Medigap Plan C

The costs for health care and adequate medical attention is expensive, and it’s rising every year. For retirees and Medicare enrollees, these expenses can be difficult, especially on a fixed income. This is the most popular reason that many people aren’t getting the healthcare they need, is because they can’t afford it. Nobody should ever have to forego healthcare because of the bills they are going to receive. 

One of the best ways that you can balance out those costs is to buy a Medigap policy. These plans are excellent at providing additional coverage and protect your hard earned savings from being drained by medical bills. If you need a Medicare supplement in Georgia, we can help! 

Before we detail Medigap Plan C, there are a few things that we should clear up. The first is, Medigap coverage is sold by companies, not the government, although they are regulated by government agencies.

Also, these plans are standardized which means these plans are going to provide the same coverage. This also means that each company is required by law to provide the same coverage. So a Medigap Plan C is going to look identical from company 1 as it does with company 2, but that doesn’t mean that they are going to cost the same. Some companies offer additional benefits and each company is different so they are going to have different premiums.

The demand for Medicare supplement plan C has been quickly rising since it offers some of the best coverage of any of the Medicare supplements.  This article will detail the coverage you receive from Medigap  plan C.

Added Medicare Coverage

Medigap plan C fills eight of the  gaps that are left by Medicare.  Instead of listing all the gaps we will look at what Medicare plan C does not cover.  The one gap left open by Medicare supplement plan C is that it does not cover any of the excess charges that a provider can levy above the Medicare Part B approved amount.  This means if your personal physician charges more than what Medicare recommends they charge then you are on the hook for the difference.

With every service or treatment that you receive, Medicare has a predetermined amount that they will pay for it. Legally, your doctor can charge as much as 15% more than that if they think it’s necessary. With Medigap Plan C, it won’t cover any of this additional charges and you will be responsible for them.

Any other charges in health care will be covered either by Medicare or by your plan C policy.  This means that Plan C is second only to Medigap plan F (learn more about Medicare supplement plan F).  It is also far better at coverage than Medicare supplement plan B and most of the other Medicare plans.

Why Choose Medicare Supplement Plan C

While there may be Medicare Supplement Insurance plans that provide more in terms of actual benefit options, there are some good reasons to consider Medigap Plan C. One of these reasons is that this particular plan is one of the most complete of all the plans. What this means is that it provides for enrollees a very nice standardized benefit package in terms of covering many of Medicare’s approved expenses.

There are only two key costs that do not get covered with Medigap Plan C. These include:

• Medicare Part B’s excess charges
• Home recovery costs

Medicare Part B’s excess charges can include doctor’s costs that extend beyond what Medicare has allocated for the payment of services. Therefore, when excess charges occur, the remainder of these costs will be charged directly to the Medicare enrollee (i.e., the patient).

As an example, a doctor is allowed to charge up to 15 percent more than the amount that is approved by Medicare. Therefore, the total expense for a patient’s service could essentially be 115 percent. Once Medicare has paid its amount for the reimbursement, the rest of the amount will need to be paid by the Medicare enrollee.

Home recovery costs can include charges that are associated with the process of one’s recovery after he or she has been released from the hospital, such as a rehab program. These charges may also include items such as bandages and supplies, as well as prescription medications.

Overall, Medigap Plan C is a comprehensive plan, it’s good for those who seek more than just the basics when it comes to a Medicare Supplement Insurance plan.

What Do the Medicare Supplement Plans Offer?

The Medicare Supplement Insurance plans offer several different choices in the benefits that are offered. Plan A is the smallest plan:

• Medicare Part A coinsurance and hospital expenses, up to an additional 365 days after Medicare’s benefits have been exhausted
• Medicare Part B coinsurance or copayment
• First three pints of blood
• Medicare Part A hospice coinsurance or copayment

Plan C offers those same categories but adds on to it:

• Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) coinsurance
• Medicare Part A deductible amount
• Medicare Part B deductible amount
• 80 percent foreign travel emergency - up to plan limits

Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan F is considered to be the most comprehensive of all the Medigap insurance plans. This is because it provides the most in terms of benefit options. For example, in addition to the core options in Medigap Plan A, Medicare Supplement Plan F also provides the following benefits:

• Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) coinsurance
• Medicare Part A deductible amount
• Medicare Part B deductible amount
• Medicare Part B excess charges
• 80 percent foreign travel emergency - up to plan limits

Medigap Plan F is also available in a high deductible version. For those who opt for this particular plan, the enrollee is required to pay all of the costs out-of-pocket until he or she reaches the deductible amount. In 2015, that amount is $2,180. Once this amount has been reached, the Medicare Supplement Insurance plan will begin to pay out its benefits.

Because the Medicare Supplement Insurance plans can differ, it is important to have a good understanding of what each of these options does, and does not, pay for prior to making a final determination on which plan you will ultimately purchase. There are certain Medigap plans that may be a better fit for certain individuals.  If you would like, we can offer a Medicare supplemental quote on any or all plans of your choice.

How to Enroll in Medicare Supplement Insurance

There are several criteria that a person must meet. First, you must be age 65 or over. You must also be enrolled in Medicare Part B, and be a resident of the state in which the Medicare Supplement plan of your choosing is also offered.

There are some individuals who are under age 65. However, that can buy a Medigap plan. These individuals must also be enrolled in Medicare Part B, and they must have a qualifying disability.

Regardless of the plan or carrier, you need to buy it during the open enrollment period.

If you enroll in Medicare Supplement coverage at this time, you cannot be declined, nor be charged a higher amount of premium. If, however, you wait until after your initial open enrollment period has expired to enroll, this will not be the case, and you may not qualify for the policy that you want.

How and Where to Obtain the Best Premium Quotes on Medigap Plan C

If you want the most affordable price (and who doesn’t?) then you need to do some shopping around. As we mentioned, carriers are required to give the same coverage, but they aren’t required to give you the same price.

Two companies could have the same coverage, but the price points could be hundreds of dollars apart. If you want to get the cheapest plan, you need to compare all of the options.
Instead of spending hours on the phone, make one simple call to us. We aren’t the same kind of agent you’ve worked with in the past. We are licensed by one carrier. We can give you a handful of quotes after a short call.