| Medicare supplement plans or Medigap is the private | | | | have their additional benefits. Therefore before |
| health insurance plans that are for those people who | | | | choosing a plan for yourself you need to be very |
| already have a Medicare policy. The Medigap or | | | | careful so that you may choose the right one for |
| Medicare supplement plans helps the Medicare | | | | yourself and not loose the deal. Therefore seeking the |
| beneficiaries to bear that extra medical cost that are | | | | help of an insurance agent can be the most fruitful as |
| left aside by the original plans. The name Medigap is | | | | they are more aware of the policy details and the |
| suggested because it is believed that these policies | | | | rates of different companies. Moreover it should be |
| bridges the gap between the Medicare coverage and | | | | remembered that though the companies are bound to |
| the original expenses or the total bill charged. | | | | provide the same benefits under the same letter |
| If you are in the Original Medicare plan you are able to | | | | cover, but they have the freedom of fixing their rates. |
| buy a Medicare supplement plan and both of them | | | | And the premium rates for the same plan may differ |
| would pay you their share of coverage. It is to be | | | | for different companies. |
| noted that the Medigap policies are private health | | | | The eligibility criteria that have been fixed by most of |
| insurance plans and the private insurance companies | | | | the companies which are providing health insurance |
| can only sell them and not by any government | | | | plans are as follows. To go for a Medicare supplement |
| organizations. These plans are totally administered by | | | | plan a person is required to be enrolled in part A and B |
| the private insurance companies. But it is to be | | | | of original Medicare before they can go for a Medigap |
| mentioned that though these plans are completely | | | | policy. A person may obtain a Medigap plan on a |
| administered and sold by private insurance companies | | | | guaranteed issue basis during the open enrollment |
| but still there are only 12 supplementary plans labeled A | | | | period, which begins within 6 months of turning 65 or |
| through L. All these plans have there separate policy | | | | enrolling in Medicare Part B at 65 or older. And also |
| coverage but the plans under the same letter cover | | | | that in this period no medical screening is required. But |
| must provide the same benefits. It means that no | | | | besides open enrollment the issuing insurance |
| matter from which company you have bought the | | | | company may also put forth the requirement of |
| policy, they must provide the same coverage as | | | | medical screening and also may obtain an attending |
| provided by the other companies, nothing more or | | | | physicians statement if it is felt necessary. But the thing |
| nothing less. | | | | that should be kept in mind is that this policy is not |
| Almost all of the Medicare Supplement Plans provide | | | | compatible with any other forms of private medical |
| the basic benefits of plan A and in addition to that they | | | | coverage as for example a Medicare Advantage plan. |