Medicare Plans, Supplements, News and Benefits Information

  • Home
  • Medicare Advantage
  • Medicare Part D (Rx)
  • Medigap
  • More ∇
    • Turning 65?
    • Dental Plans
    • Medicare Supplements
    • Medicare Plans by City
    • MedicareWire Blog
    • About Us

Medicare Supplements Medigap Plans for Original Medicare

Please enter a valid 5-digit zip code.
Get a Medicare Supplement!
Medicare Supplements cover the gaps in Original Medicare. We'll help you find the lowest rate. Start by entering your 5-digit ZIP code.

Learn About Medicare Supplements

  • Why Is a Medicare Supplement Necessary?
  • Who Is Eligible?
  • When Can I Buy?
  • How Do I Get One?
  • Where Do I Buy?

You Are At Risk With Original Medicare!

That's not hype. It's a fact.

Your Original Medicare benefits offer basic health care coverage. For most seniors it takes care of about 80 percent of all medical bills. If you have a disability, it may pay even less. For the remaining 20-plus percent you are required to pay the bills out of your own pocket (unless you have Medicaid or VA benefits). This is why supplemental Medicare insurance is critical.

Why Is A Medicare Supplement Necessary?

Without supplemental Medicare insurance, an illness, injury, even a couple day stay in the hospital can cost you thousands of dollars. If you have a critical illness it could end up costing you your house, your life savings, or both. No matter what, unless you are already poor, the Government will not give you additional assistance to help pay your medical bills. This is why buying additional coverage is so important. A Medicare supplement policy pays the portion of your medical bills that Medicare does not cover (the "twenty percent").

« Back to Table of Contents
Read More On This Topic »

Who Is Eligible For A Medicare Supplement?

All Medicare supplement policies (also called "Medigap") supplement original Medicare coverage (Parts A and B). To purchase a Medigap plan you must qualify for both Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B.

Age is the primary qualifying factor, however, there are also compatibility issues with other types of Medicare insurance. For instance, you cannot be enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan and purchase a Medicare Supplement. They are not compatible.

« Back to Table of Contents
Read More On This Topic »

When Can I Buy A Medicare Supplement?

The best time to purchase a Medicare Supplement (Medigap plan) is during your individual enrollment period (IEP). During this critical period you cannot be denied supplemental health insurance for any reason (you have "guaranteed issue rights").

Your IEP is a six month window that begins the first day of the month in which you are 65 or older and enrolled in Medicare Part B. So if you turn 65 on January 3rd but do not enroll in Medicare Part B until February 25th, your IEP will begin on March 1st, which is the first day in which you are age 65 and enrolled in Part B.

Insurance companies use medical underwriting formulas to decide if they will accept your application and how much they need to charge to cover their risk. However, while you have guaranteed issue rights, health insurance providers cannot turn you away or charge more than the Medicare approved rate.

« Back to Table of Contents
Read More On This Topic »

How Do I Get A Medicare Supplement?

Medicare Supplements are insurance policies purchased through insurance carriers licensed in your state. The first step is to shop policies available in your state.

The good news is that Medigap plans are standardized using a letter system (A through N). This way a Plan A or Plan F sold by one company is exactly the same as another. The only difference is the price.

Be a smart consumer. It pays to shop around and review your plan annually to make sure you're still paying a competitive rate.

« Back to Table of Contents
Read More On This Topic »

Where Do I Buy A Medicare Supplement?

You can purchase a Medicare Supplement directly from the insurance carrier or through an agent licensed to sell policies in your state. We recommend using an independent agent because they can help you evaluate policies from multiple carriers. Find an agents in your state by entering your zip code below.

Medicare Agents
« Back to Table of Contents
Read More On This Topic »

Still Have Questions About Medicare Supplement Insurance?

Read our complete Medicare Supplement Guide or talk to your local agent.

See Medicare Supplements Prices in Your State

Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming

Fast, Free Medicare Quotes

What is your Zip Code?
Are you age 65 or older?

About Medicare Supplements

  • Medicare Supplement Basics
  • What are Medicare Supplements?
  • What does a Supplement Cover?
  • Can I get Prescription Drug Coverage?
  • How Much Do Supplements Cost?
  • When Can I Get a Supplement?
  • Who is Eligible?
  • How can I save money?
  • Are Supplements and Supplemental Insurance the same thing?
  • What are the Standardized Benefits?

About MedicareWire.com

MedicareWire.com is privately owned and operated. We are a non-government resource, providing Medicare information for consumer research and education. This website and its contents are for informational purposes only. If you're looking for the government's Medicare website, please browse to www.medicare.gov.

Plan Data

The Medicare plan information on this website comes from a combination of public and private sources, including www.cms.gov. To learn about Medicare plans you may be eligible for, you can contact Medicare plans directly or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) 7 days a week.

Privacy and Security

Your privacy and security are very important to us. Your personal information is protected by our Privacy Policy. Our website is protected by certified internet security standards.

Copyright © 2018 MedicareWire.com - All Rights Reserved · About · Contact · Privacy · Disclosure