- Plan E is a Medicare supplement (Medigap) plan that has not been available to new Medicare subscribers since 2009.
- Unless you had Plan E before January 1, 2010, you may not purchase it, but if you have Plan E, you can keep it.
- Since so few people have Plan E, it may be more expensive than other similar Medigap plans.
Medicare is a government health insurance option for individuals age 65 and older, as well as those with certain chronic conditions. Medicare itself is made up of different “parts” – A, B, C, or D – and can be supplemented with different “plans” that offer additional coverage.
Medigap Plan E, also known as Medicare Supplement Plan E, is an original Medicare add-on that helps cover your Medicare costs. Medicare Plan E was no longer offered to new Medicare beneficiaries as of 2010, but those who were previously enrolled are still able to keep their plan.
In this article, we’ll discuss what Medigap Plan E is, what is covers, and what to do if you are already enrolled in this plan going into 2021.
There are 10 Medigap plans that are currently offered in the marketplace: A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L, M, and N. Medicare Supplement Plan E is a previously offered Medigap plan that covered some Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B costs, plus blood transfusions, preventive services, and care needed during foreign travel.
In
In 2008, the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act was enacted. This legislation made multiple improvements to Medicare, including some that greatly impacted Medigap offerings. Through this legislation, Medigap plans E, H, I, and J were all eliminated due to the Medicare changes.
As of June 1, 2010, no new Medicare enrollees were eligible to enroll in Medigap Plan E. However, anyone who was enrolled in Medigap Plan E before it was discontinued in 2010 may be eligible to keep their plan and their plan benefits.
If you became eligible for Medicare after June 2010, there are a few current options that are similar to Plan J. Because Plan J was a very comprehensive plan, the two most similar plans offered today include Plan D and Plan G.
Medigap Plan E covers the following Medicare costs:
- Part A coinsurance and hospital costs
- Part A skilled nursing facility care coinsurance
- Part A deductible
- Part B coinsurance or copayments
- blood transfusions (up to 3 pints)
- preventive care benefit (no longer included in newer plans)
- foreign travel medical costs
Medigap Plan E does not cover theseMedicare costs:
- Part B deductible
- Part B excess charges
Since all Medigap plans are standardized, any insurance companies that still have beneficiaries enrolled in Medigap Plan E must continue to offer the original plan coverage.
Since Medicare Supplement Plan E is no longer for sale, it’s difficult to say exactly how much a company might charge for the plan.
However, past research of annual Medigap price changes found that Plan E experienced a
Given that there have been no new enrollees in this Medigap plan since 2010, it has a smaller pool of beneficiaries, and that means you may be paying a higher premium than for other Medigap plans. Therefore, if you are enrolled in Medigap Plan E, you may pay less if you switch to a different coverage option with more enrollees.
After almost a decade of Medicare reforms, Medigap Plan E was discontinued after it became redundant and unnecessary.
This means that if you are still enrolled in this Medicare Supplement plan, you may get better coverage if you switch to a current Medigap plan instead. Similar plans offered today include Plan D and Plan G.
If you are looking for another way to add on coverage, you might consider a Medicare Advantage (Part C) plan.
Medicare Advantage
If you’d prefer to switch from original Medicare altogether, a Medicare Advantage plan is another option.Advantage plans cover all your original Medicare parts, and many also include prescription drug, dental, vision, and hearing coverage as well.
If you would like to compare more of the current Medigap and Medicare Advantage offerings, Medicare’s find a plan tool can help. You can use this website to search for and compare plans and policies in your area.
- Medicare Supplement Plan E is a former Medigap plan was that taken off the market in 2010.
- Medigap Plan E helps cover your basic Medicare expenses, including some Part A and Part B costs, blood transfusions, and foreign travel medical costs.
- Medigap Plan E is no longer available to new Medicare beneficiaries but if you already have the plan, you can continue to use the benefits available to you.