What insurance can I buy to fill gaps in Original Medicare?

You may be able to buy a supplemental coverage policy that is designed to fill gaps in Original Medicare. Such a policy is called a “Medigap.” Medigaps can help cover Original Medicare deductibles, coinsurances and some additional benefits. If you do not have other supplemental coverage, such as a retiree plan, you might want to consider purchasing a Medigap policy.

There are different standardized Medigap plans, labeled by letters. Not all plans are available in all areas.  

The plans that were available before June 1, 2010, are labeled by letters A-L.

Starting June 1, 2010, there will be two new Medigap plans (M and N), and four plans (E, H, I and J) will no longer be sold.

• If you bought a plan before June 1, 2010, you can usually keep it as long as you like. The benefits will not change. 
• In general, if you are happy with your current plan, there is no reason to switch. If you decide to switch, you should get unbiased advice to make sure that the plan you pick fits your needs.
• Remember that plans are not required to sell you a policy if you are not within a time that you have the right to purchase a Medigap.

Note: Massachusetts, Minnesota and Wisconsin have different standardized Medigap plans that you can buy.

Each Medigap plan pays for a particular set of benefits. Plan A offers the fewest benefits and is usually the least expensive. Plans that offer more benefits, like Plan F, are generally more expensive.

The most popular Medigap plans are C and F, because they cover major benefits and are less expensive than many other plans.

Prior to June 1, 2010 all Medigap plans were required to include the following basic benefits:

• Hospital coinsurance coverage
• 365 additional days of full hospital coverage
• Full or partial coverage for the 20 percent coinsurance for doctor charges and other Part B services
• Full or partial coverage for the first 3 pints of blood you need each year

All Medigap plans sold starting June 1, 2010 (including new plans M and N) must offer these basic benefits and also pay all or part of the hospice coinsurance for drugs and respite care.

Depending on which Medigap plan you choose, you can get coverage for additional expenses Medicare doesn't cover, including:

• Hospital deductible
• Skilled nursing facility coinsurance*
• Part B deductible
• Emergency care outside the U.S.
• At-home recovery**
• Preventive care that Medicare does not cover**
• Excess doctor charges. “Excess charges” refer to the amount above the Medicare-approved amount “non-participating doctors” can charge. New plans M and N will offer some of these additional benefits.  Plan M will cover the basic benefits and also cover half of the Part A deductible, skilled nursing facility coinsurance, and some of the cost of foreign travel emergencies. Plan N will also cover the basic benefits except for $20 copayments for office visits and $50 copayments for emergency room visits. Plan N will also offer foreign travel emergency coverage and cover the full Part A deductible as well as skilled nursing facility coinsurance.

*Note: Medigap plans K and L will only pay for a portion of the cost that Medicare does not cover until you reach a yearly out-of-pocket limit. In some areas, Medigap plans F and J are offered as high-deductible plans, which will only cover you after you have met an annual deductible.  Plans J and high-deductible J will no longer be offered after June 1, 2010. If you currently have plan J or high-deductible J you can keep it as long as you like, and your benefits will usually not change.

**Note: Plans purchased between July 31, 1992, and May 31, 2010, may include the at-home recovery benefit and preventive care that Medicare d

What insurance can I buy to fill gaps in Original Medicare?

You may be able to buy a supplemental coverage policy that is designed to fill gaps in Original Medicare. Such a policy is called a “Medigap.” Medigaps can help cover Original Medicare deductibles, coinsurances and some additional benefits. If you do not have other supplemental coverage, such as a retiree plan, you might want to consider purchasing a Medigap policy.

There are different standardized Medigap plans, labeled by letters. Not all plans are available in all areas.  

The plans that were available before June 1, 2010, are labeled by letters A-L.

Starting June 1, 2010, there will be two new Medigap plans (M and N), and four plans (E, H, I and J) will no longer be sold.

• If you bought a plan before June 1, 2010, you can usually keep it as long as you like. The benefits will not change. 
• In general, if you are happy with your current plan, there is no reason to switch. If you decide to switch, you should get unbiased advice to make sure that the plan you pick fits your needs.
• Remember that plans are not required to sell you a policy if you are not within a time that you have the right to purchase a Medigap.

Note: Massachusetts, Minnesota and Wisconsin have different standardized Medigap plans that you can buy.

Each Medigap plan pays for a particular set of benefits. Plan A offers the fewest benefits and is usually the least expensive. Plans that offer more benefits, like Plan F, are generally more expensive.

The most popular Medigap plans are C and F, because they cover major benefits and are less expensive than many other plans.

Prior to June 1, 2010 all Medigap plans were required to include the following basic benefits:

• Hospital coinsurance coverage
• 365 additional days of full hospital coverage
• Full or partial coverage for the 20 percent coinsurance for doctor charges and other Part B services
• Full or partial coverage for the first 3 pints of blood you need each year

All Medigap plans sold starting June 1, 2010 (including new plans M and N) must offer these basic benefits and also pay all or part of the hospice coinsurance for drugs and respite care.

Depending on which Medigap plan you choose, you can get coverage for additional expenses Medicare doesn't cover, including:

• Hospital deductible
• Skilled nursing facility coinsurance*
• Part B deductible
• Emergency care outside the U.S.
• At-home recovery**
• Preventive care that Medicare does not cover**
• Excess doctor charges. “Excess charges” refer to the amount above the Medicare-approved amount “non-participating doctors” can charge.New plans M and N will offer some of these additional benefits.  Plan M will cover the basic benefits and also cover half of the Part A deductible, skilled nursing facility coinsurance, and some of the cost of foreign travel emergencies. Plan N will also cover the basic benefits except for $20 copayments for office visits and $50 copayments for emergency room visits. Plan N will also offer foreign travel emergency coverage and cover the full Part A deductible as well as skilled nursing facility coinsurance.

*Note: Medigap plans K and L will only pay for a portion of the cost that Medicare does not cover until you reach a yearly out-of-pocket limit. In some areas, Medigap plans F and J are offered as high-deductible plans, which will only cover you after you have met an annual deductible.  Plans J and high-deductible J will no longer be offered after June 1, 2010. If you currently have plan J or high-deductible J you can keep it as long as you like, and your benefits will usually not change.

**Note: Plans purchased between July 31, 1992, and May 31, 2010, may include the at-home recovery benefit and preventive care that Medicare does not cover. Plans purchased on or after June 1, 2010, will no longer include the at-home recovery benefit and the preventive care benefit 

 Before 2006, Medigap plans H, I and J were sold with drug coverage. These plans are no longer sold with drug coverage. If you bought a Medigap plan H, I or J with drug coverage before 2006, you can keep the drug coverage benefit. However, it is not considered as good as the Medicare drug benefit (“creditable”). You may pay a penalty if you do not enroll in a Medicare private drug plan when you are first eligible.  If you do enroll in the Medicare drug benefit, your plan must automatically remove the drug coverage from your benefits and adjust your premium. Plans H, I and J will no longer be offered beginning June 1, 2010. If you purchased one of these plans you can usually keep it for as long as you would like, and your benefits will not change.

oes not cover. Plans purchased on or after June 1, 2010, will no longer include the at-home recovery benefit and the preventive care benefit.