If you are covered by Medicare you may be wondering if you need a Medicare Supplement Insurance policy, also known as Medigap. Read on to see what a 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Medigap plan is and how it works.

What Is Medigap?

Medigap is supplemental coverage for people with Medicare Parts A and B. Policies are sold by private health insurers and are designed to fill the gap created by Medicare. This means you can use your plan to pay for any out-of-pocket costs associated with Medicare. Some policies also cover the costs related to services not covered by Medicare, including emergency care outside the U.S.

You are generally responsible for Medicare Part B and Medigap plan premiums. The plan only covers the insured, which means it doesn't cover your spouse. If eligible, they must purchase their own Medigap plan.

There are different Medigap plans, which are explained in more detail below. Keep in mind that not all plans are offered in every state. Since they are offered by private insurance companies, make sure you 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:compare plans so you get the one that suits your needs and financial situation.

What Medicare Covers

Medicare consists of 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Parts A and B along with Medicare prescription drug coverage found in optional Part D. Even routine services come with 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:co-payments and deductibles. Prescription drug🔥s can also deplete your budget if you need ꧙expensive medications.

Under the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Affordable Care Act (ACA), the prescription price 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:donut hole was closing each year. At a certain level, $5,030 in 2024, you entered the notorious donut hole in coverage that required you to pay up to 25% of covered brand-name and generic drug costs. When costs exceeded $8,000, you passed through the donut hole and owed only 5% of the cost of drugs.

The donut hole ended in 2025, leaving all out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs capped at $2,000.

What Medicare Doesn't Cover

Medigap will help pay for costs that Medicare does not cover. If you a💖re admitted to the hospital, you have 100% hospitalization coverage after the $1,676 annual deductible under Original Medicare Part A in 2025. However, you may owe up to 20% of some other costs, such as anesthesiologist fees.

If you are in the hospital for more than 60 days, you have to pay $419 per day in 2025. There are similar co-pays for long nursing home and hospice stays. 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Regular doctor visits and outpatient medical care may cost you, too. Your deductible for 2025 is $257, but after that, you’ll pay up to 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for most doctor services. There is no upper limit.

If you do not have coverage for dental expenses, you may want to look into a standalone dental insurance plan. Many plans provide coverage for the types of dental procedures that Medicare recipients may need, including crowns, root canals, dentures, and tooth𓆏 replacements.

Types of Medigap Plans

Medicare Parts A and B comprise basic coverage, while Part D is an optional prescription drug plan you can buy from a private provider and attach to your Medicare. If you opt for Original Medicare (A and B), plus Part D, and want a Medigap plan for more complete coverage, the most popular choices are 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Medigap Plan F and Medicare Plan G.

• Medigap Plan F: As of January 1, 2020, Plan F is no longer available to those newly eligible for Medicare. People who already have Plan F will be able to keep it, and people who were eligible for Medicare before 2020 but didn’t have a Medigap plan may still be allowed to choose Plan F.
• Medigap Plan G: This plan has almost the same coverage as Plan F except for reimbursement of the Part B deductible. The average Plan G may be cheaper than Plan F.
• Medigap Plan K: This plan provides less coverage than F or G and includes an out-of-pocket expense of $7,220 for 2025.
• Medigap Plan L: This plan provides less coverage than F or G and includes an out-of-pocket expense of $3,610 for 2025.
• Medigap Plan M: This plan offers similar coverage to F and G with some limitations.
• 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Medigap Plan N: This plan offers similar coverage to F and G with some limitations.

Medigap vs. Plan C Medicare Advantage

A Medigap policy is a supplement to Parts A and B coverage and pays expenses that Original Medicare doesn’t. A Medicare Advantage Plan (Medicare Part C) is a private repla🎃cement for the public Medicare program.

Most of these plans are set up as health maintenance organizations ((HMOs) that reꦫplace all of the services of Original Medicare and add additional services, such as pre💃ventive h♈ealth care, within a preselected network of doctors and hospitals.

A Medigap plan, however, 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:gives you more freedom of choice than Medicare Advantage, provided your physician or facility accepts Medicare. As long as you pay your premiums, your policy is renewable for the rest of your life and will only be dropped if you stop paying premiums, you falsify your application, or the insurance company files for bankruptcy.

The Bottom Line

Medicare Parts A and B comprise basic coverage, while Part D is an optional prescription drug plan. A Medigap policy will supplement this coverage and help pay additional expenses or deductibles. Individuals who choose Medicare Part C, also know෴n as Medicare Advantage do not need a Medigap Plan.