legislature as well as health systems and national health authorities in the U.S. and more than 10 other countries. He is based in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.
Assigning Editor Holly Carey
Assigning Editor | Medicare
Holly Carey joined NerdWallet in 2021 as an editor on the team responsible for expanding content to additional topics within personal finance. She currently leads the Medicare team. Previously, Holly wrote and edited content and developed digital media strategies as a public affairs officer for the U.S. Navy. She is based in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
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NerdWallet’s ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates pricing, complaint data, online quote availability, coverage options and more.
For certain plans and certain locations, Aetna offers some of the lowest Medicare Supplement Insurance premiums on the market. Premiums aren’t low across the board, though, and customers file complaints at rates significantly above the market average.
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GET A QUOTEWe will connect you with Medicare companies based on the information you provide. They will help you find a plan that suits your needs. If you prefer to speak to a licensed insurance agent right away, please call the number listed above.
Pros & ConsPlan types offered
Medigap plan types the company generally offers (availability may vary by location). Options include Plans A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L, M and N
A, B, C, D, F, G and N.
NAIC complaint rate
How often the company’s members file complaints about their policies as compared to the industry average, according to data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). NerdWallet conducts its data analysis and reaches conclusions independently and without the endorsement of the NAIC.
Far more than expected
Premium discounts available
Based on the number and size of a company’s available discounts on monthly premiums, in comparison to other insurance companies.
Plan types offered
Medigap plan types the company generally offers (availability may vary by location). Options include Plans A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L, M and N
A, B, C, D, F, G and N.
NAIC complaint rate
How often the company’s members file complaints about their policies as compared to the industry average, according to data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). NerdWallet conducts its data analysis and reaches conclusions independently and without the endorsement of the NAIC.
Far more than expected
Premium discounts available
Based on the number and size of a company’s available discounts on monthly premiums, in comparison to other insurance companies.
Aetna Medicare Supplement Insurance plans are widely available and come in a decent variety of plan types, but the monthly premiums are sometimes high, and the company gets a lot more member complaints than average. Aetna also scored low in 2024 on NerdWallet’s Medigap rubric.
Here’s what you should know about Aetna Medicare Supplement Insurance.
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NerdWallet’s Medicare content, including articles, reviews and recommendations, is produced by a team of writers and editors who specialize in Medicare. Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, Washington Post, Nasdaq, MSN, MarketWatch, Yahoo! Finance and other national and regional media outlets. They have been cited in publications including Healthline, and appeared on NerdWallet's "Smart Money" podcast.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account consumer complaint and customer satisfaction data.
Aetna Medicare Supplement Insurance earned 3 stars out of 5 for overall performance. NerdWallet’s ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account pricing, coverage options, online quote availability, complaint data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and more.
Aetna’s Medicare Supplement Insurance offerings have advantages and disadvantages.
Spending on member benefits: Aetna spends a greater portion of its income from premiums on benefits for members, compared to the average Medigap company.
Competitive prices, sometimes: Aetna offers some of the lowest rates for certain plans and locations.
Limited online options: Aetna doesn't offer online price quotes in a number of the states where it sells plans. In states where you can get online pricing, you still need to call to apply.
Member complaints: Aetna’s Medigap plans had complaint rates significantly higher than the industry average.
Aetna offers up to five Medicare Supplement Insurance plans for any Medicare member:
Medigap Plan A — the basic benefits included in every Medigap plan without any extras. Medigap Plan B — basic benefits plus coverage for the Medicare Part A deductible. Medigap Plan D — a mid-cost option that covers most Medigap benefits.Medigap Plan G — the highest-coverage option available to new Medicare members. Available as a high-deductible plan in some locations.
Medigap Plan N — a plan with lower premiums but higher copays.Medigap Plan C , Medigap Plan F and the high-deductible version of Plan F are also generally available for qualifying beneficiaries who were eligible to enroll in Medicare prior to 2020. Newer Medicare members can’t buy these plans from any company.
“Aetna isn’t one of the top Medigap companies I’d recommend in 2024. It scored 3 stars out of 5 on NerdWallet’s rubric, falling short especially on pricing and complaint rates. If you’re considering Aetna, it’s probably worth comparing a few other companies’ quotes, too.”
Note: Since Medigap plan options can vary by location, it’s a good idea to do your research, compare multiple quotes and consider working with a licensed insurance agent for more personalized recommendations.
— Alex Rosenberg , lead writer covering Medicare
Premiums for Aetna Medicare Supplement Insurance plans tend toward the higher side — but they’re competitive for certain plans and locations. Aetna’s Medigap Plan G premiums were about 48% higher than the least expensive option in the area, and Plan N premiums were about 34% higher.
How we evaluate Medigap companies’ pricesThe following price estimates were obtained for three metropolitan areas representing above-average, average and below-average costs for the most popular Medicare Supplement Insurance plans (Plan G and Plan N) [0]
NerdWallet analysis of American Association for Medicare Supplement Insurance data . Best Costs Medigap 2024 – Plan G. Accessed Feb 9, 2024.
Los Angeles: More expensive than average. Atlanta: Average cost for the U.S. Dallas: Less expensive than average.The sections below show pricing information from Aetna for a 65-year-old female nonsmoker as filed with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services [0]
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services . Find a Medigap Policy That Works For You. Accessed Jul 18, 2024.
. (Note: Some Medigap prices may be higher for males.)For comparison, each table also includes the price for the least-expensive option to buy the same plan from any company that filed prices. For example, Aetna’s price for Medigap Plan G in Los Angeles appears alongside the lowest price on Medicare.gov for all Plan G policies available in Los Angeles to an applicant with identical demographics.
Medicare.gov lowest price
Medicare.gov lowest price
Aetna charges a one-time policy fee for new enrollees in most states. The fee is typically $20, but it may be a little higher or lower depending on the state. There are a handful of states with no policy fee.
You can find the policy fee for your state under the rate tables in the “Outline of Coverage” documents for each state on Aetna’s website.
Aetna offers a household discount to qualifying Medicare Supplement Insurance applicants if a spouse, civil union partner or other adult with whom they have lived for at least 12 months also enrolls in or already has an Aetna Medigap plan. This discount for Aetna plans is typically 7% but varies by state.
Available discounts can vary according to factors such as your location, household status and how you apply for a policy.
Members file complaints about Aetna Medicare Supplement Insurance plans about 66% more often than the average for all Medigap plans, according to 2022 and 2023 data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners for Aetna and its subsidiaries that sell Medigap policies [0]
National Association of Insurance Commissioners . Company Complaint Index. Accessed Jul 18, 2024.NerdWallet conducts its data analysis and reaches conclusions independently and without the endorsement of the NAIC.
Aetna Medigap plans spent about 84.5% of premiums on member benefits, according to the most recent annual data [0]
. (The other 15.5% went to overhead expenses like administrative costs, marketing, salaries and commissions.) For comparison, the average for all companies is 80.4%.
Medicare Supplement Insurance companies must report data on the premiums they collect and how much they spend to provide benefits for members. The minimum required by law for individual Medigap policies is 60% [0]
Code of Federal Regulations . Title 42, Part 403, Section 215. Accessed Feb 9, 2024.
NerdWallet’s ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates pricing, complaint data, online quote availability, coverage options and more.
M-F 9am-9pm ET, Sa 10am-9pm ET Speak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.org GET A QUOTEWe will connect you with Medicare companies based on the information you provide. They will help you find a plan that suits your needs. If you prefer to speak to a licensed insurance agent right away, please call the number listed below.
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Speak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.org M-F 9am-9pm ET, Sa 10am-9pm ETMedigap plans have standardized Medicare benefits, but companies can offer additional perks.
Some Aetna plans include discounts on certain hearing and vision exams, hearing aids and batteries, eyewear, and other health and wellness products.
Aetna offers Medicare Supplement Insurance plans in 44 states and Washington, D.C. (Aetna doesn’t offer Medigap policies in Connecticut, Hawaii, Maine, Massachusetts, New York or Washington state.)
Aetna reports that it covers about 1.4 million Medicare Supplement Insurance beneficiaries. The company’s share of the total Medicare Supplement Insurance market as of the end of 2022 is about 7% [0]
National Association of Insurance Commissioners . 2022 Medicare Supplement Loss Ratios. Accessed Feb 9, 2024.
Here’s how Aetna Medigap members can contact customer service:
Call Aetna’s Medicare Supplement customer service line at 888-624-6290, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Central time, seven days a week. (TTY dial 711 and follow the prompts.)
Email Aetna through an email contact form .Get more information below about some of the major Medicare Supplement Insurance companies. These insurers offer Medigap plans in most states, but specifics may vary depending on your location.
Founded in 1853, Aetna became a subsidiary of CVS Health Corp. in 2018. The company’s headquarters are in Hartford, Connecticut.
Aetna’s health insurance offerings include medical, dental and pharmacy plans. Aetna offers individual and group health insurance, including Medicare Advantage plans, Medicare prescription drug plans and Medicare Supplement Insurance.
Read the NerdWallet reviews of these other Aetna Medicare offerings:
Because Medigap plans are standardized, you can get precisely the same Medicare benefits from any company offering the plan. So when you shop, keep these considerations in mind to find the best policy to fit your needs:
Is your preferred plan available? Health insurance companies don’t always sell every plan, so check who sells the plan you want to buy in your area.
What are the premiums? Prices for the same plan can vary between companies, so check to find the most competitive rates.
Will your premiums change over time? Most policies cost more as you age, but some companies offer policies that let you lock in a price when you sign up.
Are there extras? Medigap plans’ core benefits are standardized, but in certain cases, some companies include such perks as discount programs or gym memberships.
If you have additional questions about Medicare, visit Medicare.gov or call 800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227, TTY 877-486-2048).
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Alex is a NerdWallet writer focusing on Medicare and information technology. He has written about health, tech, and public policy for over 10 years. See full bio.
NerdWallet’s Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) ratings are based on pricing, discounts, plan types offered, complaint data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, consumer experience, additional perks and benefits, and more. To calculate each health insurance company's rating, we adjusted the scores to a curved 5-point scale, rounded to the nearest half star.
NerdWallet reviewed 13 Medicare Supplement Insurance companies based on highest enrollment and greatest online search volume. At the national level, our scored reviews include companies covering about two-thirds of all Medigap beneficiaries. At the state level, our research includes at least one of the two largest Medigap insurance companies in 48 of the 50 states, plus Washington, D.C.
These ratings are a guide, but we encourage you to shop around and compare several insurance quotes to find the best coverage and rate for you. NerdWallet does not receive compensation for any reviews. Read our editorial guidelines and full ratings methodology for Medicare Supplement Insurance.
We examined complaints received by state insurance regulators and reported to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. To assess how insurers compare to one another, the NAIC calculates a complaint index each year for each subsidiary, measuring its share of total complaints relative to its size, or share of total premiums in the industry. To evaluate a company’s complaint history, we calculated a similar index for each insurance company, weighted by market shares of each subsidiary. We score companies based on this index of how many complaints the company receives relative to its market share. NerdWallet conducts its data analysis and reaches conclusions independently and without the endorsement of the NAIC.
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