Author: Ron Johnson
Medigap Insurance Plans are simply Medicare Supplement Insurance, and do not confuse them with Medicare Advantage Plans (HIMs, PPOs). You do pay a premium to an insurance company, and if you maintain your payment it will automatically renew, if you bought if after the year 1991. These type of policies must have the words, Medicare Supplement Insurance clearly printed on the front of the policy.
Do understand that this not your government Medicare coverage, this is private insurance which is sold by insurance companies in addition to your Medicare. This time of policy will only fill in the gaps of what your Original Medicare will not cover.
Medigap Basics – There are currently 12 different types of Medigap plans to choose, A – L. They are intentionally standardized so that you get the same benefits from any plan with one company as you get for the same plan with any other company.
If you buy Plan A from Company 1, it offers the same benefits as Plan A bought from Company 2. You get the same Plan A benefits regardless of what company you purchase from, but, the only difference is the cost. Prices can vary greatly so be sure to shop around to get the best price.
The Reasons To Buy A Medigap Policy – Considering the fact that your original Medicare insurance through the government does not pay for all of your health care expenses, buying a supplemental Medigap policy will bridge the gap and pay for some of your expenses. Such expenses are, but not limited to, co-payments, coinsurance and your Medicare deductible, and these are known as “gaps” in the standard Medicare program.
Because these are supplemental policies, they cover things like routine yearly checkups, expenses for recovering at home, and even emergency coverage if you are traveling out of the U. S. However, if you or your spouse have retiree coverage through a former employer, you might not need a Medigap policy. Ask your benefits administrator if you need this coverage to fill in the gaps.
The Best Time To Buy A Medigap Policy – As soon as you are age 65, and within the open enrollment period. The reason you want to do this during the enrollment season is because no insurance company can refuse you a Medigap policy if you want one. They also cannot make conditions like a waiting period, not can they raise the price due to pre-existing conditions. Please understand that Medigap is not Medicare. These Medigap policies are for paying that money you would owe after Medicare quits paying.
The main advantage in buying Medigap is that during the period of your enrollment this policy may cover any pre-existing health problems without placing a waiting period on your benefits. However, if you wait too long and your enrollment expires, they can make you wait, typically six months duration, before it covers any pre-existing conditions. With that in mind, be sure to start shopping prices on Medigap Insurance Plans and do so before your enrollment term expires.
When it comes to Medicare supplements, you might consider trying medigap. With the Medigap quotes, you will see the price you’re looking for. It’s very important to have medical insurance and a way to get certain medical supplements.
