So you have Medicare Part A and Part B, you think you’ve got yourself covered, but then you end up being in the hospital over 60 days, and you have to foot the bill yourself. You wonder how can you prevent this? One way to prevent this is being independently wealthy. Another option is Medigap.
What is Medigap?
Medigap is technically called Medicare Supplement insurance. Medigap fills in the gaps of Original Medicare Part A & B. For instance, Original Medicare only guarantees 90 days in the hospital every benefit period. Where Medigap extends your hospitalization days up to 365 over your lifetime. As well as, some Medigap plans may cover your deductibles and coinsurance.
Compare Medigap Plan A and F
Medigap Plans A and F run the gamut of basic to comprehensive plans. Here’s a side by side comparison.
| Benefits | Medigap Plan A | Medigap Plan F |
|---|---|---|
| Part A coinsurance and hospital costs up to 365 days after Medicare benefits finish | Yes | Yes |
| Part B coinsurance or copayment | Yes | Yes |
| Blood (first 3 pints) | Yes | Yes |
| Part A hospice care coinsurance/copayment | Yes | Yes |
| Skilled nursing facility care coinsurance | No | Yes |
| Part A deductible | No | Yes |
| Part B deductible | No | Yes |
| Part B excess charges | No | Yes |
| Foreign travel healthcare | No | Yes |
Click here to see a comparison chart of all Medigap plans.
How much does Medigap cost?
The cost for Medigap’s monthly premium depends on your area and provider. But to give you an idea, the average monthly premium for the most comprehensive plan, Medigap Plan F, is $181 per month. Here’s the great part about about picking a plan, all Medigap plans are federally standardized, so every provider must offer the exact same plan for all plans offered. This means you can just shop based on price, and of course an insurance company that you trust.
What if I can’t afford F coverage, but A is too basic?
If Medigap Plan F is too expensive, but Plan A doesn’t cover enough there are other plans available that range in coverage. But if you want everything that Plan F covers, you may want to consider the Medigap F high deductible, which offers the same coverage as F with low monthly premium and a deductible of $2,800. This way you are covered in case of emergency but are saving monthly on your premium.
Ready to sign up for Medigap?
If you are ready to sign up or just have questions call the number above or click here to get a Medigap quote.