Medicare supplements are private insurance plans that help pay for some of Medicare’s expenses. These plans have different names depending on the state you live in. Most often they are called Medigap, but they can also be called a Medicare Supplement or Medicare Advantage Plan. These plans are designed to fill in the gaps and provide you with more coverage than what is offered by Medicare alone.
You may not need a supplement if you already have employer-sponsored health insurance or another type of health plan, such as an individual policy or group plan offered through your work. But if you don’t have any other coverage, the information below will show you how to make the best decision for your health care needs.
What Is Medicare?
Medicare is a type of health insurance program for those who are 65 and above, people with disabilities, and those diagnosed with serious renal diseases. Medicare provides financial coverage on hospitals, medical procedures, and prescription drugs.
Why Get a Medicare Supplement?
You may need a Medicare supplement if you have Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B. These plans are necessary because they help pay for healthcare costs not covered under the two parts of Medicare.
Medicare supplements are an important consideration for people who are on a tight budget and can’t afford prescription drugs or dental care. They also offer protection in the event of hospitalization and hospice care, which Medicare doesn’t cover.
You can buy a Medigap plan to fill in the gaps left by the two parts of Medicare or purchase a Medicare Advantage plan that includes coverage for prescription drugs, dental care, and other benefits not covered under Part A or B.
Choosing The Right Plan
When it comes to choosing the right plan, you should be aware of the following information:
• Medicare supplement plans are different from Medicare Advantage Plans. The supplements can only fill in gaps in coverage and cannot pay for anything that is not covered by Medicare Part A or B.
• You may have one or more gaps in coverage if you enrolled at a later date or you had a pre-existing condition when you first enrolled in Part B.
• If your income is above $85,000, then you may not qualify for a supplement plan and will need to explore other options for coverage such as long-term care insurance.
• Medigap plans are standardized and follow a basic set of guidelines which allow them to be offered across all states with some variation on benefits from state to state.
• When considering how many supplements you need, it is important to take into account what type of health care needs you have and how much money you can afford to spend on these out-of-pocket costs per year.
• When considering what type of coverage you want, there are two main types: Plan F and Plan G. Plan F covers everything but hospice care; Plan G covers everything including hospice care.
• The type of supplement plan that best suits your needs depends entirely on your circumstances. Your needs may change over time as your health care needs change so be sure to periodically.
What Does Medicare Cover?
Medicare covers 20 types of medical services, and these can be used to treat some illnesses or injuries. However, it doesn’t cover everything that you may need for your healthcare. Medicare supplements are available to help fill in the gaps that Medicare leaves.