A proposed class action filed in February 2026 accuses AARP and UnitedHealthcare of routinely denying valid claims under AARP-branded Medicare Supplement insurance plans by enforcing a rule that isn’t in the policy. The AARP UnitedHealthcare Medigap denial lawsuit, Sacchi v. AARP, et al., was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey and alleges that UnitedHealthcare tells policyholders their care isn’t covered because their provider doesn’t “participate in” or “accept” Medicare — a condition the complaint says appears nowhere in the Certificate of Insurance that governs the plan.1ClassAction.org. Class Action Lawsuit Says AARP, UnitedHealthcare Fraudulently Deny Medicare Supplement Claims The suit claims violations of the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act and breach of contract, and seeks to represent policyholders nationwide going back to 2014.2Top Class Actions. AARP UnitedHealthcare Class Action Alleges Wrongful Medicare Supplement Claim Denials
What the Lawsuit Says the Insurer Is Doing
The central allegation is that UnitedHealthcare denies reimbursement for medically necessary care by telling policyholders their doctor doesn’t participate in Medicare, even though the policy itself contains no such requirement. The complaint calls this a “phantom, non-existent” condition and says the Certificate of Insurance — the binding contract between the insured and the insurer — imposes no participation rule on providers.1ClassAction.org. Class Action Lawsuit Says AARP, UnitedHealthcare Fraudulently Deny Medicare Supplement Claims
AARP’s own marketing, the suit says, tells members they can “see any doctor without getting a referral” and have their treatment covered. The complaint alleges UnitedHealthcare “misquoted” policy language to justify denials, and that after the plaintiff’s individual state-court case was filed in 2025, AARP began sending policyholders notices about a Medicare participation requirement without ever amending the Certificates of Insurance to add one. The lawsuit treats that as an implicit admission the requirement wasn’t part of the contract.1ClassAction.org. Class Action Lawsuit Says AARP, UnitedHealthcare Fraudulently Deny Medicare Supplement Claims
Damages are estimated at more than $5 million, with the suit also seeking penalties of up to $30,000 per violation under New Jersey law for conduct targeting vulnerable Medicare consumers.3Becker’s Payer. UnitedHealthcare Hit With Lawsuit Over Alleged Medigap Denials The complaint also argues AARP is complicit because it continues to endorse the plans and collect royalty payments from UnitedHealthcare while, the suit alleges, knowing valid claims are being denied.
Who Could Be Part of the Class
The lawsuit seeks certification of a class of anyone who, at any point since 2014, held an AARP Medicare Supplement plan issued by UnitedHealthcare and had one or more claims denied on the grounds that the provider did not participate in or accept Medicare.1ClassAction.org. Class Action Lawsuit Says AARP, UnitedHealthcare Fraudulently Deny Medicare Supplement Claims
There is a geographic condition. To qualify, a class member must meet one of the following:
- Reside in New Jersey, or
- Have been in New Jersey when buying or renewing an AARP membership or UnitedHealthcare policy, or
- Have received the denied medical care in New Jersey.1ClassAction.org. Class Action Lawsuit Says AARP, UnitedHealthcare Fraudulently Deny Medicare Supplement Claims
Although the complaint describes the class as nationwide, the New Jersey connection is required for each member because the case rests on New Jersey’s Consumer Fraud Act. Policyholders whose plans, purchases, and care all took place in other states aren’t described as covered by the proposed class as drafted.
No class has been certified. Certification is a decision the court still has to make, and until it does, no one is formally a class member and no benefits are available.
The Plaintiff’s Story
The named plaintiff is John Sacchi, a senior citizen and stroke survivor from New Jersey. According to the complaint, Sacchi underwent medically necessary Mohs surgery and corrective eyelid surgery in 2024. His AARP Medicare Supplement plan denied reimbursement, leaving him with close to $8,000 in out-of-pocket costs, even though an AARP customer service representative had told him beforehand that the procedures would be covered.1ClassAction.org. Class Action Lawsuit Says AARP, UnitedHealthcare Fraudulently Deny Medicare Supplement Claims
Sacchi first sued individually in New Jersey state court in 2025. That case was dismissed without prejudice by agreement of the parties so he could refile in federal court as a class action.4ClassAction.org. Sacchi v. AARP, et al. Complaint He is represented by Stephen J. Simoni of Simoni Consumers Class Action Law Offices.2Top Class Actions. AARP UnitedHealthcare Class Action Alleges Wrongful Medicare Supplement Claim Denials
How AARP and UnitedHealthcare Are Positioned
AARP Medicare Supplement plans are sold only to AARP members. UnitedHealthcare is the insurer and carries the financial responsibility for the coverage. AARP licenses its name and endorsement to UnitedHealthcare in exchange for royalty payments, an arrangement managed through AARP Services Inc., a wholly owned AARP subsidiary. The partnership dates to 1997.5UnitedHealthcare. Important Disclosures6SEC. AARP and UnitedHealthcare Agreement Filing
AARP spokesperson Sarah Lovenheim has said AARP Services Inc. operates separately from AARP’s policymaking arm and reviews all Medicare products carrying the AARP name for quality and value.7Axios. UnitedHealth AARP Health Coverage Medicare UnitedHealth issued a statement in March 2026 calling the lawsuit “meritless” and describing it as seeking “payment for noncovered services.”3Becker’s Payer. UnitedHealthcare Hit With Lawsuit Over Alleged Medigap Denials
Where the Case Stands
As of mid-2026, Sacchi v. AARP, et al., Case No. 3:26-cv-01755, is pending in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey. The court has not certified a class, has not ruled on the merits of any allegation, and has not approved any settlement.3Becker’s Payer. UnitedHealthcare Hit With Lawsuit Over Alleged Medigap Denials
There is no claims process. Policyholders who believe they were denied Medigap coverage because a provider was said not to accept Medicare cannot currently file a claim through this lawsuit, and no notice period, deadline, or payout amount exists. If a class is later certified, notice would typically be sent to identified class members with instructions at that point. Until then, affected policyholders who want to preserve their own options generally keep denial letters, Explanations of Benefits, provider bills showing what was paid out of pocket, and any written or recorded statements from AARP or UnitedHealthcare about coverage. Anyone considering their own legal claim would want to speak with a lawyer about deadlines, since statutes of limitation run independently of a pending class action’s status.