• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
MedicareWire

MedicareWire

Best Medicare plan, cost, and enrollment tools for seniors.

Speak with a Licensed Advisor[1]

1-855-728-0510 (TTY 711)

Mon-Sun, 8am to 11pm EST

  • Medicare Advantage
  • Special Needs
  • Medigap
  • Medicare Part D
  • More➲
    • Senior Dental Plans
    • Medicare Mistakes
    • What Does Medicare Cover?
    • Important Resources
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Medicare Glossary

Medicare Supplement Plan C

by David Bynon, June 6, 2021

What is Medicare Supplement Plan C?

Medicare Supplement Plan C, also called Medigap Plan C, is one of the most comprehensive of the 10 standardized supplemental Medicare plans available in most states. In fact, only Medicare 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. offers more coverage. For its beneficiaries, this top-tier plan covers most Medicare-approved 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..

NOTE: Medicare Plan C, along with Plan F, is no longer open to people turning age 65.  That means if you are first eligible for Medicare benefits on or after 1 January 2020, you can’t buy Plan C. People who already have Plan C can it, and you can still apply for this plan if you were eligible for Medicare before 2020.

Also, don’t be confused between Medicare Plan C and Medicare Part CMedicare Part C is Medicare's private health plan option. Also known as Medicare Advantage, Medicare Part C plans are a type of Medicare health plan offered by companies that contract with Medicare to provide all.... Despite the fact that they sound like the same thing, Medicare Part C is the Medicare AdvantageMedicare 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). program, which replaces your 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. benefits with a managed health plan.

Find Plans in your area with your ZIP Code

Medigap Plan C, as its name implies, covers gaps in your Original Medicare benefits, including the following:

  1. 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. hospital coinsuranceCoinsurance is a percentage of the total you are required to pay for a medical service.  and hospital costs up to 365 days after Original Medicare benefits are exhausted
  2. Medicare 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 copaymentsA copayment, also known as a copay, is a set dollar amount you are required to pay for a medical service.
  3. Medicare Part BMedicare Part B is medical coverage for people with Original Medicare benefits. It covers doctor visits, preventative care, tests, durable medical equipment, and supplies. Medicare Part B pays 80 percent of most medically necessary healthcare services. copayments and coinsurance
  4. First three pints of blood for a medical procedure
  5. Skilled Nursing Facility care coinsurance
  6. Medicare Part A deductibleA deductible is an amount a beneficiary must pay for their health care expenses before the health insurance policy begins to pay its share.
  7. Medicare Part B deductible
  8. Foreign travel emergency coverage (80% of approved costs up to plan limits)

You can use this Medigap Plan Comparison Chart to see how Plan C stacks up with the other nine plans.

Medicare Supplement Plans Comparison Chart for 2023

What’s Not Covered by Medicare Plan C?

It doesn’t cover 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.. These are doctor charges that can legally extend beyond the Medicare-approved amountA Medicare-approved amount is what Medicare will pay for a covered service. Healthcare providers that agree to Medicare assignment accept the approved amount without excess charges. What Does Medicare-Approved Amount Mean? A Medicare-approved amount is... for service payment. When excess charges occur, the remainder of the cost is charged directly to the patient. For example, a doctor or physician may be allowed to bill up to 15% over the Medicare-approved amount in some cases.

Medicare Plan C Costs May Vary by Carrier and Where You Live

In all states, Medigap plans are regulated by state and federal government rules, but monthly 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.  are not regulated. That means all Medigap Plan C policies have the exact same benefits, no matter which company you choose, however, plan availability and premiums will be different. This makes shopping for 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. very easy. Simply shop for the best price on the level of coverage you need.

Here is what you should know before you compare Medigap plans. All Medicare supplement insurance companies set their premiums based on one of three rating systems:

  1. Issue-age-rated
  2. Attained-age-rated
  3. Community-rated

Using one of these rating methods, carriers factor in your age, gender, location, use of tobacco, and health.  Insurance companies get their rates based on many factors, including the size, age, and health of the pool of members.

Here’s the good news. You only have to qualify once. Your coverage cannot be terminated unless you don’t pay your monthly premiums or you were not truthful on the application. In some circumstances, your policy can be canceled if the insurance company goes bankrupt. In this case, you can choose a new insurer and can’t be turned down.

Related Reading: Are Medicare Supplement Plans Really Worth It?

Medicare Supplement Plan C Enrollment Period

The best time to buy a Medicare Plan C policy is during your six-month Medicare Supplement Open Enrollment Period (OEP). Your OEP starts on the first day of the month that you’re age 65 or over and enrolled in Medicare Part B. During this six-month period, you have a guaranteed-issue rightGuaranteed-issue is a right granted to Medicare beneficiaries and applies to Medicare Supplement insurance (aka, Medigap plans). All states and the federal government enforce this essential right, which protects Medicare beneficiaries from medical underwriting. to get the Medicare supplement plan of your choice.

Having a guaranteed issue right is a serious benefit. It means that you can’t be denied coverage due to a pre-existing conditionA pre-existing condition is any health problem that occurred before enrolling in a health plan. The Affordable Care Act law made it illegal for health plans to or charge more due to a pre-existing condition..... So long as you live in the plan’s area of service and you are enrolled in both Medicare Parts A and B, the insurance carrier you choose must sell you a policy.

If you miss your OEP and later decide to apply, you will be required to go through medical underwriting and the carrier may deny coverage. However, in some situations, you may have a guaranteed issue right to enroll in a Medigap plan outside your Medigap OEP.

You can find out which Medicare supplement plans are available where you live using our Medigap Comparison Tool. Simply enter your zip code and you’ll be on your way.

Need help deciding which Medigap plan is best for you? Call 1-855-728-0510 (TTY 711) and speak with a licensed HealthCompare insurance agent. There’s no obligation, and they offer more plan options than any other national agency.

Find Plans in your area with your ZIP Code

Primary Sidebar

Top 10 Medicare Mistakes in 2023

  • Thinking It’s Free!
  • Forgetting to Sign Up at Age 65
  • Not Signing Up If You Are Still Working
  • Joining an MA Plan if You Have Chronic Health Conditions
  • Getting the Same Plan as Your Spouse
  • Not Leveraging Assistance Programs
  • Choosing the Wrong Medigap Plan
  • Not Reviewing & Understanding Your Coverage
  • Going Out-of-Network in Your MA Plan
  • Costly Financial Moves when You Retire

Latest Blog Posts

How Do I Switch from Medicare Advantage to Medigap?

Get the Rate Increase History for Medigap Plans Before Buying

Why Can You be Denied a Medicare Supplement Plan?

Medicare Plan N vs Plan G: Which Supplement is Best for You?

How Does the Plan K Medicare Supplement Work?

9 Facts About High Deductible Plan G and How it Works

Medicare Supplement (Medigap) Plans: Coverage, Costs, and Eligibility

Is Plan F Still Available in 2023?

What is the Cheapest Medicare Option?

Paying for Drugs When You Have a Medigap Plan

Footer

About MedicareWire

  • About
  • Contact
  • Code of Conduct
  • MCMG Compliance
  • Privacy
  • California Consumer Privacy
  • Disclosure
  • Personally Identifiable Health Information

[1] Licensed Sales Agent

Licensed sales agent (“advisor”) services are provided by HealthCompare Insurance Services, Inc., MedicareWire’s trusted partner. Online enrollment services are provided by MedicareEnrollment.com, a HealthCompare affiliate. Read our full sales agent disclosure.

[2] Trademark Notice

MedicareWire uses legal U.S. trademarks to identify and describe Medicare and other insurance products for shoppers. See our full trademark use disclosure.

Medicare Plan Directories

  • Medicare Advantage
  • Special Needs Plans
  • Medigap Plans
  • Medicare Part D
  • Senior Dental Plans

Copyright © 2023 MedicareWire.com - All Rights Reserved
101 W Goodwin St #2487, Prescott, AZ 86302

MedicareWire.com is a non-government website and is not endorsed by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) or any other government agency. For official government information, please visit Medicare.gov (1-800-MEDICARE). By using MedicareWire.com you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Get a FREE Medigap Rate Analysis... and Save!


We'll save you money with a FREE Medicare Supplement insurance rate analysis!

The only way to know if you are getting the best deal on your Medicare Supplement insurance is to see all rates from all insurance carriers. That's what we'll send you when you fill out the form below. We won't spam you, call you, or sell your information. That's a promise!

Complete this form and we'll email your free report in 1 business day or less.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.