MEDIGAP (MEDICARE SUPPLEMENT INSURANCE)
These are health insurance policies sold by private insurance companies to fill gaps that Original Medicare does not cover. They are categorized by letters, A-N. Each plan letter has a different range of benefits. The gaps these plans cover could include co-payments, co-insurance, and deductibles. Some Medigap policies also provide coverage for services that Original Medicare does not cover. For example, medical care when you travel outside the United States. If you have Original Medicare and you purchase a Medigap policy, Medicare will pay its share of the Medicare approved amount for covered health care costs. Then your Medigap policy pays its share.
IMPORTANT FACTS OF A MEDIGAP POLICY INCLUDE:
1. You must have Medicare Part A and Part B.
2. If you have a Medicare Advantage Plan, you can apply for a Medigap policy, but make sure you can leave the Medicare Advantage Plan before your Medigap policy begins.
3. You pay the private insurance company a monthly premium for your Medigap policy in addition to the monthly Part B premium that you pay to Medicare.
4. A Medigap policy only covers one person. If you and your spouse both want Medigap coverage, you’ll each have to buy separate policies.
5. You can buy a Medigap policy from any insurance company that’s licensed in your state to sell one.
6. Any standardized Medigap policy is guaranteed renewable even if you have health problems. This means the insurance company can’t cancel your Medigap policy as long as you pay the premium.
7. Some Medigap policies sold in the past cover prescription drugs, but Medigap 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).
8. It’s illegal for anyone to sell you a Medigap policy if you have a Medicare Medical Savings Account (MSA) Plan.
9. Medigap policies do not cover everything.
10. Medigap policies generally don’t cover long-term care, vision or dental care, hearing aids, eyeglasses, or private-duty nursing