Medicare Supplement plans

A supplemental plan to help cover what the original plan does not

Medicare supplement insurance — or Medigap — lets you avoid financial surprises by filling the gap between what original Medicare pays and what you pay out-of-pocket. It can help manage your health care decisions and control your copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles for hospital and doctor services. Enrolling in a supplemental insurance plan when you first become eligible may help reduce your costs later.^¹

Medicare supplement is a health insurance option for people with Medicare. There are standardized Medicare supplement insurance plans available to fill the gaps left by original Medicare (Parts A and B). These types of plans are sold by private companies as individual insurance policies and are regulated by the Department of Insurance.

After age 65 and for the first six months of eligibility for Medicare Part B, beneficiaries have an open enrollment period and are guaranteed the ability to buy any of these plans from any company that sells them. During this time, companies cannot deny coverage or charge more for current or past health problems. If you fail to apply for a Medicare Supplement plan within your open enrollment period, you may lose the right to purchase such a policy without regard to your health.

^¹The Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) for Medicare for people turning 65 lasts seven months (this may also be referred to as Open Enrollment). It starts three months before your birth month, includes your birth month, and extends three months after your birth month. In most cases, during this period you can enroll in any available Medicare Supplement, Medicare Advantage and/or Medicare Part D plan, regardless of your health and/or any pre-existing conditions except end-stage renal disease (ESRD).