Medigap policies are Medicare health insurance plans sold by private insurance companies. The plans offer standardized benefits (meaning same benefits are offered by all the carriers or insurance companies that offer plans A – N).
Medigap plans work with Original Medicare (meaning Original Medicare, Part A and Part B, are primary coverage).
Medigap plans and Medicare Advantage plans are different, they work differently, and a Medicare eligible person can’t have both of these plans or policies.
Starting in 2020, some Medigap plans will no longer be available for sale to some Medicare beneficiaries.
- Individuals who are newly eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020 will not be able to purchase Medigap Plan C or Plan F (including the Plan F high deductible option).
- After January 1, 2020, this law prevents individuals new to Medicare from purchasing Medigap plans that pay for the Part B deductible.
- Both Plan C and Plan F cover the Part B deductible.
- People new to Medicare, in Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, will not be allowed to purchase a Medigap plan that pays for the Part B deductible.
If you are eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020
- These Medigap changes only affect individuals who are newly eligible for Medicare in 2020 and after.
If you are eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020, you will still be able to purchase Plan C or Plan F.
- If you were eligible for Medicare before this time but you did not enroll, you will be able to purchase Plan C or Plan F as long as you are within your Medigap open enrollment period or have a guaranteed issue right once you enroll in Original Medicare.
If you currently have Medigap Plan C or Plan F, you can continue to renew it from insurers in your state.
- Your right to switch plans if your premiums increase depends on your state’s laws.
- If your Medigap plan is terminated, you will have a guaranteed issue period.
If you are eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020
- If you are newly eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020, you will not be able to purchase Plan C or Plan F.
- Plan D and Plan G currently provide coverage for all the same out-of-pocket costs, except for the Part B deductible coverage.
