Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans provide insurance coverage to fill in all the gaps left by the Original Medicare. Various standard policies have been formulated by the United States government. These policies are sold by the private insurance companies.
All Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans provide the following benefits:
- Co-insurance for Medicare Part A.
- Hospital coverage for an additional year after Medicare stops paying.
- Three pints of blood each year.
- Co-payments for Medicare Part B.
- Out-of-pockets expenses for hospice care.
Medicare Supplement Plan A:
Medicare Plan A is by far the cheapest supplemental plan. This is because of the fact that it provides minimum benefits. Only the basic Medicare supplemental coverage is included in this plan.
Medicare Supplement Plan A Covers
- Medicare Part B co-insurance
- Three pints of blood each year
- Preventive care co-insurance
- Hospice care
Not Covered
- Parts A and B Deductible
- Skilled Nursing Care
- Recovery at home
- Foreign travel emergency
- Excess charges for Medicare Part B
Medicare Supplemental Insurance Plan B:
This provides the same insurance coverage as Medicare Supplement Plan A, but also covers deductible for Medicare Part A.
Medicare Plan B Covers
- Co-insurance for Medicare Part B
- Three pints of blood annually
- Preventive care co-payments
- Hospice care
- Part A deductible
Not Covered
- Medicare Part B deductible
- Skilled nursing care
- Foreign travel emergency
- Out-of-pocket expense cap
- Excess charges for Part B
Medicare Plan B has a higher insurance premium as compared to Medicare Supplement Plan A. The reason behind this is that deductible for Part A is also covered under Plan B.
Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan C:
Medicare Supplement Plan C provides same insurance coverage as Medicare Supplement Plan B, but it also includes three extra Medicare benefits.
Medicare Plan C Benefits
- Co-insurance for Medicare Part B
- Three pints of blood each year
- Preventive care co-payments
- Hospice care
- Parts A and B deductible
- Skilled nursing care
- Foreign travel emergency
Not Covered
- Recovery at home
- Excess charges for Medicare Part B
- Out-of-pocket expense cap
Medicare Supplement Plan C adds to the benefits of Medicare Supplement Plan B.
Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan D:
Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan D is similar to Supplement Plan C, but it does not cover deductible for Medicare Part B. Here in, recovery at home benefit is included.
Medicare Plan D Covers:
- Co-insurance for Medicare Part B
- Three pints of blood each year
- Hospice care
- Parts A deductible
- Skilled nursing care
- Foreign travel emergency
- Recovery at home
Not Covered
- Medicare Part B deductible
- Excess charges for Part B
- Out-of-pocket expense cap
The at home recovery benefit is also added.
Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan F:
Medicare Plan F is similar to Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan C with an extra benefit of paying for any 15% Medicare surcharge. Doctors can bill their patients up to 15% more than the amount set by Medicare. These are called excess charges which are covered under this plan.
Benefits of Medicare Plan F
- Co-insurance for Medicare Part B
- Three pints of blood each year
- Preventive care co-payments
- Hospice care
- Parts A and B deductible
- Skilled nursing care
- Foreign travel Emergency
- Medicare Part B excess charges
Not Covered
- Recovery at home
- Out-of-pocket expense cap
Medicare Supplemental Plan G:
Medicare Plan G is identical to the Medicare Plan F but it does not provide coverage for Medicare Part B deductible.
Medigap Coverage for Plan G
- Co-insurance for Medicare Part B
- Three pints of blood each year
- Preventive care co-payments
- Hospice care
- Parts A deductible
- Skilled nursing care
- Foreign travel Emergency
- Medicare Part B excess charges
Not Covered
- Recovery at home
- Out-of-pocket expense cap
- Part B Deductible
Medicare Supplement Plan K:
Medicare Plan K provides insurance coverage similar to the other Medicare Supplemental Plans. The only difference is that it pays 50% deductibles and out-of-pocket expenses.
Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan K
- 50% Co-insurance for Medicare Part B
- 50% blood transfer co-payments
- Preventive care co-payment
- Hospice care
- 50% Part A deductible
- 50% coinsurance for skilled nursing care
- $4650 annually Out-of-Pocket Expense Cap
Not Covered
- Foreign travel emergency
- Part B deductible
- Recovery at home
- Part B excess charges
Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan L:
Medicare Supplement Plan L provides same coverage as Medicare Plan K but it covers 75% of the deductible amounts and a lower out-of-pocket expense as compare to Plan L.
Medigap Plan L Covers
- 75% Co-insurance for Medicare Part B
- 75% blood transfer co-payments
- Preventive care co-payments
- Hospice care
- 75% Part A deductible
- 75% coinsurance for skilled nursing care
- $2330 annually out-of-pocket expense cap
Not Covered
- Foreign Travel
- Part B Deductible
- At-Home Recovery
- Part B Excess Charges
It must be noted that the coverage for Medicare Supplement Plan L is costlier as compare to Plan K.
Medicare Supplement Plan M:
This provides same insurance coverage as Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan C. However it provides 50% insurance coverage of Part A deductible.
Medigap Plan M Coverage
- Co-insurance for Medicare Part B
- Three pints of blood each year.
- Preventive care co-payments
- Hospice care
- 50% Part A deductible
- Deductible for Medicare Part B
- Skilled nursing care
- Foreign travel emergency
Not Covered
- Recovery at home
- Excess charges for Medicare Part B.
- Out-of-pocket expense cap.
Medicare Supplement Plan N:
This Medicare Supplement Insurance plan offers same insurance coverage as Medicare Plan C, but has a fixed Medicare Part B co-insurance payment.
Medigap Plan N Coverage
- $20 Part B co-insurance
- Three pints of blood each year.
- Preventive care co-payments
- Hospice care
- 50% Part A deductible
- Deductible for Medicare Part B
- Skilled nursing care
- Foreign travel emergency
Not Covered
- Recovery at home
- Excess charges for Medicare Part B.
- Out-of-pocket expense cap.
Buying Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans:
The first thing you should keep in mind prior to buying any Medicare Supplement plan is how much you need to pay for your Medicare health care every year. You also need to understand how the premiums for Medicare Supplement Insurance are calculated. Once you gain full knowledge about these plans, you can choose the one that is best for you.
Read Complete Guide to Medicare Supplements
