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A Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) policy helps pay some of the health care costs that Original Medicare doesn’t cover, like: 

  • Copayments 
  • Coinsurance 
  • Deductibles 

Medigap policies are sold by private companies. 

Some Medigap policies also cover services that Original Medicare doesn’t cover, like medical care when you travel outside the U.S. If you have Original Medicare and you buy a Medigap policy, here’s what happens: 

  • 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 Plan. 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. You pay this monthly premium 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’ll each have to buy separate policies. 

5. You can buy a Medigap policy from any insurance company that’s 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, aren’t allowed to include prescription drug coverage. If you want prescription drug coverage, you can join a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan (Part D).

8. It’s illegal for anyone to sell you a Medigap policy if you have a Medicare Medical Savings Account (MSA) Plan. 

Medigap policies don’t cover everything 

Medigap policies generally don’t cover long-term care, vision or dental care, hearing aids, eyeglasses, or private-duty nursing. 

Insurance plans that aren’t 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 
  • Medicaid 
  • Employer or union plans, including the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) TRICARE
  • 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) 

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 decide to drop your entire Medigap policy, you need to be careful about the timing. When you join a new Medicare drug plan, you pay a late enrollment penalty if one of these applies: You drop your entire Medigap policy and the drug coverage wasn’t creditable prescription drug coverage 

You go 63 days or more in a row before your new Medicare drug coverage begins. This information and more is available at www.medicare.gov

 

A type of Medicare health plan offered by a private company that contracts with Medicare. Medicare Advantage Plans provide all of your Part A and Part B benefits. Medicare Advantage Plans include: 

  • Health Maintenance Organizations 
  • Preferred Provider Organizations 
  • Private Fee-for-Service Plans 
  • Special Needs Plans 
  • Medicare Medical Savings Account Plans 

If you’re enrolled in a Medicare Advantage Plan: 

  • Most Medicare services are covered through the plan 
  • Medicare services aren’t paid for by Original Medicare 

Most Medicare Advantage Plans offer prescription drug coverage. 

  • Different types of Medicare Advantage Plans 
  • How to join a Medicare Advantage Plan 
  • Who can join a Medicare Advantage Plan? 
  • When can I join, switch, or drop a Medicare Advantage Plan? 
  • What if my plan decides to stop participating in Medicare? 
  • What if I have End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD)? 
  • How do Medicare Advantage Plans work? 

This information and more is available at www.medicare.gov

 

How to get drug coverage 

Medicare offers prescription drug coverage to everyone with Medicare. If you decide not to get Medicare drug coverage when you’re first eligible, you’ll likely pay a late enrollment penalty unless one of these applies: 

  • You have other creditable prescription drug coverage 
  • You get Extra Help 

To get Medicare drug coverage, you must join a plan run by an insurance company or other private company approved by Medicare. Each plan can vary in cost and drugs covered.

2 ways to get drug coverage 

1. Medicare Prescription Drug Plan (Part D). These plans (sometimes called “PDPs”) add drug coverage to Original Medicare, some Medicare Cost Plans, some Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) Plans, and Medicare Medical Savings Account (MSA) Plans.

2. Medicare Advantage Plan (Part C) (like an HMO or PPO) or other Medicare health plan that offers Medicare prescription drug coverage. You get all of your Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) coverage, and prescription drug coverage (Part D), through these plans. Medicare Advantage Plans with prescription drug coverage are sometimes called “MA-PDs.” You must have Part A and Part B to join a Medicare Advantage Plan. 

Consider all your drug coverage choices 

Before you make a decision, learn how Part D works with your other drug coverage. For example, you may have drug coverage from an employer or union, TRICARE, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the Indian Health Service, or a Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) policy. Compare your current coverage to Medicare drug coverage. The drug coverage you already have may change because of Medicare drug coverage, so consider all your coverage options. 

If you have (or are eligible for) other types of drug coverage, read all the materials you get from your insurer or plan provider. Talk to your benefits administrator, insurer, or plan provider before you make any changes to your current coverage 

Joining a Medicare drug plan may affect your Medicare Advantage Plan

Your Medicare Advantage Plan (Part C) will disenroll you and you’ll go back to Original Medicare if both of these apply: 

Your Medicare Advantage Plan includes prescription drug coverage. 

You join a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan (Part D).Type your paragraph here. This information and more is available at www.medicare.gov

 

Disclaimer:

*Medicare has neither reviewed nor approved this information.  Not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. Government or the Federal Medicare Program.