Medicare Supplemental Insurance Plans
Medicare supplemental insurance plans are privately sold insurance policies that have been standardized by the Federal government and designed to fill in the gaps left by standard Medicare coverage. These policies are commonly called Medigap plans. There are currently 12 Medigap plans offered for sale and these are named for the letters of the alphabet A through L.
As you look through the list, it is important to understand that, even though many different companies may sell a Medigap plan D, all Medigap plan Ds offer the exact same set of benefits. This is true for all A plans, B plans and so on through plan L. Note that this does not mean that they are all sold at the same price, however!
Basic Benefits Included in All Medigap Plans
Additionally, all Medigap plans must cover the cost of the first three pints of blood under its basic benefits.
While all medicare supplemental plans cover the above basic benefits, all but plan A offer additional benefits as outlined below.
Medigap Plan A
Medigap plan A only covers those basic benefits listed above.
Medigap Plan B
Medigap Plan C
o 80% of the cost of emergency care outside the U.S.
o Up to $50,000 during your lifetime
o You pay a yearly deductible of $250
Medigap Plan D
o 80% of the cost of emergency care outside the U.S.
o Up to $50,000 during your lifetime
o You pay a yearly deductible of $250
o Help for activities of daily living (bathing, dressing) if you are already receiving skilled home care covered by Medicare
o Help for up to eight weeks after you no longer need skilled care
o Up to $40 per visit, seven visits per week, or a total of $1,900 per year
Medigap Plan E
o 80% of the cost of emergency care outside the U.S.
o Up to $50,000 during your lifetime
o You pay a yearly deductible of $250
Medigap Plan F*
o 80% of the cost of emergency care outside the U.S.
o Up to $50,000 during your lifetime
o You pay a yearly deductible of $250
Medigap Plan G
o 80% of the cost of emergency care outside the U.S.
o Up to $50,000 during your lifetime
o You pay a yearly deductible of $250
o Help for activities of daily living (bathing, dressing) if you are already receiving skilled home care covered by Medicare
o Help for up to eight weeks after you no longer need skilled care
o Up to $40 per visit, seven visits per week, or a total of $1,900 per year
Medigap Plan H
o 80% of the cost of emergency care outside the U.S.
o Up to $50,000 during your lifetime
o You pay a yearly deductible of $250
Medigap Plan I
o 80% of the cost of emergency care outside the U.S.
o Up to $50,000 during your lifetime
o You pay a yearly deductible of $250
o Help for activities of daily living (bathing, dressing) if you are already receiving skilled home care covered by Medicare
o Help for up to eight weeks after you no longer need skilled care
o Up to $40 per visit, seven visits per week, or a total of $1,900 per year
Medigap Plan J*
o 80% of the cost of emergency care outside the U.S.
o Up to $50,000 during your lifetime
o You pay a yearly deductible of $250
o Help for activities of daily living (bathing, dressing) if you are already receiving skilled home care covered by Medicare
o Help for up to eight weeks after you no longer need skilled care
o Up to $40 per visit, seven visits per week, or a total of $1,900 per year
Medigap Plan K**
Medigap Plan L**
*Plans F and J also have a “high deductible option.” If you choose the “high deductible option” on Medigap Plans F and J, you will first have to pay a $1,900 deductible (2008) before the plan pays anything. This amount can go up every year. High deductible policies do have lower premiums, but if you get sick, your costs will be higher.
**The basic benefits for plans K and L include similar services as plans A-J, but the cost-sharing for the basic benefits is at different levels. The annual out-of-pocket limit increases each year for inflation.
In addition to the A-L standard Medigap policies, Medicare SELECT is a type of Medigap policy that can cost less than standard Medigap plans. However, you can only go to certain doctors and hospitals for your care. Check with your state insurance department to find out if Medicare SELECT policies are available in your state. Click here if you want to learn more or to sign up for Medigap Policies.
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