| Medicare Supplement Plans also known, as | | | | from any company under any letter cover the |
| Medigap is a private health insurance that is | | | | benefits must be same as provided by other |
| supplementary to the original Medicare policy. | | | | companies under the same letter cover, for |
| Which means that the Medicare Supplement Plans | | | | example, if you want to purchase a policy under |
| helps to pay some of the health care costs that | | | | the letter cover C or D the policy coverage and |
| the original Medicare does not cover. In other | | | | the benefits would be the same irrespective of |
| words it bridges the gap between the policy | | | | whatever company you may choose. |
| coverage of the original Medicare and the total | | | | In most of the cases the Medicare Supplement |
| amount payable. It is somewhat like copayments, | | | | Insurance companies can only sell standardized |
| coinsurance, and deductibles. The Medicare | | | | Medigap policies. It is also that the companies |
| supplement policies sometimes may also cover | | | | must mention the specific benefits that they |
| certain things that the original Medicare does not | | | | offer so that you can easily compare them. It |
| cover. The point is that if you are having a | | | | may be that each and every company may not |
| Medicare policy it would pay for its coverage but | | | | offer every Medigap plans A through L, but they |
| along with that if you are also having a Medicare | | | | are bound to provide clear information about the |
| supplement plan it would help you pay the | | | | policies they are dealing with. But the fact is that |
| remaining amount of the medical cost that is left | | | | each company must provide Medigap plan A if |
| aside by your original Medicare policy. But it should | | | | they wish to offer any other Medicare |
| be remembered that Medigap is somewhat | | | | Supplement Plans. However to sell the rest of the |
| different to the original Medicare policy. | | | | policies should be decided by the company |
| Though Medicare Supplement Plans are not | | | | themselves, although law might affect which ones |
| directly under government supervision or | | | | they offer. But also with that as the Medigap |
| administration but still every Medigap policy must | | | | plans are mostly administered by the private |
| follow certain state laws and must be clearly | | | | companies therefore the amount of the premium |
| identified as “Medicare Supplement | | | | payable is totally under their consideration. |
| Insurance”. According to the rules the Medigap | | | | Another thing to be mentioned is that once you |
| insurance companies can sell only 12 standardized | | | | purchase a Medigap Insurance plan the insurance |
| Medigap policies. These policies are identified under | | | | company must keep renewing it. And they also |
| the letter cover from A through L. And it is also | | | | cannot change the policy coverage or the benefits |
| to be noted that each Medigap policies must offer | | | | that they promised to provide while purchasing |
| the same basic benefits, irrespective of whatever | | | | the plan unless there is any failure on your part in |
| company may be selling them. The only thing that | | | | paying the premium. However, the company can |
| can differ from company to company is the | | | | increase the rate of premium but that too with |
| amount of premium payable by the beneficiary. | | | | prior notice. |
| The point is that if you purchase a Medigap policy | | | | |