Medigap

What is Medigap?
Medigap (also called Medicare Supplement Insurance) is private insurance that helps cover “gaps” in Original Medicare (Parts A & B). It can help pay for deductibles, co-payments, and coinsurance that Medicare doesn’t fully cover.

What Medigap Covers

  • Part A coinsurance and hospital costs

  • Part B coinsurance or copayments

  • Blood (first 3 pints)

  • Part A hospice coinsurance or copayments

  • Skilled nursing facility coinsurance (with some plans)

  • Part A & Part B deductibles (with some plans)

  • Foreign travel emergency care (with some plans)

Coverage depends on the Medigap plan letter you choose (Plans A–N).

What Medigap Doesn’t Cover

  • Prescription drugs (you need Part D for this)

  • Routine vision, dental, hearing aids

  • Long-term care

  • Private-duty nursing

Costs

  • You pay a monthly premium for Medigap (varies by plan, age, health, and location).

  • You must also keep paying your Part B premium.

  • Premiums may rise over time.

Enrollment

  • Best time: 6-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period (starts the month you’re both 65 and enrolled in Part B).

  • During this window, you can buy any Medigap plan available in your state with no health questions asked.

  • After this window, you may face medical underwriting (higher costs or denial based on health).

Maria’s Story:
Maria, age 66, has Original Medicare (Parts A & B) and a Medigap Plan G. When she needed knee replacement surgery, Medicare paid most of the bill. Her Medigap policy covered her Part A deductible and most of her out-of-pocket costs. Maria had predictable, manageable costs for her care.

⚠️ Important: You cannot have both a Medicare Advantage plan and a Medigap policy at the same time.