A Medigap (Medicare Supplement) policy is health insurance sold by private insurance companies to fill the “gaps” in Original Medicare Plan coverage. Insurance companies can only sell you a “standardized” Medigap policy. These Medigap policies must all have specific benefits so you can compare them easily.
You may be able to choose up to 12 different standardized Medigap policies (Medigap Plans A through L). Most states have 10 policies (Medigap Plans A – J); in Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, there are 12 standardized plans labeled Plan A through Plan L.
Medigap policies must follow Federal and State laws. A Medigap policy must be clearly identified on the cover as “Medicare Supplement Insurance.” Each plan, A through L, has a different set of basic and extra benefits. It’s important to compare Medigap policies because costs vary by insurance companies. The benefits in any Medigap Plan A through L are the same for any insurance company. At the www.medicare.gov site you can find and compare Medigap policies.
Generally, when you buy a Medigap policy you must have Medicare Part A and Part B. You will have to pay the monthly Medicare Part B premium. You and your spouse must each buy separate Medigap policies. Your Medigap policy won’t cover any health care costs for your spouse.
Medigap policies do not require specific language regarding use at a religious nonmedical healthcare institution (RNHCI) which is the designation for Christian Science nursing facilities that are Medicare or Medicaid providers. Since Medigap policies fill the gaps in Original Medicare Plan coverage including when Medicare is exhausted, it is necessary that the patient continue to require skilled nursing just as he or she did when they were under Medicare coverage.
For additional information on Medigap policies, including why you would want to buy a Medigap policy and information about what Medigap policies cover, read or download Choosing a Medigap Policy: A Guide to Health Insurance for People with Medicare at www.medicare.gov.
