Michigan Medigap plans have special rules for those wanting to purchase Medicare Supplemental plans in MI. While MI has 10 Medigap plans to choose from, it has a few Med Supp laws that are unique to the Great Lakes State like the Michigan Medigap Subsidy .
Lions, Tigers, and Red Wings, oh my! No matter who you cheer for, Michigan has a Medigap plan for you.
Michigan Medigap Enrollment Periods
Michigan Open Enrollment
In Michigan, there is only one initial Medigap Open Enrollment Period (OEP) and it is not an annual occurrence. Michigan’s initial Medigap Open Enrollment Period is the 6-month period that starts when you first enroll in Medicare Part B and you are 65 or over. During this initial OEP, you are guaranteed to be approved on any MedSup plan at the best rate. If you apply outside of this period, you could be charged more or denied coverage.
If you are over 65 but still have coverage from your (or your spouse’s) work, you can delay Medicare Part B enrollment. Don’t worry, your OEP will be delayed until you enroll in Medicare Part B.
Michigan Medigap Qualifying Event Periods
Qualifying events, such as leaving a Medicare Advantage plan can trigger a Medigap Guaranteed Issue Period. When you have a qualifying event, you usually have a 63-day to apply for a plan with no health questions asked.
First of the Month Medigap Enrollment in Michigan
You can apply for a Medigap policy at any time of the year and your approved plan can begin the first of the following month. If you are outside your initial OEP and do not have a Medigap Qualifying event, you will have to answer health questions in the application. This is called Medical underwriting and insurance providers will use this information to approve or deny your application.
Under 65 Medigap enrollment:
Plans A, C and/or D may be available for those on Medicare but under 65 years old to purchase but at a higher rate. When you turn 65, you’ll have a chance to switch plans during your OEP. Learn more about Medigap for under65 here.
Michigan Medigap Subsidy
Michigan set up a program called Michigan Medigap Subsidy which was created to help pay for Medigap plans. This program is no longer active. The program stopped accepting new applications as of January 2021. If you’re a current Michigan Medigap Subsidy beneficiary, your January 2023 premium will be the last subsidized bill. (Source Michigan.gov)
What is the most popular Michigan Medigap plan?
As of 2020, Medigap Plan G in Michigan comprised the biggest amount of new enrollments. (source AHIP). As you’ll see in the chart below, Plan G covers the majority of Original Medicare Part A & B costs, including extras like the Part B excess charges and foreign emergency travel healthcare.
Michigan Medigap comparison chart
Looking over the Medigap chart, you’ll see how each Michigan plan covers Medicare’s benefits. While we often recommend Plan G, if you’re on a budget, Plan G High Deductible (identical to Plan G’s coverage but has a deductible ($2,800)) and Medigap Plan N are great options to financially protect you.
| Benefits | A | B | D | G** | K | L | M | N |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medicare Part A Deductible ($1,632) | 100% | 100% | 100% | 50% | 75% | 50% | 100% | |
| Part B Deductible ($240) | ||||||||
| Medicare Part A Hospital Coinsurance and 365 additional hospital days | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Medicare Part B Coinsurance | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 50% | 75% | 100% | 100% |
| First 3 Pints of Blood for a Transfusion | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 50% | 75% | 100% | 100% |
| Medicare Part A Hospice Coinsurance or Copay | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 50% | 75% | 100% | 100% |
| Skilled Nursing Facility Coinsurance | 100% | 100% | 50% | 75% | 100% | 100% | ||
| Medicare Part B Excess Charges | 100% | |||||||
| Foreign Emergency Healthcare | 80% | 80% | 80% | 80% | ||||
| Max Out-of-Pocket | $7,060 | $3,530 |
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Not included in the chart are Medigap Plan C and Plan F: These plans are only available to those who were Part B-eligible prior to January 1, 2020.
*Medigap Plan G High deductible ($2,800) is also available. Note: Plan F and Plan C are not featured on this chart as they are no longer available to those new to Medicare.
Switching Michigan Medigap Plans
With so many different Medicare plans, carriers, and deductibles, it’s easy to end up with a plan that might not fit anymore. What seemed like a great choice when you first signed up might no longer be ideal. You can switch from one Michigan Medigap (MedSup) plan to another at any time during the year. However, keep in mind that the AEP Open Enrollment from October 15 to December 7 doesn’t apply to Medigap plans in your state.
Medigap switching is allowed year-round, but you’ll usually need medical underwriting for approval since Michigan doesn’t have the Medigap Birthday Rule. The new Med Supp application includes around 20 questions about your health. Depending on your responses, you might be approved at the best rate or possibly a higher one. Those with certain pre-existing conditions may not qualify for the new plan.
If you’re in this situation, give us a call at 800-930-7956. A friendly team member from Senior65.com will be happy to offer free advice. Just remember not to cancel your old policy until you’ve secured the new one. For more details, check out our in-depth article, “Medicare Insurance Switching: Ultimate Guide.”
Michigan Medigap plan discounts
Michigan Medigap plan providers may offer discounts to save on your monthly premium cost. The following two options are available from most providers (click on the link below to learn more about each discount):
Michigan Medicare Excess Charges
Excess Charges occur when doctors charge more than Medicare’s approved amount. Typically, Medicare covers 80% of the approved amount, leaving patients to pay 20%. However, some doctors do not accept Medicare’s payment in full. Consequently, they bill patients for the difference. These extra fees are known as Excess Charges. However, you can avoid these by enrolling in Medigap Plan G. Our article ‘How To Avoid Medicare Excess Charges’ spills the beans!”
You can (most likely) keep your MI Medigap if you move
You should be able to keep your Michigan Medigap plan if you move out of state. Your Medigap price may increase if you move out of state. (source)
What now, Michigan?
While you may have learned more than you ever wanted to know about Michigan Medigap plans, we know that new information leads to questions. Don’t hesitate to leave a comment below or give one of our licensed agents a call at 800-930-7956.
Our agents WILL NOT charge you a fee for a quote or enroll you in a plan. We receive commissions directly from insurance providers at no extra cost to you.