Everything You Should Know About Medicare Supplement Insurance

If you are already covered under Medicare, we take it that you know these plans do not cover everything, and there are a few out-of-pocket expenses involved. With Medicare Supplement Insurance, you can get extra coverage for all your out-of-pocket expenses. 

Medicare Supplement or Medigap, as it’s called, covers the expenses that are not a part of the original Medicare plan. 

Read further to know everything about Medicare Supplement Insurance. 

What is Medicare Supplement Insurance? 

Medicare Supplement Insurance or Medigap fills the gaps left behind by Medicare. Private companies sell this insurance plan. 

Original Medicare plan offers excellent coverage. It pays for many things but not for everything. Here, the Medicare Supplement Insurance plan steps in and covers the remaining cost of healthcare services and supplies. 

Medicare Supplement Insurance covers:

• Coinsurance 
• Copayments
• Deductibles

A few policies also offer you medical coverage when the individual travels outside the United States of America, which Medicare does not cover. 

There are around ten Medicare Supplement insurance plans across 47 states. They are denoted by letters from A to N (excluding plans E, H, I, and J). The companies selling Medicare Supplement plans may not offer every plan, but they are bound to sell Plan A. If you have any doubts, you should look into asking a qualified health care fraud lawyer.

Benefits of Medicare Supplement insurance plan 

The companies selling Medicare Supplement plans offer different benefits, but every lettered plan must cover some standard benefits, irrespective of their location. 

The plans are not bound to cover dental, vision, hearing aids, or long-term care. Every plan should, at least, cover the following basic benefits:

• The cost of Part A of Medicare coinsurance expenses around one full year after the benefits of Medicare are completely used up.
• Copayments or coinsurance of Medicare Part B.
• Medicare Part A of Hospice care copayments or coinsurance. 
• Blood amounting to three pints is used in any medical procedure.

A few plans offer extra benefits. For example, Medicare Supplement Plan F, which is considered as the most comprehensive standardized plan, the extra benefits are:

• Deductibles of Medicare Part A and Part B 
• Preventive care coinsurance of Part B
• Excess charges of Part B
• Emergency care during foreign care
• SNF care coinsurance or Competent Facilities for Nursing

How does the Medicare Supplement insurance plan work?

People who are already a part of Medicare Parts A and B can apply for a Medicare Supplement insurance plan. This plan complements the primary Medicare coverage. It doesn’t replace them.

A person who is 65 or older becomes eligible for Medigap Open Enrollment. However, turning 65 is not enough. They must also initiate enrollment in Part B for their Medigap Open Enrollment Period to begin.

The individuals enrolled in these plans pay monthly premiums to the insurance provider. These premiums are outside of the premiums for Medicare Part A, B, and D. Although Medicare Supplement insurance is offered by private companies, as per the rules dictated by the federal government, the policy coverage should be standard. 

The plans cover the pre-existing health condition after a 6-month waiting period. But the applicants with continuous medical coverage for six months before enrolling for the plan can get immediate coverage. 

The individuals who miss the enrollment period and wish to enroll in the future may not get the basic benefits or charged higher premiums as per their medical history. Some states also allow the applicants to enroll in the Medicare Supplement insurance plan even before they turn 65.

The bottom line 

Although the insurance companies are liable to proffer some standard benefits for every plan, charging premiums is their discretion. Keep the information mentioned in the article in mind, and find Medicare Supplement Insurance that suits your medical and financial requirements.