Medicare Supplement Plans in North Carolina

Summary: North Carolina Medicare Supplement plans are available to help cover your out-of-pocket costs on Original Medicare. There are 12 standardized plans to choose from through a variety of carriers. Estimated Read Time: 9 min

Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plans in North Carolina are the same standardized plans available throughout the country. Medigap plans are a secondary option to Original Medicare. Many beneficiaries enroll in a Medicare Supplement plan to help cover the out-of-pocket costs left by Original Medicare.

Whether you are new to Medicare or have been enrolled for a while, it is essential to ensure you are on the best coverage year after year. Below, we review all Medicare Supplement plans in NC and how you can benefit from enrolling in a plan.

Best Medicare Supplement Plans in North Carolina

Original Medicare beneficiaries in North Carolina can enroll in a Medicare Supplement plan. Medicare Part A and Part B do not provide 100% coverage, but a Medigap plan can provide extra coverage. Several beneficiaries decide to enroll in Medicare Supplement plans in NC because they want peace of mind knowing they have coverage in the worst situations.

When you enroll in a Medicare Supplement plan in NC, you can visit any doctor or hospital accepting Original Medicare. You can never be denied care based on the carrier of your plan.
North Carolina has close to 2 million Medicare beneficiaries. Over half of these people choose to enroll in Original Medicare. This allows them to enroll in a Medicare Supplement plan. If you are one of these beneficiaries, a Medicare Supplement plan may be right for you.

The best Medicare Supplement plans in NC are consistent with the best Medicare Supplement plans nationwide. Due to their low out-of-pocket costs and comprehensive coverage, the best Medigap plans are: 

• Medicare Supplement Plan F
• Medicare Supplement Plan G
• Medicare Supplement Plan N

Medicare Supplement Plan F in North Carolina

Medicare Supplement Plan F in North Carolina is the most comprehensive plan available, but not all Medicare beneficiaries are eligible. If you received Original Medicare after January 1, 2020, you are no longer eligible for Medigap Plan F in NC. New Medicare beneficiaries do not qualify for Plan F, so they will not have the opportunity to enroll in this coverage.

In North Carolina, when you enroll in Plan F, you are only responsible for your Medigap and Medicare Part B monthly premiums. All out-of-pocket costs receive 100% coverage from day one with Medigap Plan F. However, the premiums for Plan F are typically the highest of all Medicare Supplement plans in the Tar Heel State.

Medicare Supplement Plan G in North Carolina

There are options if you are not eligible for Plan F but still want comprehensive coverage. Medicare Supplement Plan G is the second-most comprehensive policy available to North Carolinians. It is available to all Medicare beneficiaries, regardless of when they become eligible for Original Medicare coverage.

Additionally, Medigap Plan G is quickly growing in popularity among those eligible for Plan F due to Plan G’s lower monthly premiums. The only cost Plan G does not cover is the Medicare Part B deductible. So, once the deductible is met, you are covered at 100%. Many North Carolina Medicare enrollees prefer Medigap Plan G for its cost-effectiveness and great benefits.

Medicare Supplement Plan N in North Carolina

Finally, Medicare Supplement Plan N is popular in NC for its low rate increases and low premium. However, you must be comfortable paying occasional $20-$50 copayments at the doctor or hospital and excess charges. Excess charges are not allowed in every state but are not you may be subject to an additional cost when seeing a doctor who does not accept Medicare assignment.

North Carolina allows excess charges, so you will need to speak with your doctor about Medicare assignment before receiving treatment. If you receive coverage in a state that does not allow excess charges, you will not pay any additional costs. However, these costs are very rare even in the states that do allow them.

Who is Eligible for Medicare Supplement Plans in NC?

To qualify for a Medicare Supplement plan in North Carolina, you must live in the policy’s service area and have Original Medicare. The best time to enroll in Medigap is during your Open Enrollment Period; this is the only opportunity for most people to enroll in a Medicare Supplement plan without health questions.

If you miss the Medicare Supplement Open Enrollment Period, you can sign up for Medigap at any time. But you must qualify for a policy by going through underwriting if you wait. If you go through Medicare Supplement underwriting questions, we recommend applying for coverage at least 30 days before you need the policy to start.

In some cases, you may receive guaranteed issue rights. However, North Carolina does not offer state-specific guaranteed issue rights. These situations allow you to enroll in Medigap outside of the Open Enrollment Period without worrying about underwriting. To be eligible, you must have a qualifying life event.

How Much do Medicare Supplement Plans in NC Cost?

The cost of Medicare Supplement plans in NC can vary based on several factors. These factors most notably include age, location, sex, and smoking status. The answer to each of these questions can impact your monthly premium price of any Medigap plan.

To provide an example of the Medicare Supplement plan cost in North Carolina, we show the average monthly premium price of the most popular Medigap plans for a 65-year-old non-smoking male and female.

While the above costs are average for North Carolina, your exact premium could be higher or lower than our examples. The best way to determine your actual price is to speak with an agent who can analyze your needs based on your health and budget.

Medicare Supplement Carriers in North Carolina

Medicare Supplement plan benefits are standardized. So, the only real choice you need to make once you decide which plan letter to enroll in is which carrier to enroll in. For most, the monthly premium is an essential factor to consider when determining which carrier is best for you. However, that is only one consideration to look at when making this decision.

Often, Medicare Supplement carriers provide perks for enrolling through their company. These perks can include discounts on non-Medicare-covered dental or vision services, gym memberships, mobile apps to track claims, customer service, and more.

Below is a list of some of the most popular Medicare Supplement carriers in North Carolina:

• Accendo
• Aetna
• Bankers Fidelity
• Blue Cross Blue Shield
• Cigna
• Globe Life
• Humana
• Mutual of Omaha
• UnitedHealthcare

Each carrier offers a unique experience when you enroll through them. Understanding which carrier is best for you can improve your overall satisfaction with your Medigap plan. Thus, it is important to do your due diligence before enrolling in a plan.

Medicare Supplement Plans for Those Under 65 in NC

In North Carolina, individuals under the age of 65 who are enrolled in Medicare due to a disability or certain medical conditions are eligible for Medicare Supplement plans. However, carriers are not required to sell policies to those under 65 and have the freedom to set the rates however they like. Which is often much higher than for those over 65.

Due to the higher price point of Medigap plans under 65 in North Carolina, many Medicare enrollees on disability do not enroll in a Medicare Supplement plan when they first become eligible. Luckily, when you turn 65, you receive a second Medicare Supplement Open Enrollment to enroll in a Medigap plan at a lower rate.

The best time to enroll in a Medicare Supplement plan in North Carolina is during your Medigap Open Enrollment Period. This is a six-month period that starts once you are enrolled in Medicare Part B. During this time, you cannot be denied coverage by any North Carolina Medicare Supplement carrier for any plan you are eligible for.

If you miss your Open Enrollment Period, you may still be able to enroll in a Medigap plan, but you may be asked to go through medical underwriting to determine your premium or deny you coverage based on your health status or pre-existing conditions. There are some situations that may trigger a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) during which you can enroll in a Medigap plan without medical underwriting.

Additional Medicare Plans in North Carolina

In addition to Medicare Supplement plans in NC, beneficiaries can enroll in Medicare Part D and dental, vision, and hearing plans to round out their health coverage. These plans cover the most significant holes in Original Medicare and allow beneficiaries to obtain full coverage with almost no restrictions.

If you decide a Medicare Supplement plan is not suitable for you, other options may better suit your situation. In North Carolina, Medicare beneficiaries can also enroll in Medicare Advantage plans during specific enrollment periods. These plans bundle Medicare Part A and Part B benefits with prescription drug, dental, vision, and hearing coverage.

You cannot simultaneously have a Medicare Advantage plan and a Medicare Supplement plan. Thus, you should consider ancillary coverage and a Medicare Part D plan if you have Original Medicare and Medigap.