Medicare supplemental insurance helps cover the gaps in the coverage provided by Medicare. For this reason, these policies are also referred to as Medigap policies. There are twelve different types of Medigap policies, each labeled by letter from A to L. In order to choose the correct Medicare supplemental insurance plan for your situation, you need to be aware of what each type covers.
Medigap plan A policies are considered basic policies. These plans provide additional hospital coverage, coverage for blood received during a transfusion and additional outpatient mental health coverage. The additional hospital coverage provided under a Medigap plan A policy covers some of Medicare’s coinsurance amount as well as covering an additional 365 days of inpatient hospital coverage.
Medigap plans B through J include everything in plan A, but each of them also offers additional benefits. Plans B through J also cover the hospital deductible for Medicare Part A. Plans C through J cover skilled nursing facility coinsurance and coverage for emergency medical care in a foreign country.
Other types of coverage provided by Medicare supplemental insurance are not covered by as many of the plans. Only plans C, F and J cover the Medicare part B deducible. Plans F, G, I and J cover excess Medicare part B charges. Plans D, G, I and J cover home recovery costs. Plans H, I and J cover basic prescription drug benefits and Plans E and J cover some preventative care. If you want a Medigap policy that covers all of these things, plan J is the one to choose.
There are two other Medigap plans not mentioned above, plans K and L. These operate differently than other Medigap plans. With plan K and L, you have to pay a deductible before the plan will pay anything. After that the plans will pay 100% of your Medicare coinsurance for services that are covered under the plans. Plans K and L are great for people with low medical expenses. The only trouble is that you might not be able to switch to another type of Medigap coverage if you become ill later.