at a glance
- Tufts offers Medigap plans in the state of Massachusetts.
- If you were eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020, you can buy Plan 1 and have coverage for the Part B deductible.
- Plans 1a and Core are available to all Massachusetts Medicare beneficiaries.
- You can add optional dental coverage to any Tufts plan.
Tufts Health Plan was founded in Massachusetts in 1979. Today the company has grown to offer Medicare Advantage and Medicare supplement plans in many areas of Massachusetts.
Tufts offers the three Medigap plans available in Massachusetts: Plan 1, Plan 1a, and Core.
Tufts Medicare supplement plans, also known as Medigap plans, offer coverage for some of the costs that normally fall to you when you use Medicare. These costs usually include:
- deductibles
- coinsurance
- copayments
Tuft’s plans follow the Medigap rules that apply in Massachusetts.
In Massachusetts, all plans must cover what the state calls “basic benefits.” These include:
- Part A coinsurance costs for hospital and hospice care
- Part B coinsurance costs
- an additional 365 days of hospital care after your Part A benefits have been used
- first three pints of blood you need in any year
All Tufts Medigap plans also offer inpatient mental health coverage. Depending on your plan, you might also have coverage for costs including:
- Part A deductible
- Part B deductible
- skilled nursing facility coinsurance
- foreign travel emergencies
- testing, such as pap smears and mammograms
Coverage for the Medicare Part B deductible is available only with Plan 1.
You can purchase Plan 1 only if you became eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020. If you became eligible for Medicare more recently, you won’t be able to purchase Plan 1. You’ll need to select from the Core Plan or Plan 1a.
The chart below provides a comparison of what each Tufts plan covers:
| Plan 1 | Plan 1a | Core Plan | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic benefits | yes | yes | yes |
| Part A hospital deductible | yes | yes | no |
| Part A skilled nursing facility coinsurance | yes | yes | no |
| Part B deductible | yes | no | no |
| Inpatient mental health stays | 120 days | 120 days | 60 days |
| Foreign travel emergencies | yes | yes | no |
| Pap smears, mammograms, and other testing | yes | yes | no |
Tufts Medigap plan extra benefits
Tufts Medigap plans also offer additional benefits to members. The following extras are available with all plans:
- a $150 wellness allowance for gym memberships and wellness spending
- discounted premium during your first 3 years of membership if you enroll within 6 months of being eligible for Medicare
- optional dental benefits plan for an upcharge to your monthly premium
Members who join Plan 1 or Plan 1a may also receive a $100 eyewear benefit each year.
The coverage for each Tufts plan is slightly different. The right plan for you will depend on your budget and your healthcare needs.
These are the plans offered:
- Tufts Medicare Preferred Supplement Plan 1A. Plan 1a offers coverage for most Medicare costs, except the Part B deductible. It’s a good option if you want comprehensive coverage but aren’t eligible to buy Plan 1.
- Tufts Medicare Preferred Supplement Plan 1. Plan 1 includes coverage for the Medicare Part B deductible and for most other out-of-pocket costs. It is only available to people who were eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020.
- Tufts Medicare Preferred Supplement Core Plan. The Core Plan provides coverage for some of the everyday costs of Medicare, such as Part B coinsurance. You will pay Part A and Part B deductibles with this plan.
Unlike many other Medigap plans, Tufts plans cost the same amount no matter your age or where in Massachusetts you live.
Massachusetts also has a guaranteed issue rule for Medigap plans. This means you can’t be turned down for a Tufts Medigap plan.
The cost for each plan is listed in the table below:
| Plan | Monthly premium |
|---|---|
| Tufts Medicare Preferred Supplement Plan 1A | $195.50 |
| Tufts Medicare Preferred Supplement Plan 1 | $228.50 |
| Tufts Medicare Preferred Supplement Core Plan | $129 |
Tufts members can also add dental coverage onto any plan for an additional $48 per month.
Medigap is coverage meant to supplement original Medicare coverage. Original Medicare includes Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) and Medicare Part B (medical insurance).
When you use original Medicare, you’re responsible for a handful of costs. These include:
- copayments
- coinsurance amounts,
- deductibles
When you use a Medigap plan, you won’t have to worry about those costs.
You’ll pay an additional monthly premium for your Medigap plan, but you won’t pay as many out-of-pocket costs when you need care.
In most of the county, there are 10 separate Medigap plans. Massachusetts is one of three states, along with Wisconsin and Minnesota, that have their own Medigap plans and rules.
There are three Medigap plans offered in Massachusetts. All companies that sell plans in Massachusetts follow the same rules and standards. So, the Massachusetts Medigap Core Plan covers the same costs, no matter what company you buy it from.
Medigap plans don’t offer coverage for prescription drugs. You’ll need a Part D plan if you want prescription coverage.
If you’re not sure a Medigap plan is right for you, Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans are another option. You can’t use a Medigap plan and Medicare Advantage plan together, however.
You can check out available plan options near you on the Medicare website.
Tufts Medigap plans are offered throughout the state of Massachusetts. Tufts offers Plan 1, Plan 1a, and Core Plan.
If you became eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020, you can purchase any of the three plans. If you became eligible for Medicare after January 1, 2020, you can select from Plan 1a or the Core Plan.
Tufts members can receive extras such as a wellness allowance and have the option to add dental coverage to their plan.