Medicare supplement health plans, also called Medigap plans, are medical insurance policies offered by private insurance companies to fill the gaps in Medicare coverage.
Medicare regulations require all insurance companies that offer Medicare supplemental plans to offer identical benefits according to standardized plans that are designated Medigap Plans A through N. This allows you to compare the plans offered by different companies and determine which company is offering you the same plan for the lowest price.
Medicare’s Gap Plan Finder
The Medicare website provides information about all aspects of Medicare, including Medigap plans. Using the Resource Locator on the Medicare homepage, you will find a link to "Health Plans & Medigap Policies." Clicking the link will take you to a page with several search options, including "Find & Compare Medigap Policies." After you choose this option, you only need to enter your zip code and then choose an age range and a general description of your health. The finder will then show a chart with the type and estimated costs of Medigap policies in your area.
Types of Supplement Plans
Each standardized Medicare supplement plan is designated with a letter. Currently available plans are designated as A - D, F, G and K - N. After May 31, 2010, plans E, H, I and J have not been sold; however, if you purchased one of these plans prior to June 1, 2010, you can keep it. Insurance companies can only sell these standardized plans. Also, if a company offers to sell any plan, it must also offer Plan A coverage.
Plan Benefits
The standardized Medigap plans cover various gaps in Medicare coverage. For example, Plan A fully covers hospice care coinsurance or copayment, but not emergency care during foreign travel. On the other hand, Plan K provides coverage for emergency care during foreign travel, but only covers 50 percent of hospice care coinsurance or copayment. Once you determine which plan benefits you prefer, you can contact several insurance companies that offer the plan you want so you can compare prices.
State Variations
All states follow the Medicare requirements for the standardized Medigap plans, except Massachusetts, Minnesota and Wisconsin. These states have additional regulations that require insurers to offer more coverage than the basics required by Medicare. If you are a resident of these states, you should contact your state's department of insurance for information regarding your supplement plan options.
Considerations
If you find comparing the various Medigap plans available to you challenging, you should consider contacting your State Health Insurance Counseling and Assistance Program, also known as SHIP. These programs are available to provide answers to your Medicare and health insurance questions. Medicare’s website provides a link to each state’s program website. You can also call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) to locate the telephone number for your state's SHIP.
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