Medicare Supplements
What are Medicare Supplements?
Medicare Supplements, also known as Medigap policies, are sold by private insurance companies to help you cover the out-of-pocket costs left behind by Medicare.
When you have a Medigap policy, Medicare pays up to its limit on your medical expenses. Then, your Medicare Supplement plan will then kick in up to its limit. That limit usually is able to pay off the remainder. However, that will depend on which policy you select.
What do Medicare Supplements cover?
Original Medicare only covers 80% of your Part B expenses. The other 20% comes out of your pocket if you do not have a Medigap policy. If you were to have lengthy treatment or some seriously expensive ones, you can see how that could rack up.
Medicare Supplements pay that 20% for you.
What is not covered by Medigap?
Things that are not covered by Original Medicare or your Medicare Supplement:
- Routine dental, vision, and hearing exams
- Hearing aids
- Eyeglasses or contacts
- Long-term care or custodial care
- Retail prescription drugs
How much will I save with a Medicare Supplement plan?
Each of the standardized Medigap plans available in most states cover:
- Medicare Part A hospitalization costs, such as coinsurance amounts, for up to a year after your Part A benefits are used up.
- At least a portion of Medicare Part B copayments or coinsurance amounts (for example, for covered doctor visits).
Beyond that, each plan offers different benefits and some, like plan F and G are popular because they pay 100% of your cost-sharing responsibility.
It is important for you to sit down with your medical bills and find out where you could most use the assistance of a Medicare Supplement plan. You can also talk to a licensed Medicare agent from Simple Choice Insurance Brokerage and they can help you find a policy that works best for you.