Medicare offers basic coverage for seniors and Medicare-eligible individuals, but a Medigap plan can offer extra coverage. UPDATE: This article is about how Medigap can offer you extra coverage in addition to original Medicare. To add confusion to the matter, Blue Shield of California has a Medigap plan G “Extra” which offers additional coverage of dental, vision, acupuncture and more. To learn about MedSupp plans with Extra Benefits, click here. For those who want to learn how Medigap helps supplement Medicare…keep reading!
CBS’ Money Watch’s opinion on standard Medigap’s extra coverage is, “It’s absolutely necessary to purchase such a plan.” While Money Watch’s adamant position is understandable, Medigap may not be a financial reality for some. If someone is on a very tight budget get Medicare Advantage, with its perks like dental, vision, gym memberships, and drug coverage for one low monthly premium. If there are a few dollars extra dollars in your bank account Medigap’s investment should prove worth every penny.
Medicare Extra
Medigap fills in the gaps where Medicare leaves seniors open to major financial burden. This is not to be melodramatic, but remember insurance isn’t just about getting check ups, but for the just in case, and that is where Original Medicare leaves seniors vulnerable.
Original Medicare leaves gaps, especially in case of extended hospital stays. Most people don’t realize that Medicare only covers up to the first 60 days, after that seniors pay out a whole lot for the next 30 days. Then seniors get an extra 60 lifetime days -this means over your lifetime you get only 60 extra days in the hospital and you’ll still pay out a great deal of green. When Medicare’s benefits have been exhausted, those without a supplemental plan will have to pay all additional costs.
What Medigap Covers
As stated above, Medicare doesn’t cover extended hospital stays, but what exactly does Medigap cover? Medigap basic plans cover the coinsurance (those two daily hospital amounts above). Medigap comprehensive plans also cover the deductible and excess charges.
But that isn’t all that Medigap can cover. Many seniors don’t realize that Medicare doesn’t cover emergency care when traveling outside the United States. Now, not all Medigap plans cover foreign emergency care, but many MedSupp plans do. Click here to see a side-by-side comparison Medigap plans.
For further questions about Medigap call 800-930-7956 or contact Senior65.com.