Medicare Supplements (Medigap)
Learn how Medigap can help cover costs not paid by Original Medicare.
Learn how Medigap can help cover costs not paid by Original Medicare.
Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) is extra insurance you can buy from a private insurance company to help pay your share of out-of-pocket costs in Original Medicare, like copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles.
Generally, you must have Original Medicare — Part A and Part B — to buy a Medigap policy. Medigap plans sold after 2005 don’t include prescription drug coverage. If you want prescription drug coverage, you can join a separate Medicare drug plan (Part D). If you have a Medigap policy and get care, Medicare will pay its share of the Medicare-approved amount for covered health care costs. In most Medigap policies, you agree to have the Medigap insurance company get your Part B claim information directly from Medicare.
Medigap plans generally help cover your share of costs for services that are covered by Original Medicare (Part A and Part B). Some Medigap policies cover services that Original Medicare doesn't cover, like emergency medical care when you travel outside the U.S. (foreign travel emergency care). Medigap policies are standardized, and in most states named by letters, like Plan G or Plan K. The benefits in each lettered plan are the same, no matter which insurance company sells it.
Price is the only difference between policies with the same letter sold by different companies. Your best time to buy a policy is during your Medigap Open Enrollment Period, which starts the first month you have Medicare Part B and you’re 65 or older. During this time, you can enroll in any Medigap policy and the insurance company can’t deny you coverage due to pre-existing health problems. After this period, you may not be able to buy a Medigap policy, or it may cost more.
A Medigap policy is different from a Medicare Advantage Plan (Part C). A Medicare Advantage Plan is another way to get your Medicare coverage besides Original Medicare. Every Medigap policy must follow federal and state laws designed to protect you. It’s important to watch out for illegal practices by insurance companies , and protect yourself when you’re shopping for a Medigap policy. Medigap doesn’t cover everything, such as long-term care, vision, dental, hearing aids, or private-duty nursing.