What is Medigap Insurance? Medicare Supplement Plans are designed to fill in the gaps left by Medicare Parts A and B. Depending on your health status, coverage may be limited or it could not even be helpful. There are various Medigap Insurance Plans available to choose from.
Most Medicare Supplement Plans provide coverage for several different conditions and medical issues. Some Medigap insurance plans provide coverage only for “pre-existing” conditions, such as asthma, depression, high blood pressure, diabetes, or obesity.
Other plans cover “existing” disorders that have developed after a certain date, such as bipolar disorder, major depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, or schizophrenia. Still, others cover mental health issues, medications, and a host of other related issues. Which condition you should get covered depends on what Medigap plan you’re looking for.
Most Medicare Supplement Plan G have a premium, or monthly cost, that is paid entirely out of pocket. There is a range of prices, depending on your health status, age, gender, and current age.
Some Medigap insurance plans offer options to pay the entire premium over 12 months; others allow you to “buy in” at any point up to the fifth month. If you need coverage to start early, you may want to consider one of the pay-as-you-go options – most of these plans start on the first day that you become a member and pay nothing thereafter.
With Medigap insurance plans, there are also two enrollment processes. You can either enroll in the plan or the plan f. Each has its advantages and disadvantages. For example, plan g may allow you to start early and pay a lower premium. However, you’ll pay more out of pocket if you have to enroll and start coverage.
You may also want to enroll in both Medicare supplement plans if you have both Medicare Parts A and B. Enrollment in both will give you extra coverage for medications, chiropractic services, and other services not covered by the primary plan.
Most Medigap insurance plans don’t cover maternity benefits, but some do. You’ll want to double-check with your primary plan to be sure you’ll still be able to take advantage of maternity benefits when you hit the maternity calendar.
Regardless of which type of Medigap insurance plan you choose, paying your medical costs in full is a must. Part A plans focus on reducing the monthly premiums and deductibles. Part B offers catastrophic coverage should you become seriously ill or injured.
Both of these plans also cover recovery expenses, so if you incur serious medical costs, you won’t have to worry about what to pay for your medical bills. Medigap insurance can be very helpful, especially when you need it most.