Medicare Supplements

Medicare FAQ

Medicare Supplement Insurance or Medigap is Medicare Supplement Insurance that is sold by private companies that helps fill "gaps" in Original Medicare. Original Medicare pays for most, but not all, of the cost for covered health care services and supplies. A Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) policy can help pay some of the remaining health care costs, like:

• Copayments
• Coinsurance
• Deductibles

Some Medigap policies cover services that Original Medicare doesn't cover, like medical care when travelling outside the U.S. If you have Original Medicare and you buy a Medigap policy, here's what happens:

• Medicare will pay its share of the Medicare-approved amount for covered health care costs.
• Then, your Medigap policy pays its share.



You must have Medicare Part A and Part B.

1. A Medigap policy is different from a Medicare Advantage Plan. Those plans are ways to get Medicare benefits, while a Medigap policy only supplements your Original Medicare benefits.
2. You pay the private insurance company a monthly premium for your Medigap policy. You pay this monthly premium in addition to the monthly Part B premium that you pay to Medicare.
3. A Medigap policy only covers one person. If you and your spouse both want Medigap coverage, you'll each have to buy separate policies.
4. You can buy a Medigap policy from any insurance company that's licensed in your state to sell one.
5. Any standardized Medigap policy is guaranteed renewable even if you have health problems. This means the insurance company can't cancel your Medigap policy as long as you pay the premium.
6. If you want prescription drug coverage, you can join a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan (Part D).
7. It's illegal for anyone to sell you a Medigap policy if you have a Medicare Advantage Plan, unless you're switching back to Original Medicare.