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Skip JacksonAggressive Senior Solutions

Medicare Supplement plans, also called Medigap

A Medicare Supplement plan works alongside Original Medicare to help pay costs that Medicare doesn't cover. When you buy one can matter as much as which one you buy.

Medigap basics

Original Medicare pays for much of your care, but not all of it. You still owe deductibles, coinsurance, and copays. A Medicare Supplement plan, also called Medigap, helps pay some or all of those costs.

Medicare Supplement plans are sold by private insurance companies. To buy one, you need Medicare Part A and Part B. You keep paying your Part B premium, and you pay a separate premium for the Supplement plan.

  • Each plan covers one person. Spouses each need their own plan.
  • A Supplement plan works only with Original Medicare. It can't be used with a Medicare Advantage plan.
  • Supplement plans generally don't cover dental, vision, hearing aids, or long-term care.

The lettered plans

Medicare Supplement plans are named by letters, such as Plan G and Plan N. Each letter has a set list of benefits.

Same letter, same benefits

The benefits for each letter are standardized. That means Plan G from one company covers the same things as Plan G from another company. What differs is the price, how the company sets and raises its prices over time, and its customer service. That's why it makes sense to compare companies.

Plans people often consider

  • Plan G. A common choice for people new to Medicare. It covers most of the costs Original Medicare leaves behind. You pay the Part B deductible yourself.
  • Plan N. Also common. It usually has a lower premium than Plan G. In return, you may pay a copay for some office visits and emergency room visits. It doesn't cover Part B excess charges, which some doctors are allowed to bill.
  • Plans F and C. These cover the Part B deductible. They're only available to people who were eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020.

Some plans also come in a high-deductible version, with a lower premium and a deductible you pay first. I'll walk you through how each option would work for you.

No networks

With Original Medicare and a Supplement, you can see any doctor or hospital in the U.S. that accepts Medicare. You don't need referrals to see a specialist. This is one reason people who travel, or who split their time between two states, often look at Supplement plans.

You'll need a separate drug plan

Medicare Supplement plans don't cover prescription drugs. Most people who choose a Supplement also join a stand-alone Part D drug plan. If you go without drug coverage for a while, you may owe a late enrollment penalty later.

Your Medigap Open Enrollment Period

Timing matters a lot with Supplement plans.

You get a one-time, 6-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period. It starts the first month that you're 65 or older and enrolled in Part B.

During those 6 months, you can buy any Medicare Supplement plan sold in Georgia that you're eligible for. A company can't turn you down or charge more because of your health, though it may delay coverage of a pre-existing condition for up to 6 months if you didn't have prior creditable coverage.

After your Medigap Open Enrollment Period ends, companies in Georgia may ask health questions before they sell you a plan. This is called medical underwriting. Based on your answers, a company may charge you more or decline to sell you a plan.

If you delay Part B because you're still working and have coverage through your job, your Medigap Open Enrollment Period starts later, when your Part B begins. Read more about leaving employer coverage.

Guaranteed issue rights

In certain situations, you have the right to buy some Supplement plans without health questions, even outside your open enrollment period. Examples include:

  • Your Medicare Advantage plan leaves your area or stops offering coverage.
  • You lose coverage from an employer or union plan that paid after Medicare.
  • You joined a Medicare Advantage plan when you first became eligible at 65 and leave it within 12 months.

These rights have time limits and only apply to certain plans. The details are on Medicare.gov's Medigap pages. I'm also glad to check whether one applies to you.

If you're under 65

In Georgia, people under 65 with Medicare also get a 6-month Medigap open enrollment when Part B starts; prices may be higher. Call me and I'll check what's available to you.

How I help

  • I explain how Plan G, Plan N, and other options would work with the care you use.
  • I compare prices for the same plan letter from the companies I represent.
  • I help you pair your Supplement with a Part D plan that covers your drugs.
  • I help you watch your timing, so you don't miss your open enrollment window.