Medicare Supplement insurance plans, also called “Medigap plans”, help pay for out-of-pocket costs Original Medicare doesn’t pay, such as copayments, coinsurance and deductibles. Each insurance company decides which Medigap policies it wants to sell, although state laws can affect which ones they offer.

Let’s look at some important factors, including coverage and costs, to compare Medicare Supplement plans.

Medicare Supplement plans comparison chart

Here are 10 standardized Medicare Supplement plans and what they cover after Original Medicare pays its share:1

= the plan covers 100% of this benefit
X = the plan doesn’t cover that benefit
% = the plan covers that percentage of this benefit
N/A = not applicable
Medigap benefits Plan A Plan B Plan C Plan D Plan F* Plan G* Plan K Plan L Plan M Plan N Part A coinsurance and hospital costs up to an additional 365 days after Medicare benefits are used up Included Included Included Included Included Included Included Included Included Included Part B coinsurance or copayment Included Included Included Included Included Included 50% 75% Included Included*** Blood (first 3 pints) Included Included Included Included Included Included 50% 75% Included Included Part A hospice care coinsurance or copayment Included Included Included Included Included Included 50% 75% Included Included Skilled nursing facility care coinsurance X X Included Included Included Included 50% 75% Included Included Part A deductible X Included Included Included Included Included 50% 75% 50% Included Part B deductible X X Included X Included X X X X X Part B excess charge X X X X Included Included X X X X Foreign travel emergency (up to limit plans) X X 80% 80% 80% 80% X X 80% 80% Out of pocket limit** N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A $7,060 in 2024 $3,530 in 2024 N/A N/A
Key:
<core-icon family="nucleus" glyph="check-mark"></core-icon> = the plan covers 100% of this benefit
X = the plan doesn’t cover that benefit
% = the plan covers that percentage of this benefit
N/A = not applicable

* Plans F and G also offer a high-deductible plan in some states. With this option, you must pay for Medicare-covered costs (coinsurance, copayments, and deductibles) up to the deductible amount of $2,800 in 2024 before your policy pays anything. (Plans C and F aren't available to people who were newly eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020.)

** For Plans K and L, after you meet your out-of-pocket yearly limit and your yearly Part B deductible, the Medigap plan pays 100% of covered services for the rest of the calendar year.

*** Plan N pays 100% of the Part B coinsurance, except for a copayment of up to $20 for some office visits and up to a $50 copayment for emergency room visits that don't result in inpatient admission.

How much does Medigap cost?

Medicare Supplement plans are sold by private insurance companies, so prices, or premiums, can vary. There can be differences in the premiums that different insurance companies charge for exactly the same coverage.

Costs that you pay with any Medigap plan include:

  • Monthly Medigap plan premium
  • Medicare Parts A and B premiums if required
  • Medicare deductibles, copayments and coinsurance if not covered by the Medigap plan (based on the plan you choose)

When can you buy a Medicare Supplement plan?

You can apply for a Medicare Supplement plan any time. However, the best time to buy a Medigap plan is during your 6-month Medicare Supplement Open Enrollment Period.

Your Medicare Supplement Open Enrollment Period starts the first month you have Part B and you're age 65 or older. The big advantage is you can buy any Medicare Supplement plan sold in your state without medical underwriting. So even if you have health problems, you can buy any Medicare Supplement plan for the same price as people with good health during this time period.

Some states have additional Open Enrollment Periods including those for people under age 65.

How to choose the best Medicare Supplement plan for you

Everyone has unique healthcare needs. When choosing between Medigap plans, ask yourself questions like:

  • How much Medicare Supplement coverage do I need?
  • How much is the monthly Medicare Supplement premium?
  • How long is the waiting period before my Medicare Supplement coverage begins?
  • What are the out-of-pocket Medicare Supplement costs?
  • Will I be covered outside of the United States?

For more help, read these tips on how to pick the best Medicare Supplement insurance plan for you.

Source

  1. “How to compare Medigap policies,” Medicare.gov, last accessed September 09, 2023, https://www.medicare.gov/supplements-other-insurance/how-to-compare-medigap-policies.

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