Michigan's best Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plans 

What is a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plan?

Medicare Supplement (Medigap) is a plan offered by a private insurer that helps pay some of the health care costs that Original Medicare doesn't cover, like copayments, coinsurance and deductibles. You must be enrolled in Original Medicare (Parts A and B) to be eligible.

Difference between Medicare Supplement (Medigap) and Medicare Advantage plans

Both Medicare Advantage and Medigap are supplemental options to your Original Medicare plan.

Medicare Advantage plans work similar to an individual or employer HMO or PPO plan, helping lower out-of-pocket costs with predictable copayments, smaller deductibles and out-of-pocket costs. You can also save money with a Medicare Advantage plan by seeing a doctor within the plan's network.

On the other hand, Medigap plans work with your Original Medicare to help pay for most or all of your out-of-pocket costs that Original Medicare doesn't cover, like copayments, coinsurance and deductibles. Medigap plans also give you more flexibility when it comes to doctor choice, because you can go to anyone who accepts Medicare. You’ll have higher monthly premiums but pay less (or nothing) when you receive care. Unlike Medicare Advantage plans, Medigap plans do not include prescription drug coverage—you have to purchase a separate Part D plan.

It’s important to remember that these two plans do not work together. If you have a Medicare Advantage policy, you cannot enroll in a Medigap plan—and vice versa.

Should I get a Medigap plan?

For many people, the choice between these two plans comes down to price. Ask yourself questions like:

• Do I need the stability of a higher monthly cost with little-to-no money spent out of pocket?
• Can I afford to pay some costs out of pocket, as long as they are less costly and more predictable than with Medicare Part B alone?

A Medigap plan might be right for you if you:

• Don't mind paying a higher monthly premium but paying less—or nothing—when you get medical care
• Live outside of Michigan for more than a month each year and want to seek routine health services when you're away
• Don't want to worry about staying in-network for your services to be covered, because Medigap plans don’t use networks
• Don’t mind having a stand-alone Part D prescription drug plan

Medigap policies

There are 10 standard Medigap plans (named A through N), but not all insurance companies offer all plans. Priority Health offers Plans A, C, D, F, G and N. Plan A covers the least, and Plan F (one of the most popular plans) covers the most.

In addition to comparing what you'll pay in monthly premiums, you should look at what you'll pay toward copayments, coinsurance and deductibles. And remember, Medigap plans don't include prescription coverage.

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