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A Medicare Supplement policy is health insurance sold by private health insurance companies, it is designed to fill in the "gaps" between what the original Medicare plans cover and what the beneficiary is responsible for paying, such as co-payments, coinsurance and deductibles. Every Medigap policy is identified by letters A through N, and they must offer the same basic benefits, no matter which insurance company is selling it. Cost is usually the only difference between insurance companies. Medigap policies are standardized in most states, expect Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, Medigap policies are standardized in different ways. Medicare Supplement insurance is not the same thing as a Medicare Advantage Plan and it is not funded at all by Medicare.


As stated above, Medigap policies fill in the "gaps" of a Medicare supplement policy, below are some examples of what this type of insurance will cover.

  • -Medicare Part A and Part B Coninsurance
  • -Hospice care and skilled nursing facility coinsurance
  • -Blood
  • -Medicare Part A and Part B deductibles
  • -Part B excess charge
  • -Foreign travel emergency
  • -Medicare preventive care Part B Coinsurance

Medicare supplement insurance does not cover the following:

  • -Long-term care
  • -Vision and dental care
  • -Hearing aides
  • -Eyeglasses
  • -Private-duty nursing

Some things to keep in mind if you want to buy a Medigap Policy:

  • -You must have Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B to purchase a Medigap Policy
  • -Some Plans are no longer available, such as Plans E, H, I, and J
  • -Medigap policies only cover one person, couples will have to purchase two separate policies
  • -You can purchase a Medicare supplement policy from any licensed insurance company in your state that sells them
  • -Medicare supplement policies are guaranteed renewable even if you have health problems.
  • -Medigap policies no longer include prescription drug coverage (see Medicare Part D for prescription drug coverage information)
  • -The best time to purchase a Medicare supplement policy is during open enrollment. This is the period that begins the first day of the month in which you are both 65 and --older and enrolled in Medicare Part B, this period lasts for 6 months. During this period the insurance companies cannot use medical underwriting.

A Medicare Supplement policy is health insurance sold by private health insurance companies, it is designed to fill in the "gaps" between what the original Medicare plans cover and what the beneficiary is responsible for paying, such as co-payments, coinsurance and deductibles. Every Medigap policy is identified by letters A through N, and they must offer the same basic benefits, no matter which insurance company is selling it. Cost is usually the only difference between insurance companies. Medigap policies are standardized in most states, expect Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, Medigap policies are standardized in different ways. Medicare Supplement insurance is not the same thing as a Medicare Advantage Plan and it is not funded at all by Medicare.

As stated above, Medigap policies fill in the "gaps" of a Medicare supplement policy, below are some examples of what this type of insurance will cover.

  • -Medicare Part A and Part B Coninsurance
  • -Hospice care and skilled nursing facility coinsurance
  • -Blood
  • -Medicare Part A and Part B deductibles
  • -Part B excess charge
  • -Foreign travel emergency
  • -Medicare preventive care Part B Coinsurance

Medicare supplement insurance does not cover the following:

  • -Long-term care
  • -Vision and dental care
  • -Hearing aides
  • -Eyeglasses
  • -Private-duty nursing

Some things to keep in mind if you want to buy a Medigap Policy:

  • -You must have Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B to purchase a Medigap Policy
  • -Some Plans are no longer available, such as Plans E, H, I, and J
  • -Medigap policies only cover one person, couples will have to purchase two separate policies
  • -You can purchase a Medicare supplement policy from any licensed insurance company in your state that sells them
  • -Medicare supplement policies are guaranteed renewable even if you have health problems.
  • -Medigap policies no longer include prescription drug coverage (see Medicare Part D for prescription drug coverage information)
  • -The best time to purchase a Medicare supplement policy is during open enrollment. This is the period that begins the first day of the month in which you are both 65 and --older and enrolled in Medicare Part B, this period lasts for 6 months. During this period the insurance companies cannot use medical underwriting.
Medicare Supplement Benefits
A
B
C
D
F*
G
K
L
M
N

Medicare Part A Coinsurance hospital costs up to an additional 365 days after Medicare benefits are used up
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X

Medicare Part B Coinsurance or Copayment
X
X
X
X
X
X
50%
75%
X
X***
Blood (First 3 pints)
X
X
X
X
X
X
50%
75%
X
X
Part A Hospice Care Coinsurance or Copayments
X
X
X
X
X
X
50%
75%
X
X
Skilled Nursing Facility Care Coinsurance
X
X
X
X
50%
75%
X
X
Medicare Part A Deductible
X
X
X
X
X
50%
75%
50%
X
Medicare Part B Deductible
X
X
Medicare Part B Excess Charge
X
X
Foreign Travel Emergency (Up to Plan Limits)
80%
80%
80%
80%
80%
80%
Out of Pocket Limit**
 $5,560 $2,780

 

*Plan F also offers a high-deductible plan. If you choose this option, this means you must pay for Medicare-covered costs up to the deductible amount of $2,300 before your Medigap plan pays anything.

**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.

Medicare Supplement (Medigap) Plan Comparison Chart

Medicare PLanning

Medicare supplement insurance/medigap

The 10 different Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plans available in most states have standardized benefits across each plan letter. If you live in Massachusetts, Minnesota, or Wisconsin, the Medigap plans in these states are standardized differently.


How to read the chart below - If an X appears the column of the chart below then the Medigap policy will cover 100% of the described benefit. If the column lists a percentage, then the policy will cover that % of the described benefit. If the column is blank, then the policy doesn't cover that benefit. Keep in mind that the Medigap policy covers coinsurance only after you have paid the deductible (unless the Medigap policy also covers the deductible).