The Best Medicare Supplement Plans in Louisiana

Louisiana Medigap Plans: What's the Difference?

Most seniors agree that Original MedicareOriginal Medicare is private fee-for-service health insurance for people on Medicare. It has two parts. Part A is hospital coverage. Part B is medical coverage...., combined with one of the top three Medigap plans, offers the very best Medicare health insurance coverage Louisiana seniors can get. But, which Medicare supplement is right for you?

The answer to that question is complex. What's best for you is very different than what's best for your spouse or your neighbor. It all comes down to your finances (what you can afford) and your health (how much risk you can take). At MedicareWireMedicareWire is a Medicare insurance consulting agency. We founded MedicareWire after seeing and hearing how confusing and frustrating it is to find, understand, and choose a plan. Our services are free to the consumer...., we believe most seniors can narrow their search to three plans: F, G, and N. Read on and we'll explain why.

Related: Is Supplemental Medicare Insurance a Waste of Money?

Top 3 Medicare Supplements in Louisiana

Looking for the three best Medigap plans available in Louisiana? They are Medicare Supplement Plan FMedicare Supplement Plan F is the most comprehensive Medicare supplement plan available. This plan covers all Original Medicare deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments, leaving you with no out-of-pocket costs on all Medicare-approved services...., Medicare Supplement Plan GIf you're turning age 65 this year, Medicare Supplement Plan G is the most comprehensive Medicare supplement you can buy. It's also the most popular. You might be thinking that Medicare Supplement Plan F is..., and Medicare Supplement Plan NMedicare Supplemental Plan N is one of the ten standardized Medigap plans. Although it is one of the newest plans available, Medicare Plan N is quickly becoming a favorite with Baby Boomers aging into their.... Here are the 10 best insurance companies that offer these plans:

1. 10 Best Medicare Supplement Plan F in Louisiana
2. 10 Best Medicare Supplement Plan G in Louisiana
3. 10 Best Medicare Supplement Plan N in Louisiana

Looking for a different plan? Compare the best Medicare supplement plans in Louisiana. You can also write a Medicare supplement review and let others know about a good or bad experience with a particular carrier.

Louisiana Medicare Supplement Plan F Comparison Chart

Medicare Supplement Plan F is the most popular Medigap plan available in Louisiana. Here are the 10 best Plan F policies available in Louisiana based on our reviews (click for details):

Louisiana Medicare Supplement Plan G Comparison Chart

Medicare Supplement Plan G is rapidly gaining popularity among Louisiana seniors. With Plan F going away in 2020, it is expected to be the new gold standard. Here are the 10 best Medigap Plan G policies available in Louisiana based on our reviews (click for details):

Louisiana Medicare Supplement Plan N Comparison Chart

Medicare Supplement Plan N is similar to Plan D, but covers Medicare Part B coinsuranceCoinsurance is a percentage of the total you are required to pay for a medical service. ... costs differently. Due to its lower cost and good coverage, it's catching the attention of many Louisiana seniors. Here are the 10 best Medigap Plan N policies available in Louisiana based on our reviews (click for details):

About our Louisiana Supplemental Medicare Insurance Reviews

The Centers for Medicare and MedicaidMedicaid is a public health insurance program that provides health care coverage to low-income families and individuals in the United States.... updates their Medigap cost information annually. We evaluate all Medicare Supplement companies servicing policies in Louisiana. Our reviews are unbiased. We use a mathematical formula that considers years in business, A.M. Best financial strength rating plans serviced, plan premiumsA premium is an amount that an insurance policyholder must pay for coverage. Premiums are typically paid on a monthly basis. In the federal Medicare program, there are four different types of premiums. ..., and fees. We do not evaluate rate increase history for all Medicare insurance plans, so be sure to ask your agent to provide this information.

We review Medicare Supplement Plans in Louisiana head-to-head, statewide. We recommend consumers use our 5-star ratings as one aspect of their decision-making process. It helps compare insurance carriers at-a-glance. Call 1-855-728-0510 (TTY 711) to speak with an agent and get a quote.

How Much do Louisiana Medigap Plans Cost?

To get an accurate rate on Medicare Supplement plans, Louisiana agents will ask for your address, age, sex, and use of tobacco products. The rates we list are samples based on a 65-year-old, non-smoking woman, and include applicable household discounts. Use our rates for comparison purposes only. Call 1-855-728-0510 (TTY 711) to get quote.

Medigap Plans in Louisiana are Standardized

All Medicare Supplement insuranceMedicare Supplements are additional insurance policies that Medicare beneficiaries can purchase to cover the gaps in their Original Medicare (Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B) health insurance coverage.... carriers in Louisiana are required to follow both federal and state laws designed to protect you. All Medigap plans must be clearly identified as Medicare Supplement Insurance. Insurance companies must offer the standardized Medicare Plans identified by letters A through N. So, for example, a Plan F from Aetna has exactly the same health coverage as a Plan F from Mutual of Omaha. This is what makes Medigap plans easier to compare vs. an HMO or PPO style plan through Medicare Advantage.

NOTE: Medigap, Medicare Supplements, and Medicare Plans are all names used interchangeably for supplemental insurance that fills the gaps (i.e., copay, coinsurance, and other major medical expenses) in Original Medicare coverage.

Each Medicare supplement insurance policy sold in Louisiana 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 additional insurance you need to cover the gaps in your Medicare Parts A and B benefits.

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 AMedicare Supplement Plan A is often confused with Medicare Part A, which is the Medicare coverage that pays for your inpatient hospital care. Medicare Supplement Plan A, which is also known as Medigap Plan A,... (basic benefits)
• Must also offer Plan C or Plan F

For more information, visit the Louisiana Department of Insurance website at http://www.ldi.la.gov/.

Louisiana Med Supp Plan Comparison Chart

The comparison chart below shows the benefits offered by each standardized Medigap plan.

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 HospiceHospice is a special way of caring for people who are terminally ill. Hospice care involves a team-oriented approach that addresses the medical, physical, social, emotional, and spiritual needs of the patient.... 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 ChargesA Medicare Part B excess charge is the difference between a health care provider’s actual charge and Medicare’s approved amount for payment....	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.

Are Medigap Plans Better Than Medicare Advantage Plans in Louisiana?

It's important to compare Medigap insurance with Medicare Advantage plansMedicare Advantage (MA), also known as Medicare Part C, are health plans from private insurance companies that are available to people eligible for Original Medicare (Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B)..... At first glance, it looks like Medicare Advantage plans are less expensive and offer more benefits. But, you need to dig deeper to get to the truth. If you are simply comparing the monthly premiums, you may be in for a very big surprise with a Medicare Advantage plan in most areas of Louisiana.

To really understand the difference between Medicare supplements and Medicare Advantage plans you need to look at total cost. It's true, Medicare Advantage plans have many advantages and disadvantages, but your out-of-pocket costsOut-of-Pocket Costs for Medicare are the remaining costs that are not covered by the beneficiary's health insurance plan. These costs can come from the beneficiary's monthly premiums, deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments.... are not one of its advantages.

Getting Prescription Drug Coverage (Part D) with a Louisiana Medigap Plan

The only way to get prescription coverage with a Medigap policy is to buy a stand-alone Medicare Part D plan that's available in Louisiana. Basic prescription drug coverage start at less than $20.

If you are about to get your Medicare benefits, you can join a prescription drug plan as soon as you have both your Part A and Part B benefits. But, once your initial enrollment has passed, you'll have to wait until the next open enrollment periodDuring the Medicare Open Enrollment Period, Medicare Advantage and Part D plan members can change, switch, or drop a plan they chose during the Annual Election Period. OEP starts on January 1 and ends on... to enroll or to switch to a new plan. The Annual Election Period is in the Fall from 15 October through 7 December.

NOTE: If you don't enroll in a prescription drug plan when you are first eligible, you will be penalized with additional fees when you do join a plan. You may not have regular prescriptions that you take now, but it pays to join a basic plan to avoid the penalty later.

Still have questions about Medicare Supplement Insurance in Louisiana?

Are you trying to reduce your overall health care costs by lowering your out-of-pocket costs? One of these article may be what you're looking for:

• What is the difference between Medicare Supplement and Medicare Advantage plans?
• What is the Best Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan?
• Can I get a Medicare supplement plan if I am are under 65?
• When can I change my Medicare supplemental insurance plan?
• What is the cheapest Medicare supplement plan?
• Steps to Picking the Right Medicare Supplement Plans

You Have Questions About Medicare Supplements And We Have Answers

We get it. Figuring out which Louisiana Medigap plan is right for you is difficult. Here are a few of the most frequent questions we answer.

A Louisiana Medigap Plan Does Not Cover Dental

We all need routine dental care and dental restoration work as we age, but it's not covered by Original Medicare or a Medigap plan. For coverage, you'll need a stand-alone Louisiana dental insurance policy.

Need Local Help?

The State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIPs) provide free, one-on-one insurance counseling and assistance to Medicare beneficiaries, their families and caregivers. The Louisiana SHIP is a grant-funded project of the federal U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). You can reach them by phone or on their website:

• 1-800-259-5300
• http://www.ldi.la.gov/consumers/senior-health-shiip

Additional Foot Notes

^[3] The sample premium is for a 65-year-old, non-smoking, woman living in Louisiana. The rate was accurate on the date of publication. Rates change frequently and they are priced by county. You must contact a licensed agent to get a current rate for your situation.

^[4] Review rating stars are derived from MedicareWire reviews on our Medigap Plan pages.

Citations & References

medicare.gov

• Medicare.gov: the official U.S. government site for Medicare | Medicare https://www.medicare.gov/
• Medicare costs at a glance | Medicare https://www.medicare.gov/your-medicare-costs/medicare-costs-at-a-glance
• Find a Medigap policy that works for you https://www.medicare.gov/find-a-plan/questions/medigap-home.aspx
• Drug coverage (Part DMedicare Part D plans are an option Medicare beneficiaries can use to get prescription drug coverage. Part D plans provide cost-sharing on covered medications in four different phases: deductible, initial coverage, coverage gap, and catastrophic. Each...) | Medicare http://www.medicare.gov/part-d/index.html

ssa.gov

• The United States Social Security Administration https://www.ssa.gov/
• Medicare Benefits | SSA https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/medicare/

The Medicare Supplement information on this page originates from CMS Data Files, is maintained by David Bynon, and was last updated on September 15, 2021.