Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan Costs
The cost of a Medicare supplement insurance (also called Medigap) plan can vary depending on a range of factors such as your age, where you live and whether you’re a smoker.
You can compare Medigap plan costs online in just minutes, or you can call to speak with a licensed agent † who can help you compare Medigap plans where you live.
What Medicare Costs Do Medigap Plans Pay?
There are nine Medicare costs that may be covered by any of the standardized Medicare supplement plans available in most states (Massachusetts, Minnesota and Wisconsin have different Medigap plan options).
Part A Deductible
If you’re admitted for inpatient care, you must meet the Part A deductible ($1,632 per benefit period in 2024) before your Part A inpatient hospital benefits kick in.
Because the Part A deductible isn’t an annual deductible, you could potentially have to pay the full deductible amount more than one time in a single year. This means if you’re admitted for inpatient hospital care more than once in a year, you could potentially have to pay the full $1,632 several times.
Several types of Medigap plans, including the popular Plans F, G and N, fully cover the Part A deductible in full, no matter how many times you’re hospitalized during the year.
Medicare Part A Coinsurance and Hospital Costs
Medicare Part A requires daily coinsurance payments beginning on day 61 of a hospital stay, and those payments increase if your stay lasts longer than 90 days.
All Medigap plans cover Part A coinsurance in full, along with an extra 365 days of hospital coverage after your Medicare benefits are used up.
Part B Deductible
Medicare Part B covers outpatient medical costs, and you must meet the Part B deductible ($240 per year in 2024) before your Part B benefits kicks in.
Medigap Plan F and Plan C fully cover the Part B deductible, but these plans are only available to those who became eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020. If you were eligible for Medicare before this date, you may still be able to enroll in Plan F or Plan C if they’re available where you live. If you weren’t eligible for Medicare before 2020, you won’t be able to apply for either plan. Plan C is not available from Mutual of Omaha in Texas.
Medicare Part B Coinsurance or Copayments
Medicare Part B typically requires a 20% coinsurance payment for covered care after you pay your Part B deductible.
All Medigap plans offer either full or partial coverage of Part B coinsurance costs.
First Three Pints of Blood
Medicare only covers the cost of blood used for a transfusion starting with the fourth pint. Each type of Medigap plan offers either full or partial coverage of the cost for the first three pints of blood.
Part A Hospice Care Coinsurance or Copayments
Part A requires small copayments for drugs and other products used for pain relief or symptom control during hospice care and coinsurance costs for respite care.
All Medigap plans offer full or partial coverage of these costs.
Skilled Nursing Facility Care Coinsurance
Inpatient skilled nursing facility stays that extend beyond 20 days in the same benefit period require daily coinsurance payments through Medicare Part A.
Several different types of Medigap plans offer full or partial coverage of these coinsurance costs.
Part B Excess Charges
Certain health care providers can charge up to 15% more than the Medicare-approved amount for their services. These are known as “excess charges.”
Two Medigap plans (Plan F and Plan G) cover the cost of these excess charges in full.
Foreign Travel Emergency Care
Medicare only covers the cost of emergency care received outside the U.S. in rare situations.
Six Medigap plans cover 80% of the cost of foreign travel emergency care.