Plan Details

Medigap policy

health insurance

sold by private insurance companies to fill the "gaps" in

Original Medicare Plan

coverage. Medigap policies help pay some of the

health care

costs that the Original Medicare Plan doesn't cover. If you are in the Original Medicare Plan and have a Medigap policy, then Medicare and your Medigap policy will pay both their shares of covered health care costs.

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)

. Medigap policies must follow Federal and State laws. These laws protect you. 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 can vary. The benefits in any

Medigap Plan A through L

are the same for any insurance company. Each insurance company decides which Medigap policies it wants to sell.

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

. In addition, you will have to pay a premium to the Medigap insurance company.

You and your spouse must each buy separate Medigap policies. Your Medigap policy won't cover any

health care

costs for your spouse.

Standardized Medicare Supplement Plans for Most States (excluding MA, MN, and WI)

Options	A	B	C	D	E	F*	G	H	I	J*
Basic Benefits
Part A: Inpatient Hospital Deductible
Part A: Skilled-Nursing Facility Coinsurance
Part B: Deductible
Foreign Travel Emergency
At-Home Recovery
Part B: Excess Charges						100%	80%		100%	100%
Preventive Care

Plans F and J

also have a

high deductible option

. If you choose this option, you must pay $1,860 out-of-pocket per year before the plans pay anything.

Insurance policies

with a high deductible option generally cost less than those with lower deductibles. Your out-of-pocket costs for services may be higher if you need to

see your doctor or go to the hospital

BASIC BENEFITS:

Basic Benefits for Plans K and L

include similar services as

Plans A through J

, but cost sharing for the basic benefits is at different levels.

	K**	L**
	100% of Part A Hospitalization Coinsurance plus coverage for 365 days after Medicare Benefits end 50% Hospice cost-sharing 50% of Medicare eligible expenses for the first three pints of Blood 50% Part B Coinsurance, except 100% Coinsurance for Part B Preventive Services	100% of Part A Hospitalization Coinsurance plus coverage for 365 days after Medicare Benefits end 75% Hospice cost-sharing 75% of Medicare eligible expenses for the first three pints of Blood 75% Part B Coinsurance, except 100% Coinsurance for Part B Preventive Services
Skilled Nursing Coinsurance	50% Skilled Nursing Facility Coinsurance	75% Skilled Nursing Facility Coinsurance
Part A Deductible	50% Part A Deductible	75% Part A Deductible
Part B Deductible
Part B Excess (100%)
Foreign Travel Emergency
At-Home Recovery
Preventive Care NOT Covered by Medicare
	$4,140 Out of Pocket Annual Limit ***	$2,070 Out of Pocket Annual Limit ***

**Plans K and L provide for different cost-sharing for items and services than Plans A through J. Once you reach the annual limit, the plan pays 100% of the Medicare co-payments, coinsurance, and deductibles for the rest of the calendar year. The out-of-pocket annual limit does NOT include charges from your provider that exceed Medicare-approved amounts, called "