There are 12 different Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plans available to most Medicare beneficiaries in 2022. Our easy-to-read Medigap plan comparison chart makes reviewing these plans easier than ever.
The chart below depicts all 12 Medigap plans and what they cover after Original Medicare pays its portion.
Medicare Supplement Plans Comparison Chart for 2022
Don’t confuse Medigap Plan A and Plan B with Medicare Part A and Part B. Original Medicare includes Medicare Part A, which is inpatient hospital coverage, and Medicare Part B, which covers outpatient physician visits. Medigap Plans A and Plan B are supplemental insurance to cover the costs Original Medicare leaves behind.
No matter which Medigap plan you choose, you can use its coverage at any doctor or hospital nationwide that accepts Original Medicare. A Medicare-accepting doctor can never turn you away because of the carrier you choose for your Medigap plan.
How Much Do Medigap Plans Cost?
When you compare all 12 Medigap plans, you will notice that each has a different average monthly premium and out-of-pocket costs for which the beneficiary is responsible. The following costs are associated with Medigap plans:
- Medicare Part B premium
- Medicare Part A premium (if applicable)
- Medigap plan premium
- Deductible – All Medicare Supplement plans except Medigap Plan C and Plan F
- Copayments – Not applicable on all plans
- Coinsurance – Not applicable on all plans
The cost of Medigap plans varies based on the plan you choose. Some plans require copayments and deductibles, whereas others only require the beneficiary to pay a deductible before coverage kicks in at 100%.
Understanding your out-of-pocket responsibility on each plan is essential before deciding which plan is best for you.
Medigap Plan Limits
The best part about Medigap plans is their lack of provider networks and restrictions. When you enroll in a Medigap plan, you gain the freedom to use your healthcare coverage wherever you see fit.
When you sign up for a Medigap plan, you should also consider the foreign emergency travel benefit that comes with the most popular Medigap plans.
How Many Medigap Plans are Available?
There are 12 Medigap plans, lettered A through N. Each lettered plan covers the core policy benefits and different levels of additional benefits.
When you compare Medigap plans, it is essential to consider what each plan covers and how that aligns with your healthcare needs. Depending on the letter plan, you will receive coverage for out-of-pocket medical costs such as deductibles, copays, coinsurances, and more.
How to Enroll in Medigap Plans
You can enroll in Medigap plans at any time throughout the year. However, the best time to enroll in a Medicare Supplement plan is during your Initial Enrollment Period.
If you apply during this opportunity, carriers cannot deny you coverage. You will be eligible for any Medigap plan of your choice.
If you miss your Initial Enrollment Period or decide to enroll in a Medicare Supplement plan later in life, you can still do so. Medigap enrollment is available year-round for Medicare beneficiaries. The only stipulation for admission to a policy is the need to answer underwriting health questions in most states.
Medigap Plan Comparison in Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Wisconsin
In 47 of 50 states – plus Washington, D.C. – Medigap plans are standardized using the lettered naming convention described above. However, that is not the case in Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. The Medigap plans in these three states are unique.
Although the plans are only available in their respective state, their benefits are comparable to the most popular Medigap plans. Beneficiaries can use these policies with Medicare-accepting practitioners nationwide, just like the standardized Medicare Supplement plans in other states.
How to Compare Medicare Medigap Plans for 2022
Comparing Medigap plans is a reasonably simple but critical task when enrolling in coverage. We simplify comparing policies and keeping up with changes regarding Medicare. Our goal is to educate our clients on all there is to know about Medicare and make the best decision for their needs.
Call the number above now to speak to one of our Medicare experts and get your free rate comparison. Or submit an online rate form to see policies in your area.
Sources:
- How to Compare Medigap Policies, Medicare. Accessed April 2022.
https://www.medicare.gov/supplements-other-insurance/how-to-compare-medigap-policies - What's Medicare Supplement Insurance, Medicare. Accessed April 2022.
https://www.medicare.gov/supplements-other-insurance/whats-medicare-supplement-insurance-medigap - Medigap, CMS. Accessed April 2022.
https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Health-Plans/Medigap
My daughter is a young adult who was informed she is approved for Medicare.
She needs to know about getting Part B coverage and its costs and possible a Medigap policy. She needs constant medical care due to her condition–visiting and being tested by doctors on a regular basis. She wants the best medical coverage in Part B and a Medigap plan so she knows she will be cared for. I am her dad and will be willing to help pay for the best coverages for my daughter. Can you advise me on this and the best coverages to obtain? We live in New York and she resides in New York C
Jim, since your daughter is under 65, finding Medigap coverage for her will be more difficult. However, in New York City, there are carriers that offer coverage to her. You can use the Medicare plan finder tool and input her information. From there, a list of plans and carriers available to her will populate.
Michelle may also be eligible for Medicaid, depending on her income in her state. She should contact her local Area Agency on Aging who can tell her the criteria for her state.
New to Medicare . In the past paid for best insurance I could find.Signed up for BC&BS of Fl Advantage plan thinking I was getting like kind coverage . It has been a disaster.
I have now waited over a month for “ok “ to have an epidural. I have been use to just walking in and receiving care. What plans will allow procedures I have had I the past , be allowed.
Hi Pat! Unfortunately, many Medicare beneficiaries make the same mistake with Medicare Advantage. How long have you been enrolled in your Advantage plan? Did you enroll when you were first eligible for Medicare? If so and it’s been less than 12-months, you could be eligible for a Special Enrollment Period known as trial-rights. You can leave your Advantage plan and switch to a Medigap plan without going through medical underwriting. The best Medigap plan with the most coverage is Plan G. The only out-of-pocket cost you will have outside the monthly premium is the Part B deductible, which is only around $200. There is no prior authorization for procedures like there is with Medicare Advantage. As long as Medicare covers it, your Medigap plan will too. I hope this helps!
My wife and I each carry high-cost private insurance. We each turn age 65 this year on Nov 4 and 5. We have just applied online for Medicare A and B. I have just begun evaluating supplemental vs advantage plans. I have been putting off a common procedure (performed in an ambulatory surgery center) until it would be covered by Medicare as it would not be paid under my private plan due to its high deductible. I was planning to schedule this procedure for November so the expenses would be covered by Medicare part B. I’m just learning that parts A and B have calendar-year deductibles that do not seem to be prorated depending on when in the year you first enroll in Medicare (a clear disadvantage in my case as I would have to meet the deductible in the two months that are left in this year and again when it resets Jan 1. Can you suggest a strategy for my situation? Is the answer in selecting the right supplemental plan? Thanks in advance.
Hi Stephan! Easy solution! Enroll in a Medigap plan within 6-months of your Part B effective date and you will have coverage for the calendar year deductible under Part A. If you go with Medicare Supplement Plan G, the only out-of-pocket cost you would have is the Part B deductible, which is only $203.
I’m on social security disability and pension. I’m very low income I can’t afford the copays and I haven’ seen my doctors because I go often and cannot afford them. I’m soon to be without anything but Medicare and severely depressed due to this. I need help, please can you help me?
Hi Michele! I’m sorry to hear you’re struggling. I will do my best to help! Do you know what parts of Medicare you have? Do you have Part A, Part B, or a Medicare Advantage plan? I’m assuming since you are paying copays, you have a Medicare Advantage plan. If you’re low-income, you could qualify for a Medicare Savings Program & Extra Help. The MSP will cover most if not all of your cost-sharing, like deductibles, coinsurance, etc. Depending on which one you’re eligible for, it could also help you pay your Part B premium.Then Extra Help will cover your prescription costs.