Medicare Supplement Insurance

What is Medicare Supplement Insurance?

Medicare Supplement, often called Medigap, is private insurance that works alongside Original Medicare Part A (hospital) and Part B (medical). Original Medicare pays its share of covered costs and Medigap fills in the gaps; which is your share of deductibles, coinsurance and copayments. It doesn't replace Medicare. There are 10 standardized Medigap plans, Plans A through N, available in Arizona and most states.

How it's different from Medicare Advantage

There's no network with a Medigap plan. You can see any doctor or specialist, nationwide and in the U.S. territories, who accepts Original Medicare; no referrals needed. Medigap plans are standardized by letter (like Plan G or Plan N), so a given plan letter covers the same benefits no matter which insurance company sells it. What differs between companies is the monthly premium, so shopping around genuinely matters and that's where Arlyne comes in.

What it typically costs

Medigap plans carry a monthly premium on top of your Medicare Part B premium. You pay for the freedom and convenience of seeing any provider who accepts Medicare and for reduced out-of-pocket medical bills. In exchange, most people find their day-to-day healthcare costs become far more predictable. Medigap plans don't include prescription drug coverage, so it's important to also have a separate Part D plan.

Choosing between Medigap plans and comparing premiums across carriers can be confusing on your own. Arlyne walks through the real numbers for your situation and helps you enroll, at no cost to you.