What is Medicare Supplement (Medigap) Insurance?
A Medicare Supplement (Medigap) policy is always sold by private companies, and is designed to help pay some or all of the deductibles, and co-insurances that Original Medicare doesn't cover.
If you have Original Medicare and you buy a Medigap policy, Medicare will pay its share of the Medicare-approved amount for covered health care costs. Your Medigap policy pays its share.
A Medigap policy is very different from a Medicare Advantage Plan. Medigap policies keep original Medicare in the first position of authority, meaning it determines if the treatment or service is deemed "medically necessary". Once that is established, Medicare pays it's portion of the claim first, the Supplement then comes behind to "fill in the gaps" of original Medicare and pays second.
What you need to know about Medicare Supplement policies
- You must have Medicare Part A and Part B.
- If you have a Medicare Advantage Plan, you can switch to a Medicare Supplement insurance policy, but make sure you can leave the Medicare Advantage Plan before your Medicare Supplement insurance policy begins.
- You pay the private insurance company a monthly premium for your Medicare Supplement insurance policy in addition to the monthly Part B premium that you pay to Medicare.
- A Medigap policy only covers one person. If you and your spouse both want Medigap coverage, you'll each have to buy separate policies.
- You can buy a Medicare Supplement insurance policy from any insurance company that's licensed in your state to sell one.
- Any standardized Medicare Supplement insurance policy is guaranteed renewable even if you have health problems. This means the insurance company can't cancel your Medicare Supplement insurance policy as long as you pay the premium.
- Medicare Supplement insurance policies sold after January 1, 2006 aren't allowed to include prescription drug coverage. If you want prescription drug coverage, you can join a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan (Part D).
- It's illegal for anyone to sell you a Medigap policy if you have a Medicare Medical Savings Account (MSA) Plan.
Information obtained from www.medicare.gov
By contacting the phone number on this website you will be directed to a licensed agent.