Idaho Medigap Plans ID Medicare Supplements

Idaho Medigap Plans are Standardized Medicare Supplements

The Idaho Department of Insurance and the federal government have worked together to standardize Medicare supplemental insurance policies. Insurance companies must clearly identify plans as Medicare Supplement Insurance and each Medicare Plan must use a standardized letter code, A through N. Each lettered plan offers the same benefits, regardless of the carrier offering it. Only the rates are different.

NOTE: Medigap, Medicare Supplements and Medicare Plans are all names used interchangeably for supplemental insurance that fill the gaps in Original Medicare coverage.

Each Medicare supplement insurance policy sold in Idaho offers the basic benefits of Plan A. All other lettered plans after A feature additional levels of coverage. This allows you to choose the amount of liability coverage you need.

Each insurance company decides which policies it wants to sell, although state laws might affect which ones they offer. Insurance companies that sell Medicare supplemental insurance:

• Are not required to offer every Medigap plan
• Must offer Medigap Plan A (basic benefits)
• Must also offer Plan C or Plan F

For more information, visit the Idaho Department of Insurance website at http://www.doi.idaho.gov/.

Medicare Supplement Plan F: Is it the Best Plan in Idaho?

Even though Medicare Plan F is the most costly, it is the overwhelming favorite. More than 50 percent of all seniors with a Medigap policy in Idaho choose Plan F. The reason is simple. It offers complete gap coverage.

IMPORTANT: If you want the gap protection of Medicare Supplement Plan F, you must get enrolled before January 2020. Congress voted to abolish Plan F. Starting January 2020 carrier are no longer able to sell these polices.

RELATED: Medicare Plan F: What Does this Medicare Supplement Offer?

Is the AARP Medicare Supplement the Best in Idaho?

This is one of the most common questions we're asked. AARP Medicare Supplements, which are underwritten by United Healthcare, offer the exact same coverage as standardized plans offered by other Medigap insurance carriers. The big difference is the monthly premium.

In our experience, AARP Medigap Plans are typically more expensive than average, and is often the most expensive. However, United Healthcare has a large number of hospitals under contract, allowing them to offer Medicare SELECT policies at better rates than standard Medicare Supplements. This allows them to be very competitive on rates if you agree to use a specific hospital.

The most popular AARP Medicare Supplements are Plan F, Plan G and Plan N. The comparison chart below highlights the difference in coverage.

Idaho Medicare Supplement Plans Comparison Chart

The following Medicare Supplement Plans Comparison Chart offers a quick look at the benefits provided by each Medigap policies.

Medigap Benefits	A	B	C	D	F*	G	K	L	M	N
Medicare Part A Coinsurance and hospital costs up to an additional 365 days after Medicare benefifits are used up	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Medicare Part B Coinsurance or Copayment	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	50%	75%	Yes	Yes**
Blood (First 3 Pints)	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	50%	75%	Yes	Yes
Part A Hospice Care Coinsurance or Copayment	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	50%	75%	Yes	Yes
Skilled Nursing Facility Care Coinsurance	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	50%	75%	Yes	Yes
Medicare Part A Deductible	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	50%	75%	50%	Yes
Medicare Part B Deductible	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No
Medicare Part B Excess Charges	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No
Foreign Travel Emergency (Up to Plan Limits)	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes
Out-of-Pocket Limit***	None	None	None	None	None	None	$5,240	$2,620	None	None

^* Medicare Plan F also offers a high-deductible plan. If you choose this option, this means you must pay for Medicare-covered costs up to the deductible amount of $2,240 before your Medigap plan pays anything.

^** Medicare Plan N pays 100% of the Part B coinsurance, except for a copayment of up to $20 for some office visits and up to $50 copayment for emergency room visits that don't result in an inpatient admission.

^*** After you meet your out-of-pocket yearly limit and your yearly Part B deductible, the Medigap plan pays 100% of covered services for the rest of the calendar year.

Medigap vs Medicare Advantage

Still wondering if a Medigap plan is right for you? Considering Medicare Advantage as an alternative? For many seniors it's a difficult decision. Here's our advice.

First, understand the difference between Medigap and Medicare Advantage plans available in Idaho. Medicare Supplement insurance fills gaps in your Original Medicare benefits. Medicare Advantage replaces your Original Medicare benefits with managed care.

Second, if you want the most choices and flexibility, Original Medicare combined with a Medigap plan and a Idaho Medicare Part D plan is the way to go.

RELATED: Medicare Advantage vs. Medigap: Which Is Best?