Medicare Supplement plans, also known as Medigap policies, are additions to Medicare to make sure that you don’t have to pay thousands of dollars for medical bills out of pocket. There are ten standardized Medicare Supplements: A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L, M, and N. If you’re new to Medicare and are concerned about differentiating between ten plans, don’t be. We’ll make it simple for you. Let’s go over all of the plans below and give you some tips on which plans are right for you!
Medigap Policies Overview
As stated above, there are ten standardized Medicare Supplement plans. This means that while many insurance companies can offer Medicare Supplement plans, they will essentially all be identical to one of the 10 plans. Not all companies offer all plans. Each plan is slightly different from the others. Look at the chart below to see how the plans compare. Read from top to bottom, and compare coverage.
As you can see, all plans offer basic benefits. Basic benefits include Part A coinsurance and hospital costs up to an additional 365 days after Medicare benefits are gone, Part B coinsurance or copayment, Part A hospice care coinsurance or copayment, and the first 3 pints of blood.
Picking a Supplement Plan
Because not all of the plans cover everything, some are more worthwhile than others. The best plans for you are the ones that give the most coverage with the best financial stability, meaning the lowest out of pocket. Most seniors go for Plan N, Plan F, or Plan G.
Plan N
This plan covers many things including health costs during foreign travel. However, it doesn’t cover excess costs, which is why many seniors turn to Plan F and G.
Plans F & G
These two plans are the most popular because of the extensive coverage they offer. As of Jan 1, 2020, Plan F is not available to anyone who is newly eligible for Medicare as of that date. However, if you were eligible for Medicare with Part A prior to that date, you are still able to get Plan F.
The only other difference between Plan F and Plan G is the deductible. Part F does not expect you to pay the deductible for Part B but Plan G does. The deductible in 2023 is $226. This means that you must satisfy $226 before your plan starts paying your excess costs.
Peace of Mind
Medicare Supplements offer peace of mind. You have a monthly premium, are responsible for the $226 annual deductible, and otherwise have no out-of-pocket costs! You can go to any hospital or doctor that accepts Medicare and they will automatically accept your supplement plan. Contact us about getting a Medigap policy today!
