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medicare SUPPLEMENT (MEDIGAP)

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Original Medicare (Part A and Part B together) only covers 80% of your healthcare costs, leaving you with a 20% gap in coverage that can be financially devastating if you become seriously ill.  

A Medicare Supplement (also known as ‘Medigap’) is an insurance product offered by private insurance companies meant to cover some or all of that 20% ‘gap’ in your healthcare costs - namely the Part A and Part B deductibles, copayments and coinsurance for services and supplies that you are normally responsible for paying out of your own pocket. 

Medicare Supplements are often called Medigap plans. They are simply two names for the same product. You will see both terms ‘Medicare Supplement’ and ‘Medigap’ interchangeably throughout our website.

Some Medigap plans even offer additional coverage beyond what Medicare offers for things like international travel emergency coverage and fitness memberships. Medigap policies do not, however, offer coverage for long term care or private duty nursing. 

 

Important things to remember about Supplement (Medigap) Plans:

  • Medigap Plans are designated with letters. Medicare Parts A, B, C and D are not the same as Medigap Plans A, B, C, or D.

  • You must be enrolled in Original Medicare (Parts A and B together) in order to qualify. 

  • Medicare Supplements (Medigap) is not the same thing as Medicare Advantage (Part C). Medicare Advantage is geared towards getting additional health and wellness benefits in an affordable manner.  Medigap plans only ‘supplement’ the gaps in your Original Medicare and do NOT include prescription drug coverage.

  • Medicare Supplement monthly premiums can be expensive and can increase every year.

  • You are still responsible for paying your Part B premium in addition to the Medigap monthly premium.

  • Medigap plans only cover individuals.  Spouses must buy separate policies.

  • Medigap plans can be purchased from any health insurance company licensed in your state.

  • Once enrolled in a standard Medigap plan, you cannot be dropped you as long as you continue paying premiums.

  • You’ll still need to get a Part D plan (prescription drug coverage) even if you don’t take prescription drugs in order to eliminate any Part D late enrollment penalties. 

  • You cannot have a Medigap plan and a Medicare Advantage plan at the same time. 

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