The Best Medicare Supplement Plans in North Carolina

North Carolina Medigap Plans: What's the Difference?

Most Medicare experts 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 Medicare supplemental insurance, provides the best Medicare insurance coverage North Carolina seniors can get. But, which supplement is the right one for you?

This is a complicated question. After all, we're all different and have different needs. For most of us, it boils down to what we can afford and our health. Although there are 10 standardized plans, most seniors choose one of the three best Medigap plans available in North Carolina : F, G, and N. Keep reading and we'll explain why.

Related: Are Medicare Supplement Plans Worth It?

Top 3 Medicare Supplements in North Carolina

Looking for the three best Medigap plans available in North Carolina? 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 North Carolina
2. 10 Best Medicare Supplement Plan G in North Carolina
3. 10 Best Medicare Supplement Plan N in North Carolina

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

North Carolina Medicare Supplement Plan F Comparison Chart

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

North Carolina Medicare Supplement Plan G Comparison Chart

Medicare Supplement Plan G is rapidly gaining popularity among North Carolina 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 North Carolina based on our reviews (click for details):

North Carolina 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 North Carolina seniors. Here are the 10 best Medigap Plan N policies available in North Carolina based on our reviews (click for details):

Best North Carolina Medigap Plan Reviews

We review all major Medigap insurance carriers selling policies in North Carolina. Our 5-star ratings are unbiased. We use a complex formula that evaluates 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. Currently, our formula does not take rate increase history into account, so be sure to ask your agent for this information.

Our analysis of 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. plans in North Carolina is based on a statewide review, not national. We recommend consumers use our 5-star ratings as one aspect of their decision-making process. It helps compare insurance carriers at-a-glance.

How Much do Supplemental Medicare Plans Cost in North Carolina?

To get an accurate rate on Medicare Supplement plans, North Carolina 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 North Carolina are Standardized

North Carolina Medicare Supplement insurance carriers are required to adhere to state and federal laws that are designed to protect consumers. Medigap plans must be clearly identified as Medicare Supplement Insurance. Each standardized Medicare policy is identified by letters A through N and must offer the same identical benefits as all other plans with the same letter. The only variance is the monthly premium. So, for instance, a Plan F from Blue Cross has exactly the same health coverage as a Plan F from Humana. This standardization makes supplements much easier to compare vs. an HMO or PPO type of plan that you get 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 of the lettered Medicare supplement insurance plans offers the core coverage provided by Plan A. Plans B through N have a varying range of additional coverage. This makes it easier to choose just the right amount of additional insurance you need to pay the gaps in your Medicare Parts A and B benefits.

Insurance companies are free to choose the policies they offer, although North Carolina state laws might affect which ones they can offer. Carriers offering Medicare Plans:

• Don't have 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,... if they offer any Medigap policy
• Must also offer Plan C or Plan F if they offer any plan

For more information, visit the North Carolina Department of Insurance website at http://www.ncdoi.com/.

North Carolina 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 AMedicare Part A is hospital coverage for Medicare beneficiaries. It covers inpatient care in hospitals and skilled nursing facilities. It also covers limited home healthcare services and hospice care. 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 North Carolina?

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 North Carolina.

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 North Carolina Medigap Plan

To get your prescriptions covered with your Medigap policy, you need to buy a Medicare prescription drug plan in North Carolina. Basic plans start at less than $20 per month in most places.

If you are getting your Medicare benefits for the first time, you can enroll in a prescription drug plan as soon as you have both Part A and Part B. However, after your initial enrollment, you will need to wait until the Annual Election Period (AEP), also called the 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 March 31., to switch to a new plan. AEP is every Fall, starting 15 October and ending on 7 December.

WARNING: If you do not enroll in a Medicare 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... plan when you are first eligible, Medicare will penalize you with additional fees if you want to join a plan later on. So, even if you do not take regular medications, it pays to join a basic plan.

Still Unsure About How Supplemental Medicare Insurance Works in North Carolina?

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 North Carolina Medigap plan is right for you is difficult. Here are a few of the most frequent questions we answer.

A North Carolina 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 North Carolina 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 North Carolina 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:

• 1-855-408-1212
• http://www.ncshiip.com/

Additional Foot Notes

^[3] The sample premium is for a 65-year-old, non-smoking, woman living in North Carolina. 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 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. 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 D) | 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 April 6, 2022.