Also called MEDIGAP PLANS, Medigap plans work with Original Medicare. They are sold by private insurance companies and can help pay for some of the costs for covered health care services and supplies that Original Medicare does not pay. These costs include copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles. Some Medigap plans also offer coverage for services that are not covered by Original Medicare, such as medical care when traveling outside the U.S. Medigap Plans do not cover long-term care, vision or dental services, hearing aids, or eyeglasses.

Things to Know About Your Medigap Insurance Plan

• You must have Medicare Part A and Part B to be able to buy a Medicare Supplement Plan.
• You will pay a monthly premium for the Medigap Plan in addition to your Part B monthly premium.
• You cannot be enrolled in a Medigap Plan and a Medicare Advantage Plan at the same time.
• A Medigap Plan only provides individual coverage.
• Medigap Plans are standardized, meaning that all plans with the same letter offer the same basic benefits nationwide. (MA, MN, and WI standardize plans differently)
• Costs can vary between Medigap policies for the same coverage from company to company.
• Medigap plans do not help with prescription drugs, long-term care, or custodial care (bathing, eating, dressing).

When Can I Buy A Medigap Plan?

You are eligible to buy a Medigap policy during your Medigap Open Enrollment Period which begins the first day of the month that you are both 65 or older and enrolled in Part B and lasts for 6 months. If you do not buy a Medigap policy during this period, you may not be able to buy one later or it may cost more. If you joined a Medicare Advantage Plan when you were first eligible for Medicare and you are unhappy with the plan, you can switch to Original Medicare and choose any Medigap policy within 12 months of joining the Medicare Advantage Plan. You could switch back to a Medigap policy if you dropped your Medigap policy to join a Medicare Advantage Plan for the first time and you have been in the plan for less than a year. If you are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage Plan, it is illegal for anyone to sell you a Medigap policy unless you are switching back to Original Medicare. If you want to cancel your Medigap policy, you should contact your insurance company. Learn More