Medicare Supplemental Insurance Plan Structure
There are 14 different types of Medigap plans, appropriately named Plans A through N. By law, Medigap plans sold by insurance companies are required to follow a set menu of benefits defined for each plan type. In other words, a Medigap Plan A sold by Blue Cross will offer the same kinds of benefits as a Plan A sold by Mutual of Omaha. This requirement facilitates plan comparison.
The benefits listed for each plan type are laid out in our Medicare Supplemental Insurance Plan Matrix.
All plans A-N are required to offer the basic benefits of:
- Hospitalization: Medicare Part A co-insurance plus an additional 365 days of coverage what Medicare covers
- Medical Expenses: Medicare Part B co-payments and co-insurance
- Blood: 3 pints per year
- Hospice: Co-insurance for inpatient respite care
On top of these basic benefits, the different plan types also provides some or all of the following benefits:
- Medicare Part A Deductible
- Medicare Part B Deductible
- Medicare Part B Excess Doctor Charges
- Medicare-approved At Home Recovery
- Preventative Medical Care
- Skilled Nursing Facility Care
- Foreign Travel Emergency
Note that while each Medigap plan are required to share the same variety of benefits, there are still differences in the actual policy sold, which includes premium costs, deductible, provider network, etc.