Insurance companies can only sell you a “standardized” Medigap policy. These Medigap policies must all have specific benefits so you can compare them easily.

You may be able to choose up to 12 different standardized Medigap policies (Medigap Plans A through L). Medigap policies must follow Federal and State laws. These laws protect you. A Medigap policy must be clearly identified on the cover as “Medicare Supplement Insurance.” Each plan, A through L, has a different set of basic and extra benefits.

It’s important to compare Medigap policies because costs can vary. The benefits in any Medigap Plan A through L are the same for any insurance company. Each insurance company decides which Medigap policies it wants to sell.

Generally, when you buy a Medigap policy you must have Medicare Part A and Part B. You will have to pay the monthly Medicare Part B premium. In addition, you will have to pay a premium to the Medigap insurance company.

You and your spouse must each buy separate Medigap policies. Your Medigap policy won’t cover any health care costs for your spouse.

For additional information on Medigap policies, including why you would want to buy a Medigap policy and information about what Medigap policies cover, please read our publication, Choosing a Medigap Policy: A Guide to Health Insurance for People with Medicare.

Related posts:

1. Medicare Advantage Plans and Medigap Policies Medigap policy to cover deductibles...
2. The Original Medicare Plan Medicare covers many of your health care needs. ...
3. Medicare is a health insurance program – Is this True? Medicare is a health insurance program - Is this True?...
4. Your Medicare Coverage Choices Run by private insurance companies approved by Medicare. ...
5. Step 1 to Get Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage Because the way that Medicare drug coverage works depends on your current coverage, Medicare has specific information available to help you no matter what type of coverage you have....
6. Medicare Plan Choices Medicare covers many of your health care needs. Today’s Medicare is working with private companies approved by Medicare that provide different ways to get your health care and prescription drug coverage in the Medicare Program. The Medicare plan that you choose affects many things like cost, benefits, doctor choice, convenience, and quality....
7. What Does Medicare Cover Medicare covers many of your health care needs. Today’s Medicare is working with private companies approved by Medicare that provide different ways to get your health care and prescription drug coverage in the Medicare Program. The Medicare plan that you choose affects many things like cost, benefits, doctor choice, convenience, and quality....
8. Ending overpayments to private insurance companies that cost all Medicare beneficiaries The federal government pays private insurance companies on average 14 percent more for providing coverage to Medicare Advantage beneficiaries than it would pay for the same beneficiary in the traditional Medicare program....
9. Extra Help Paying for Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage (Part D) If you qualify, your drug costs in 2010 will be no more than $2.50 for each generic drug and $6.30 for each brand‑name drug. Look on the Extra Help letters you get, or contact your plan to find out your exact costs....
10. Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage Medicare prescription drug coverage is insurance that helps people pay for prescription drugs at participating pharmacies. It is available to everyone who has Medicare....
11. More than 2 million people qualify to get Extra Medicare help Resources include money in a checking or savings account, stocks, and bonds. Resources don’t include your home, car, household items, burial plot, up to $1,500 for burial expenses (per person), or life insurance pol...
12. Medicare covers many of your health care needs. Medicare covers many of your health care needs. ...
13. Medicare – Hearing this week to examine the activities of the Department of Managed Health Care and the Department of Insurance CALIFORNIA: The Accountability and Administrative Review Committee chaired by Assemblyman Hector De La Torre is holding a hearing this week to examine the activities of the Department of Managed Health Care and the Department of Insurance....
14. How Medicare Plans Work How Medicare Plans Work...
15. MEDICARE ENDS CONTRACT WITH FOX INSURANCE COMPANY DRUG PLAN The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today terminated its contract with Fox Insurance Company. After an onsite review of the plan and its services, CMS determined that the plan’s significant deficiencies – not meeting Medicare’s requirements to provide enrollees with prescription drugs according to recognized standards of care – jeopardized the health and safety of Fox enrollees....

Helps Pay For:

Care in hospitals as an inpatient, critical access hospitals (small facilities that give limited outpatient and inpatient services to people in rural areas), skilled nursing facilities (not custodial or long-term care), hospice care, and some home health care. Information about your coverage under Medicare Part A can be found in the Your Medicare Coverage database.

If you aren’t sure if you have Part A, look on your red, white, and blue Medicare card. If you have Part A, “HOSPITAL (PART A)” is printed on your card.

Cost:

Most people get Part A automatically when they turn age 65. They don’t have to pay a monthly payment called a premium for Part A because they or a spouse paid Medicare taxes while they were working.

If you don’t automatically get premium-free Part A, you may be able to buy it if

• You (or your spouse) aren’t entitled to Social Security because you didn’t work or didn’t pay enough Medicare taxes while you worked and you are age 65 or older, or
• You are disabled but no longer get premium-free Part A because you returned to work.

If you have limited income and resources, your state may help you pay for Part A and/or Part B. For more information, visit www.socialsecurity.gov on the web or call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213. TTY users should call 1-800-325-0778. If you get benefits from the Railroad Retirement Board, call your local RRB office or 1-877-772-5772.

Related posts:

1. Understanding Medicare Part B Medical Insurance Coverage Most Medicare beneficiaries will continue to pay the same $96.40 Part B premium amount in 2010. Beneficiaries who currently have the Social Security Administration (SSA) withhold their Part B premium and have incomes of $85,000 or less (or $170,000 or less for joint filers) will not have an increase in their Part B premium for 2010....
2. I Want to Enroll in Medicare Medicare has two parts: To find out how you enroll in Medicare Part A & B, please go to My Medicare Enrollment...
3. Medicare is a health insurance program – Is this True? Medicare is a health insurance program - Is this True?...
4. Who is Eligible for Medicare Generally, you are eligible for Medicare if you or your spouse worked for at least 10 years in Medicare-covered employment and you are 65 years or older and a citizen or permanent resident of the United States. If you aren’t yet 65, you might also qualify for coverage if you have a disability or with [...]...
5. Extra Help Paying for Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage (Part D) If you qualify, your drug costs in 2010 will be no more than $2.50 for each generic drug and $6.30 for each brand‑name drug. Look on the Extra Help letters you get, or contact your plan to find out your exact costs....
6. Medicare Premium Amounts for 2010 Medicare Premium Amounts for 2010 ...
7. Can Someone Tell Me When the Medicare Enrollment Period Starts If you didn’t sign up for Medicare Part B when you first became eligible, you may be able to sign up during the General Enrollment Period. This period runs from January 1 through March 31 of each year....
8. What is Medicare and How Can it Help Me Medicare is a Health Insurance Program for: People age 65 or older. People under age 65 with certain disabilities. People of all ages with End-Stage Renal Disease (permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis or a transplant). Medicare has Two Parts: Part A (Hospital Insurance)Most people don’t have to pay for Part A. Part B (Medical Insurance)Most [...]...
9. Medicare Assistance – What is the Survey of Patients’ Hospital Experiences (HCAHPS) HCAHPS (Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems) is a national, standardized survey of hospital patients. HCAHPS (pronounced “H-caps”) was created to publicly report the patient’s perspective of hospital care. The survey asks a random sample of recently discharged patients about important aspects of their hospital experience. ...
10. Medicare beneficiaries will not see a Part B monthly premium increase Most Medicare beneficiaries will not see a Part B monthly premium increase as a result of a “hold harmless” provision in the current law. This allows for 73 percent of beneficiaries to be protected from an increase raising the 2010 Part B monthly premiums from $96.40 to $110.50. ...
11. Medigap (Supplemental Insurance) Policies A Medigap policy is health insurance sold by private insurance companies to fill the “gaps” in Original Medicare Plan coverage. Medigap policies help pay some of the health care costs that the Original Medicare Plan doesn’t cover. ...
12. Medicare premiums and coinsurance rates for 2010 Medicare premiums and coinsurance rates for 2010...
13. Medicare Help – What are the Hospital Process of Care Measures A process of care measure shows how often hospitals give recommended treatments known to get the best results for patients with certain medical conditions or surgical procedures. Information about these treatments are taken from the patients’ records and converted into a percentage. This is one way to compare the quality of care that hospitals give. ...
14. Medicare Appeals and Grievances Medicare Appeals and Grievances...
15. Alliance Organizations List Who are Working To Improve Hospital Quality Alliance Organizations Working To Improve Hospital Quality...