What Exactly Is Medicare Supplemental Insurance?

Medicare Supplement Insurance, also known as Medigap, is an insurance coverage sold by private insurance companies that can help pay some of the health care costs that Original Medicare does not cover including costs like coinsurance, deductibles, and copayments. Original Medicare cover, Part A, and B, pays for several health care services as well as supplies, but it does not pay for everything.

Medicare supplemental insurance helps to pay for a few services that the Original Medicare does not cover. This may include emergency overseas travel expenses and costs associated with excess charges in Medicare Part B. Basically, Medigap insurance fills the gaps that Original Medicare coverage does not cover. The following is an overview of how Medicare supplement plan works:

How the Medicare Supplemental Insurance Work:

Medicare insurance supplements is coverage that your Original Medigap benefits. This means that you have to enroll in the Original Medicare plan first in order to be eligible for Medicare supplemental insurance. You must stay enrolled in Original Medicare to enjoy the benefits of supplemental insurance. Supplemental plans are not meant to provide individual benefits and cannot be purchased alone.

The federal government prohibits the issuance of Medicare supplement coverage to people who are below the age of 65 and do not have a disability, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or end-stage renal disease. It is, therefore, important for you to check with your state’s health care department and find out if and when you are suitable to enroll in Medicare supplemental plan.

It is vital to emphasize that most Medicare insurance plans do not cover prescription drug.  A separate policy Medicare Part D is purchased to cover prescriptions. Therefore, if you want prescription and other medication costs to be catered for, you will have to enroll in separate Medicare prescription plan D coverage.

What are the Benefits Covered by Medicare Supplemental Insurance?

There are ten supplemental Medicare insurance plans. Each of these plans is represented by a letter, for example, A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L, M, and N. These plans are available in almost all the states. However, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Massachusetts have different sets of Medicare supplement plans. The premiums and coverage levels vary from state to state, but the benefits of each individual plan remain the same. Here are the benefits covered by the Medicare Supplement insurance:

• Blood transfusion (the first 3 pints)
• Medicare Part A hospital costs and coinsurance
• Medicare Part B
• Part A, hospice care copayment and coinsurance
• Medicare Part A and Part B deductible
• Professional nursing facility care coinsurance
• Foreign medical emergency travel

The following are health services and supplies not covered by the Medicare insurance policy:

• Care in a nursing home
• Hearing aids
• Private-duty nursing
• Hearing aids
• Prescription drugs
• Eyeglasses
• Routine dental and vision care

Knowing what Medicare supplemental insurance covers allow you to choose the plan that best meets your budget and health care needs.

Learn more about Medicare Supplemental Insurance plans, rates, and more at http://www.emedicare-supplemental-insurance.com.  Our expert Medicare Supplemental Insurance brokers will help you compare Medicare Supplemental Insurance rates and plans.  To talk to a Medicare expert call toll free 888.404.5049 today!