Medigap or Supplemental Insurance

• Medigap or Supplemental Insurance policies, sold by private Insurance Companies, can help pay for some of the health care costs ("gaps") that Medicare doesn't cover, like copayments, coinsurance and deductibles. Some Medigap or Supplemental Insurance policies also offer coverage for services that Medicare doesn't cover, like medical care when you travel outside the U.S. If you have Medicare and you buy a Medigap policy, both plans will pay their share of Medicare approved costs for covered health care. Medicare doesn't pay any of the costs for a Medigap or Supplemental Insurance policy.
  

• Medigap or Supplemental Insurance Companies cannot deny you coverage because of your health, make you wait for coverage to start or charge more for a policy because of health problems during your Medicare Initial Enrollment Period. You may change your Medigap policy at any time in the year. If you decide to switch outside of your Medicare Initial Enrollment Period, you may be asked health questions on the application.
  

• Medigap or Supplemental Insurance policies must follow federal and state laws designed to protect you, and they all must be clearly identified as"Medicare Supplemental Insurance." Medigap Insurance Companies can sell you only a "Modernized" Medigap policy identified in most states by letters (A,B,C,D,F,G,K,L,M and N). Each Modernized Medigap policy must offer the same basic coverage, no matter which Insurance Company sells it. Cost is usually the only difference between Medigap "Medicare Supplemental" policies sold by different Insurance Companies.