Medicare "Medigap" Supplements

Medicare Supplements (Medigap)  |  Examples: Plan F, Plan G

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Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plans, are sold by private health insurance companies. They can help pay some of the health care costs that Original Medicare doesn't fully pay for such as co-payments, coinsurance, and deductibles. Some Medigap policies also offer coverage for services that Original Medicare doesn't cover, such as medical care when you travel outside the U.S. 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 Plan. Medigap policy’s only supplement your Original Medicare benefits. This typically doesn't include Dental and Vision. Medicare Advantage Plan cover all Medicare benefits and adds additional insurance items like preventative dental, some vision & hearing, and other small benefits. 

 

Do Medigap policies cover everything?

The simple answer is, No. Medigap policies do not cover long-term care, non-medical vision and dental care, hearing aids, eyeglasses, or private-duty nursing.

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Examples of Non-Medigap Plans

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

• Medicare Prescription Drug Plans (Part D)

• Medicaid (This is different than Medicare)

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

• TRICARE

• Veterans' benefits (VA)

• Long-term care insurance policies

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