{"id":10000,"date":"2014-12-09T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2014-12-09T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lifeline.philips.com\/resources\/blog\/2014\/12\/choosing-the-best-medicare-supplement-plan-for-your-loved-one.html"},"modified":"2023-10-16T17:38:17","modified_gmt":"2023-10-16T21:38:17","slug":"choosing-the-best-medicare-supplement-plan-for-your-loved-one","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lifeline.com\/blog\/choosing-the-best-medicare-supplement-plan-for-your-loved-one\/","title":{"rendered":"Choosing the Best Medicare Supplement Plan for Your Loved One"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s probably no surprise to you that\u00a0paying for care\u00a0can be very expensive. When providing caregiving support, you may even find that you are paying many of your loved one\u2019s medical bills out of your own pocket. A Medicare supplement plan, also known as Medigap insurance, can fill the gaps left by traditional Medicare. Depending on the plan, it can lower copayments and coinsurance, and it may even offer benefits that extend above and beyond Medicare coverage.<\/p>\n

About Medigap Plans<\/h2>\n

A Medicare supplement plan is a private insurance policy that works alongside traditional Medicare. Your loved one will pay a monthly premium for such policies, but she will receive additional benefits that are not offered through Medicare.<\/p>\n

There are 10 benefits packages available to choose from, labeled as the letters A through D, F, G, and K through N. While the available plans vary by state (and sometimes by region within the state), Medicare sets strict rules about what each plan covers. This means all insurance companies who offer a Medigap Plan F, for example, must offer the same coverage and benefits.<\/p>\n

Once you determine which plan best fits your loved one\u2019s needs, you will still need to choose which private insurer to use. Help your senior make this choice based on premium price, personal preference, or a number of other factors.<\/p>\n

When your senior first applies for Medigap insurance, she has a six-month open enrollment period for selecting a plan. If her policy doesn\u2019t end up being the best fit, she may have the\u00a0option to change it<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Choosing a Policy<\/h2>\n

The 10 Medicare supplement plans vary widely in benefits and coverage levels. Plans F and C, the two most popular plans according to the Medicare publication\u00a0Choosing a Medigap Policy,<\/i>\u00a0offer the most comprehensive benefits. They also typically have the most expensive premiums. On the opposite end of the spectrum are plans M and N, which are designed for healthy seniors who have fewer healthcare needs and therefore typically have the least expensive premiums. The other six plans fall in between.<\/p>\n

Tips for getting the best policy for your senior\u2019s needs while saving the most money include:<\/p>\n