If you’ve recently signed up for Medicare, you may have heard of Medigap and are wondering what it is. Medigap policies are designed to help cover some of the out-of-pocket costs associated with your Medicare plan.
There are multiple types of Medigap policies to choose from, so it’s important to do your research and find a plan that fits your medical and financial needs.
In this article, we’ll explain more about how Medigap works, how much you’ll pay for different plans, and when you can enroll.
Medigap is Medicare supplemental insurance sold by private companies to help cover original Medicare costs, such as deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance.
In some cases, Medigap will also cover emergency medical fees when you’re traveling outside the United States. A Medigap policy only pays out after both you and Medicare have paid your share of costs for medical services.
There are 10 Medigap plans available: A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L, M, and N.
Some Medigap plans no longer for sale to new Medicare enrollees. These include plans C, F, E, H, I, and J. However, if you already have one of these plans, you can keep it. If you were eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020, you can still buy Plan C or Plan F.
Most of these Medigap plans differ in what types of copayment, coinsurance, or other medical fees they will cover.
All Medigap plans cover at least some portion, if notall, of:
- Medicare Part A coinsurance and hospital fees
- Medicare Part A hospice coinsurance or copayment costs
- Medicare Part B coinsurance or copayment costs
- blood transfusion costs, up to the first 3 pints
In addition, some Medigap plans also cover:
- skilled nursing facility costs
- Medicare Part A deductible
- Medicare Part B deductible
- Medicare Part B excess charges
- emergency medical costs during foreign travel
The table below shows the Medigap policies being offered in 2021 and they cover:
| Plan A | Plan B | Plan C | Plan D | Plan F | Plan G | Plan K | Plan L | Plan M | Plan N | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part A deductible | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | 50% | 75% | 50% | yes |
| Part A coinsurance and hospital costs | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Part A hospice coinsurance or copayments | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | 50% | 75% | yes | yes |
| Part B deductible | no | no | yes | no | yes | no | no | no | no | no |
| Part B coinsurance or copayment | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | 50% | 75% | yes | yes |
| Part B excess charges | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | no | no | no | no |
| blood transfusion (up to 3 pints) | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | 50% | 75% | yes | yes |
| skilled nursing facility coinsurance | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | 50% | 75% | yes | yes |
| foreign travel medical costs | no | no | 80% | 80% | 80% | 80% | no | no | 80% | 80% |
| out-of-pocket limit | no | no | no | no | no | no | $6,220 | $3,110 | no | no |
Please note that Medigap is not the same as Medicare Advantage. Medicare Advantage plans offer coverage in addition to what original Medicare offers. Medigap plans only help pay for whatever coverage you already have.
If you live in Massachusetts, Minnesota, or Wisconsin, Medigap policies are standardized differently and may have different plan names.
What’s not covered?
Medigap policies are supplemental insurance for original Medicare, not additional coverage. While a Medigap policy can help cover some of your Medicare costs, it will not cover:
- prescription drugs
- vision, dental, or hearing care
- any other health perks, such as fitness memberships or transportation services
To receive coverage for these types of medical services, you’ll need to add a Medicare Part D policy onto your plan or choose a Medicare Advantage (Part C) plan.
There are some costs associated with both original Medicare and Medigap, which vary from plan to plan.
Monthly premium
Even with a Medigap plan, you’re still responsible for paying your original Medicare premiums. In 2021, these costs include:
- $259 to $471 per month for Part A, although most people qualify for premium-free Part A
- $148.50 per month for Part B, depending on your income
In addition, you may owe a separate premium for your Medigap plan.
Deductibles
Before Medicare or Medigap will pay for your services, you must meet your deductible amounts for parts A and B. For 2021, these include:
- $1,484 for Part A per benefit period
- $203 for Part B for the year
Some Medigap plans may pay for a portion (or all) ofthese deductible amounts.
Copayments and coinsurance
After your deductible has been met, Medicare pays out for its portion of the costs. However, you will still owe some copays or coinsurance fees in 2021, including:
- $0 to $742 coinsurance per day for Part A services, depending on how many days you’ve been admitted as an inpatient
- 20 percent of the Medicare-approved amount for items and services covered by Part B
Depending on the policy you choose, these copayment and coinsurance amounts will be paid out by your Medigap plan.
Out-of-pocket costs
Only two Medigap policies, K and L, have limits on how much you’ll pay out of pocket.
However, neither Medicare Part A nor Part B have out-of-pocket limits. If you choose a Medigap policy that doesn’t cover least most, or all, of your Medicare fees, you’ll still have to pay out-of-pocket for these costs.
Medigap policies are priced or “rated” according to a variety of factors. How a place is rated can influence how much you pay for your plan premium.
Community rated
Community-rated Medigap policies charge the same monthly premium regardless of your age. The monthly premium may change because of outside factors such as inflation, but it will never change based on your age.
Issue age rated
Issue-age-rated Medigap policies charge different premium amounts depending on your age when you purchased the policy. Generally, premiums are less expensive if you purchase a Medigap policy when you’re older.
Attained age rated
Attained age–rated Medigap policies charge higher premiums as you age, and your monthly premium amount is determined based on your age. Unlike issue-age-rated policies, these types become more expensive as you get older.
Other factors
Only
In other states, if you have a preexisting health condition, you may be charged a higher premium for your Medigap policy.
If your Medicare plan doesn’t already cover foreign travel, the following Medigap plans will cover 80 percent of your emergency healthcare services when you are traveling outside the United States:
- Plan C
- Plan D
- Plan F
- Plan G
- Plan M
- Plan N
In addition, although plans E, H, I, and J are no longer sold, they also cover travel-related health care expenses if you’re already enrolled in them.
Before a Medigap policy will pay out for foreign travel emergency costs, you will first need to pay a $250 deductible out-of-pocket. Your Medigap policy will then pay 80 percent of your emergency medical costs, up to a lifetime limit of $50,000.
It’s important to note that a Medigap policy will only pay for these types of fees if the policy begins during the first 60 days of your trip.
There are multiple enrollment periods for Medicare plans, but there are only certain times when you can add a Medigap policy to your plan. The Medigap enrollment periods are:
- Initial enrollment period. You are eligible to apply for a Medicare plan, and add a Medigap policy during the 3 months before, 3 months after, and month of your 65th birthday.
- Open enrollment period. If you miss initial enrollment, you can apply for a policy during the Medigap open enrollment period. If you’ve already turned age 65, this period begins when you enroll in Part B. If you’re turning age 65, this period runs until 6 months after your turn 65 years old and have enrolled in Part B.
Insurance companies aren’t required to sell you a Medigap policy, especially if you’re under age 65.
Once the initial enrollment period and open enrollment period have passed, you may have a harder time finding an insurance company that will sell you a plan. As soon as you enroll in Medicare Part B, you should apply for a Medigap policy if you’d like one.
Also, keep in mind that you can’t buy a Medigap policy if you have a Medicare Advantage plan. You can only add Medigap to your coverage if you have original Medicare.
Tips for helping a loved one choose a Medigap planIf you’re helping a loved one choose a Medigap policy, here are some things to consider:
- How much additional financial assistance do they need? A Medigap policy isn’t a free policy, so you’ll want to make sure that the benefits of the plan outweigh the costs.
- Do you anticipate needing skilled nursing facility or hospice care? Not all plans offer coverage for these types of services, so make sure to pay close attention to policy benefits.
- Does your loved one travel out of the country often? If so, they may want to find a plan that offers foreign travel emergency healthcare coverage.
- Are there other medical needs that would be better served by a different type of Medicare plan? Consider that there are also plenty of Medicare Advantage plans that may provide more benefits than what a Medigap policy can offer.
There are a lot of options for choosing a Medigap plan but comparing the offerings with what your loved one needs can help you narrow down the best Medigap policy for them.
Medigap policies are a supplemental insurance option for people enrolled in original Medicare that are looking for additional financial coverage.
When you enroll in a Medigap policy, you’ll be covered for certain costs, such as deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance. However, you should still expect to pay some out-of-pocket costs for the services you receive.
To explore Medigap options in your state, visit Medicare.gov to find a policy that works for you.
Medicare plan options and costs are subject to change each year.