A Medicare Supplement Insurance policy (also called a Medigap policy) is health insurance sold by insurance companies to fill gaps in your Original Medicare coverage.
Medigap policies are used to help assist you in paying for your co payments, or deductibles of Medicare covered services
Medicare Supplement Insurance companIes can only sell you a “standardized” Medigap policy identified by letters A, B, C, D, F, High-Deductible F, G, K, L, M and N.
Since a Medicare Supplement Insurance company can only sell you a “standardized” Medigap policy each policy must offer the same basic benefits, no matter which insurance company provides the insurance.
The Medicare Open Enrollment Period is the six month period beginning on the first day of the month in which you are enrolled in Medicare Part B. If you are on Medicare under age 65, you will also have a six month Open Enrollment Period when you reach age 65. This is the best time to purchase a Medicare supplement because an insurance company cannot turn you down and or charge more due to a health problem. Insurance companies can apply up to a six-month waiting period for pre-existing conditions to your medigap policy, but that can be eliminated or shorten if you have had prior credible coverage. A pre-existing condition is a condition for which medical advice was given or treatment was recommended by or received from a physician within six months before the effective date of coverage.
How to read the Medigap chart below: If a check mark appears in the column, this means that the Medigap policy covers that benefit up to 100%. If a column lists a percentage, this means the Medigap policy covers that benefit at that percentage rate. If no percentage appears or if the column is blank, this means the Medigap policy doesn’t cover that benefit. Note:The coverage of coinsurance only begins after the deductible has been satisfied.
Plan F also offers a high-deductible plan in some states. If you choose this option, this means you must pay for Medicare-covered costs (coinsurance, copayments, and deductibles) up to the deductible amount of $2,180 in 2015 before your policy pays anything.
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 an inpatient admission.
