Closing the Gaps in Original Medicare
Individual Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap)
Original Medicare (Parts A & B) covers many healthcare expenses, but it leaves significant gaps, including deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance. Medigap Insurance is designed to work alongside Original Medicare to help pay these out-of-pocket costs, stabilizing your budget and providing predictable healthcare spending.
Why Should You Consider Purchasing Medicare Supplement Insurance?
Offered by private insurance companies, Medigap Insurance provides standardized, reliable coverage organized by plan letters (e.g., Plan G, HDG, N, etc.). The medical cost amounts your Medigap Insurance pays will vary depending on the plan letter chosen which will then determine what your share of cost will be, if any.
When you see a doctor or use a hospital that accepts Medicare, your Medigap policy pays its share after Original Medicare pays its share. This dramatically reduces your financial exposure and gives you the freedom to choose any doctor or specialist in the country who accepts Medicare, without network restrictions.
What Medigap Insurance Helps Cover:
Part A Coinsurance & Deductible: Help covering costs related to hospital stays
Part B Coinsurance & Copayment: Assistance with outpatient services, doctor visits, and preventive care
Skilled Nursing Facility Coinsurance: Coverage for costs associated with extended recovery care
Foreign Travel Emergency: Many plans include coverage for emergency care received outside the U.S
What Medigap Insurance Does NOT Cover:
Prescription Drugs: You will want to purchase a separate Part D drug plan for help covering prescriptions
Ancillary Extras: Services like Dental, vision, hearing are not included. You may consider purchasing a stand-alone insurance plan for these services. We can offer you competitive plan comparisons
When to Enroll in Medigap
Your timing matters immensely when enrolling in a Medigap plan:
Medigap Open Enrollment Period (OEP): This is the best time to enroll. It is a six-month period that starts the month you are 65 or older and are enrolled in Medicare Part B. During this OEP, carriers cannot use medical underwriting—meaning they must accept your application and cannot deny you coverage or charge you a higher premium due to health issues
Outside the OEP: If you apply for a Medigap plan after your OEP has expired, the insurance company typically has the right to use medical underwriting, and may be able to deny your application unless you qualify for a specific Guaranteed Issue Right
Finding the right Medigap plan for your needs is easy. Speak with an Independent Licensed Agent to compare options designed to fit your needs and budget.
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IMPORTANT MEDICARE DISCLOSURE
We are not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program. The information disclosed here is not to be considered exhaustive. For complete Medicare information, utilize official sources. Visit Medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE. You can also call your local State Health Insurance Program or visit Shiphelp.org. For enrolling in Parts A and B, call the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213 or visit SSA.gov.