What is typically covered by supplemental plans

Who is this for?

If you're shopping for Medicare plans, this page will help you understand what you get from a Medicare supplement plan.

Medicare supplement plans don't work like most health insurance plans. They don't actually cover any health benefits. Instead, these plans cover the costs you're responsible for with Original Medicare. 

These costs can include:

• Your Medicare deductibles 
• Your coinsurance 
• Hospital costs after you run out of Medicare-covered days 
• Skilled nursing facility costs after you run out of Medicare-covered days

Here's how it works: You pay a monthly premium for your Medicare supplement plan. These plans are also called Medigap. In return, the plan pays most of your out-of-pocket expenses. So when you go to the doctor, for example, you don't have to pay the 20 percent coinsurance required by Medicare. Your Medigap plan pays it for you. With some Medigap plans, you might have a copay instead of the 20 percent coinsurance. 

Medicare supplement plans aren't your only option. Medicare Advantage plans help with your Medicare costs, too. They also offer additional health coverage that Medicare supplement plans don't.

The table below breaks down the differences between Medicare supplement plans and Medicare Advantage plans. It might be a good place to start if you're wondering which type of plan is right for you.

Medigaps are health insurance policies that offer standardized benefits to work with Original Medicare (not with Medicare Advantage). They are sold by private insurance companies. If you have a Medigap, it pays part or all of certain remaining costs after Original Medicare pays first. Medigaps may cover outstanding deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments. Medigaps may also cover health care costs that Medicare does not cover at all, like care received when travelling abroad. Remember, Medigaps only work with Original Medicare. If you have a Medicare Advantage Plan, you cannot buy a Medigap.

Depending on where you live and when you became eligible for Medicare, you have up to 10 different Medigap policies to choose from: A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L, M, and N (policies in Wisconsin, Massachusetts, and Minnesota have different names). Each policy offers a different set of standardized benefits, meaning that policies with the same letter name offer the same benefits. However, premiums can vary from company to company.

Note: People eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020 cannot purchase Medigaps that pay for the Part B deductible. This includes Plan C and Plan F. If you became Medicare-eligible before this date, you will still be able to purchase Plan C or Plan F.

Before you buy a Medigap policy, be sure to do your research. Some steps you may wish to take include the following:

1. Make sure you are eligible to purchase a Medigap. Remember that you can only have a Medigap if you have Original Medicare. If you are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage Plan, Medigaps cannot be sold to you. There may be other Medigap eligibility requirements that apply to you, depending on the state in which you live.
2. Learn when you have the right to buy a Medigap without restriction. There are federal protections for people over 65 to buy a Medigap in certain situations. Some states have additional protections for individuals under 65 or during other times.
3. Once you decide you need a Medigap and know you are eligible to enroll, compare the different types of policies that exist. As mentioned above, there are 10 different standardized policies in most states, each covering a different range of Medicare cost-sharing.
4. Learn how a Medigap covers prior medical conditions to know if any of your medical costs may be excluded from Medigap coverage. Depending on your circumstances, a Medigap can exclude coverage for prior medical conditions for a limited amount of time.
5. Find out how Medigap premiums are priced so you can make cost comparisons. It is important to understand the ways that insurers set premiums to find the best deal for you.
6. Have a list of questions to ask when shopping for a Medigap to remind you what you should consider. Buying a Medigap can be complicated, but using a set of written questions and asking for help when needed can help you stay organized and simplify the process.

If you need further assistance navigating Medigap policies and enrollment, contact your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP). For additional information on Medigap policies in your state, you can also contact your State Department of Insurance.

Answer a few questions to see which insurance options may be available for you.