MediGap supplemental insurance, sold by private companies, can help pay some of the health care costs that Medicare does not, such as copays, coinsurance, and deductibles. Some Medigap policies also offer coverage for services that Original Medicare does not cover,such as travel abroad. If you have Original Medicare and you buy a Medigap policy, Medicare will pay its share of the Medicare approved amount for covered health care costs. Then your Medigap policy pays its share.

​

A Medigap policy is different from a Medicare Advantage. Those plans are ways to get Medicare benefits, while a Medigap policy only supplements your Original Medicare benefits.

​

8 things to know about Medigap policies

​

1. You must have Medicare Part A and Part B.

2. If you have a Medicare Advantage Plan, you can apply for a Medigap policy, but make sure you can leave the Medicare Advantage Plan before your Medigap policy begins.

3. You pay the private insurance company a monthly premium  for your Medigap policy in addition to the monthly Part B premium that you pay to Medicare.

4. A Medigap policy only covers one person. If you and your spouse both want Medigap coverage, you wil each have to buy separate policies.

5. You can buy a Medigap policy from any insurance company that is licensed in your state to sell one.

6. 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.

7. Some Medigap policies sold in the past cover prescription drugs, but Medigap policies sold after January 1, 2006 are not allowed to include prescription drug coverage. If you want prescription drug coverage, you can join a Medicare prescription part D.

 

Medigap policies do not cover everything

​

Medigap policies generally do not cover long term care, vision or dental care, hearing aids, eyeglasses, or private-duty nursing.

​

Insurance plans that are not Medigap

​

Some types of insurance aren’t Medigap plans, they include:

​

• Medicare Advantage Plans (like an HMO, PPO, or Private Fee-for-Service Plan)

• Medicare Prescription Drug Plans

• Medicare

• Employer or union plans, including the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP)

• Veterans’ benefits

• Long-term care insurance policies

• Indian Health Service, Tribal, and Urban Indian Health plans

 

Dropping your entire Medigap policy (not just the drug coverage)

 

If you decide to drop the entire Medigap policy, you need to be careful about the timing. For example, you may want a completely different Medigap policy (not just your old Medigap policy without the prescription drug coverage), or you might decide to switch to a Medicare Advantage Plan that offers prescription drug coverage.

​

If you drop your entire Medigap policy and the drug coverage was not creditable or you go more than 63 days before your new Medicare coverage begins, you have to pay a late enrollment penalty for your Medicare Prescription Drug Plan, if you choose to join one.

​

For more information please call the Orlando Senior Help Desk  407-678-9363.