Book Description

This book is a B&W copy of the government agency publication.Choosing a Medigap Policy:A Guide to Health Insurance for People with MedicareThis official government guide has important information about:• What is a Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) policy • What Medigap policies cover• Your rights to buy a Medigap policy• How to buy a Medigap policyThis guide can help if you're thinking about buying a Medigap policy or already have one.How to use this guide There are 2 ways to find the information you need: 1. The “Table of Contents” on pages 3–4 can help you find the sections you need. 2. The “List of Topics” on pages 53–56 lists topics in this guide and the page number of where to find them. Who should read this guide? This guide helps people with Medicare understand “Medicare Supplement Insurance” policies (also called Medigap). A Medigap policy is a type of private insurance that helps you pay for some of the costs that Original Medicare doesn't cover. Medicare BasicsA brief look at MedicareThis guide helps people with Medicare understand Medigap (also called “Medicare Supplement Insurance”) policies.A Medigap policy is health insurance sold by private insurance companies to fill gaps in Original Medicare coverage. Medigap policies can help pay your share (coinsurance, copayments, or deductibles) of the costs of Medicare-covered services. Some Medigap policies also cover certain benefits Original Medicare doesn't cover. Medigap policies don't cover your share of the costs under other types of health coverage, including Medicare Advantage Plans, stand-alone Medicare Prescription Drug Plans, employer/union group health coverage, Medicaid, Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits, or TRICARE. Insurance companies generally can't sell you a Medigap policy if you have coverage through Medicaid or a Medicare Advantage Plan.Before you learn more about Medigap policies, the next few pages provide a brief look at Medicare. If you already know the basics about Medicare and only want to learn about Medigap, skip to page 9.What is Medicare? Medicare is health insurance for:• People 65 or older• People under 65 with certain disabilities • People of any age with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) (permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis or a kidney transplant) The different parts of Medicare The different parts of Medicare help cover specific services: Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) • Helps cover inpatient care in hospitals • Helps cover skilled nursing facility, hospice, and home health care Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) • Helps cover doctors' and other health care providers' services, hospital outpatient care, durable medical equipment, and home health care • Helps cover many preventive services to help maintain your health and to keep certain illnesses from getting worse Medicare Part C (also known as Medicare Advantage) Offers health plan options run by Medicare-approved private insurance companies. Medicare Advantage Plans are a way to get the benefits and services covered under Part A and Part B. Most Medicare Advantage Plans cover Medicare prescription drug coverage (Part D). Some Medicare Advantage Plans may include extra benefits for an extra cost. Medicare Part D (Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage) • Helps cover the cost of prescription drugs • May help lower your prescription drug costs and help protect against higher costs• Run by Medicare-approved private insurance companies